Tuesday, Aug. 23, 1938

Went out to Henry’s got load oats. Had chicken dinner, made 5 gal. grape wine. Wittenauer’s cut a patch weeds of. Uncle Fred & A. [Aunt] Mary’s 40 yrs. Wedding Ann. went to Ruma pinic [sic] to celebrate; left here by 3 o’clock; they went down for supper. The fire engine was called to Nic Mueth’s, field fine this afternoon at 3 o clock.

Sunday, July 24, 1938

Hot. Went to first mass. Uncle Fred & A. [Aunt] Mary stopped awhile. Becker Ins. agent came brought policy title back for our car. Henry & family came had supper here. Bill Klein & Bobby & Al, Bertha, Elsie Karban & Marcella Schilling & 2 brothers all came wanted to go to Fort Chartres, but we were getting company so Bill stayed rest left, took his car anyway. When they got to Fort Chartres. Fr. Wishkamp from Paderborn & Buddy Karban & Jerome Haudrich caught them, they all went to Ferry crossed it went to Kaskaskia to church pinic [sic], were Fr. came from; he paid all expenses 10 in all, had supper there; payed $1 a car & 15 [cents] a piece to cross ferry, they all had a wonderful time. We went to Karbans this eve. ate watermelons. Joe Schilling’s threshing run had free beer at Kaburecks to nite & lawn party. Walter Gregsons celebrating 25 yr. silver Wedding inn at Log Cabin tonite. Uncle Fred & A. [Aunt] Mary went. Fr. Spors was there made a speech. Schmidt Orchestra, playing musci [sic]. Renneker’s, Emil were all down. Nic Cortner died Belleville hospital this morn. sometime buried at Hecker.

Thursday, Jan. 20, 1938

Raining all day; Pap went to Smithton this morn; Henry came up, he wanted pap to go along to see Ed. Heap at Smithton, he met him up there then. They also went to Corner’s by Paderborn. Pap went to Red Bud this afternoon took sample of clover seed, he bump it for 8 1/2 [cents] lb. Leo & Rose [Rosalia] 1st yr. wedding anniversary today, didn’t get there, roads muddy.

Sunday, Oct. 3, 1937

Went to mass. Uncle Fred & A. [Aunt] Mary stopped awhile. We had winers [sic – wieners] for dinner. Raining all morning. Today is the wedding of Aaron Papenberg 24 & Mabel Rieso 21 at Smithton Church with attendants. Mr. & Mrs. Elmer Rittmeyer sister of bride & Miss Alma Weber & Vic Papenberg; it is also the 25 Silver Wedding Ann. of Mr. & Mrs. Rieso; a reception to invited relatives & friends will be held at Daabs Clubhouse tonite; we are not invited, going to live in Lizzie Boll’s house, 2 rooms; she got electric put in last week. Today is also the Golden 50 Wedding Ann. of Mr. & Mrs. Mike Armstutz; for only relatives, children & sisters & brothers for supper & rest, nephews & nieces, cousins etc at Maniers Park & hall tonite for a dance & reception. Musci [sic] by Wm. Birkners Orch. & all musicians. Miss Ida Schmierbach of Smithton & many of Fateyeville [sic – Fayetteville] being married at Smithton Tues. morning; dance in eve. at Fateyville [sic – Fayetteville].

Monday, Aug. 23, 1937

Rose came A. [Aunt] Mary & Josie stayed last nite, out. we canned 4 doz. qts peaches, & made preserves, 3 doz. for Rose; cooked 12 bottles catsup, canned 2 qts. Uncle Fred went & got Leo, all here for supper, had spring chicken 2 celebrating Wedd. Ann. [of Uncle Fred and Aunt Mary] Henry & family came here yet, got bu. peaches. S. Rennecker got bu. to said they were to green yet & we thought to ripe. Clara Wagner came, wanted peaches to; gave them mushmelon & watermelon.

Sunday, August 1, 1937

Mrs. Staufenbiel went along to Red Bud mass. Yesterday was 25 Silver Wedding Ann. of Mr & Mrs Alb. Cleveland was announced over the radio, today is Alb. birthday. Fri nite Nic Mueths celebrated there 25 Silver Wedd. Ann. at Log Cabin by Red Bud invitation dance. We went to Uncle Freds for dinner & supper. They came up this eve. & Bert [Bertille] went along to church had benediction, tried the organ, it is not finished, were so many keys that never worked but is is wonderful now. Then we went to Paderborn to Totsch’s free dance, & what a crowd, Skaer Orch. The Wedd. anni. of Al. Clevelands went over the radio again this afternoon, german musci [sic], or polish hr; requested by Grover.

Sunday, May 2, 1937

Went to mass; Fr. Stern had it, but he isn’t so good he was invited to Ruma tomorrow on Pius Simpsons golden Wedd. anniversary, but he couldn’t go, says all he could invite us for his funeral, don’t think he will live to celebrate jubilee. Uncle Fred & Aunt Mary had dinner here, then went home. It rained again all afternoon & nite, it has rained every Sun. since Easter I believe & almost everyday.

Sunday, Oct. 4, 1936

Went to Red Bud. Mrs. Feldmann died, will be buried Tues. morn. solemn high mass; the mother of Father Feldmann, expecting 20 priests, from all over. Omer & Tillie went to Fort Chartres & Renault & home. Leo was down, they had supper here, went to Paderborn to Tolsetis tonite, free dance, & fish fry, had nice crowd. Skaers played. Geo. Boll bought our disk $10. Mr. Dare, bought the drill $8. Wm. Harbaugh was here to see Uncle. Hecker baseball team has a dance at Kammler’s Adm. 25. Schmidt’s Merry Maker playing musci [sic]; wasn’t so much of a crowd, they say. There is a free wedding anniversary dance at Donahue’s tonite, musci [sic] by Carle’s Orch. Barry May, Eichelmann’s all have shooting matches, for geese & ducks today.

Tuesday, Sept. 22, 1936

Ironed, & patched. Picked the last peaches. Mr. Louis Widemann, Roy Staufenbiels wifes father shot himself in a wagon in shed, was buried this afternoon at 3 o’clock, found him last nite, don’t know how long he was dead, thought about 14 hrs. Henry & Leona & pap went out to the funeral. Billy stayed with us. Uncle Fred & Aunt Mary came this eve. we had watermelon. Adam Eckert came, got pickles that Aunt brought along for him & Freida. It is Chris Buehlers 22nd Wedding Ann. today. Ray Wittenauer is still unconsious [sic]. Lester said, he didn’t know his mother.

Sunday, Aug. 30, 1936

Went to Red Bud. Uncle Fred & Aunt Mary stayed awhile, Pete Reheis has fire yesterday, burned potatoe [sic] straw in morning. & thought they had it all out, & in afternoon starting burning again, 2 straw stacks & hay, had Hecker fire engine out, they had no water, got tanks & hauled from the creek & John Reheis. Uncle Fred & Aunt Mary were there last nite awhile. Omer & Bert went to Columbia Homecoming was pretty nice, had Ill. Central train in parade. Roy Quin & Ozark Sweehart [sic] were there. Went to Oak Grove, Sinclairs Oil Employes [sic] gave a free dance, music by Blossom City. Prize Waltz was given $1. to Hazel Flynn & 5 qts. oil to Hartmann of near Red Bud. J. Horn, Barthel, & Brand were judges. Nelson Church & Berneice Reitz had a wedding dance at Breezy Hill. Rose went to New Baden, Kettler’s 25. Wedding Anniv. Hy. Armstutz was here.