Friday, Dec. 15, 1939

Leo & Rose [Rosalia] came down; worked in barn. Wetzler of Maeystown died of rabbit fever & his wife is also sick. Paul McDermott son of Luke McDermott was out hunting Tues. nite, with his brother & cousin Willie & Ed Crook; he got tired stopped & built a fire & must of fell asleep clothing caught fired & was burned so badly & died. Elmer Matzenbacher & Emil Geodell found him called for doctor & took him to hospital.

Wednesday, May 17, 1939

Cleaned, baked; patched. Pap went to Waterloo to get 25 lbs. purina feed see if we can help our chicks, from dying, they at least eat now, crapo [? – unclear] got something in them, he also attended the funeral of Miss Hattie Grosse & seen Wetzlers also, he was buried at Maeystown & she was at Waterloo church & cemetery, an awful crowd people couldn’t all get in church. Wagners has Buettner, at his parlor now. Pap got mower parts from Eichenseer & fix the mower & cut grass around place & in front of house. Cloudy this eve.

Monday, May 15, 1939

Had Mertz to look at our chicks, dying, terrible. Pap went to Waterloo took 11 bus. wheat along @ 71 [cents] & paid tax $270.94. Terrible thing happened last nite, Waterloo talking this morn. Gus Buettner of Waterloo shot & killed Miss Hattie Grosse & boyfriend Wetzler all of Waterloo, at a lonely spot on Boxtown road, Wetzler & girlfriend & Mr & Mrs. Mitchell were enroute to Boxtown to a dance, when Buettner crowded them of road & shot & killed the couple & didn’t harm Mitchells so far they haven’t got Buettner yet, he wanted to go with Grosse. All police are on look out for him, he was seen driving south through Boxtown after it happened at 10 o clock. Uncle Fred & A. [Aunt] Mary stopped in went to Red Bud & worked there gardens today. Went to Leo’s this eve. took them plants & we got cabbage plants from her.