Wednesday, Dec. 21, 1932

We fried 3 gal. bacon in today, shelled corn, baked bread & coffee cake. Philip Braun came this morning while we were eating breakfast, he came to tell us to come up there to church tomorrow evening they will have a new priest Rev. Adyt he come from Goddmill, there is going to be benidiction [sic] & then they go over to the school hall & have a reception, lunch, & a program & present the priest with a little Christmas gift. There we wants to meet all his parishoners [sic]. Rev. Hoff of Belleville is doing all this. Fr. Grootens is in Wisconsin now, he says. A man from E. St. Louis Stolze was here wanted to get eggs, but we had none to sell to him. Papa was at Barthel’s got the Chev. batteries.

Tuesday, Dec. 20, 1932

Rosalia is on the sick list, cold. We washed, fried in liver sausage, cured meat. Hy. Armstutz was here wanted to get eggs for Fritz, but we sold ours yesterday, the egg man also took 5¾ lb. ribs at 12½¢ lb. along. eggs are 32¢. Eichenseer pay 28 today Hy. said. Braun’s 32¢. Bertille went up town. There is quite a few people sick, Jerome Cortner, Robert Lippert, Irvin Buehler, Nita Stauenfbiel, Walter Wittenauers. They rang over line that is Mr. Hill called in to Belleville Democrat, that Mr. Conrad Saul on Uncle Pete’s place, he died Sat. night. Wm. Kraemer was buried yesterday morning, the funeral went through, the Hecker church was tolling the bells too. they stopped at the corner here first & then went on; about 5 cars, from Mo.

Monday, Dec. 19, 1932

We butchered 2 hogs, Uncle Fred, Aunt Mary, Henry & Emil helped, they where here for lunch & dinner. Uncle Fred & Aunt Mary stayed for supper & then played 5 hand pinochle, 3 games. Henry Meir came here wanted to sell corn, papa bought a wagon load for 17¢ bu. he is going to bring it the first day. There was a lady around selling vanilla’s, & other remedies. Aunt Mary bought a bottle of corn salve, is to take it out in 5 days for 25¢.

Sunday, Dec. 18, 1932

Wm. Kraemer of St. Louis died & will be buried Mon. morning at Round Prairie, he was formily [sic] a native here. Miss Marjorie Rausch, Julius Raush’s daughter won the beauty queen last Sat. night, at the Farm Bureau dance. last year, Miss Myrtle Ruhl won, Marjorie was selected first out of 6. Second Marie Kolmer. We bought 20 lbs. beef at 11¢ & grinding free at Strecks yesterday; they took us all through the place, where its hanging, kitchen, smoke rooms, its nice there but cool in there. Uncle Fred & Aunt Mary was here for dinner, she bought a soup bone & pap cooked the soup, he wasn’t feeling very good, so he stayed home. Rosalia & Bertille went to church. We played cards this afternoon. George Roever came to look at a pig’s, he wants to buy some.

Saturday, Dec. 17, 1932

Uncle Fred & Aunt Mary came up & Rosalia & Bertille went along to Belleville. We got a pretty wall pocket calandar [sic] from Barthel’s Garagge [sic]. There where so many people in the streets at Belleville today.

Friday, Dec. 16, 1932

We baked eggless cookies this morn. Rosalia went to Eichenseer’s got oil changed in Chev, got the mail. Mr. Gregory Neff is in St. Elizabeth’s hospital, he got kicked by a blind mule, two weeks ago Tues, he was brought to Hecker first to Dr. Eckert, & unconsious [sic], but now they took him to the hospital, he is improving somewhat, they way last nights paper reads. Henry & family came up for supper, & brought the kettles up. Uncle Fred & Aunt Mary went to Henry’s to get there blood saussage [sic], just before Henry came up.

Thursday, Dec. 15, 1932

We all went out Henry’s butchering today. Uncle Fred & Aunt Mary, Emil & Mr. & Mrs. Gus Geodelle where all there. We couldn’t get the Whippet started to go home, cranked & put hot water on, but it wouldn’t go, so Uncle Fred pulled us till to the hills but, then it wouldn’t go up, his wheels started spinning still, so Adolp [sic – Adoph?] Petri & his wife came along, they both helped to push, but still didn’t go, so we put chains on Uncle Freds machine & then it went up right away, till we got by Kemp’s the Whip started then Uncle Fred turned around & went home, & it worked all right coming home. The people that lived on Hirst’s place where out there trying to to sell apples. Leona bought a peck, $1.00 bus, they where bruised & fallen.

Wednesday, Dec. 14, 1932

Rosalia went to Hecker, got a few things from store. We baked hardzorn [sic – hartshorn] cookies this morn. Papa & Rosalia went out to Henry’s, got a load of wheat took it to Waterloo, got 34¢ bus. for it.

Tuesday, Dec. 13, 1932

Cleaned chicken houses, put clean straw in. Papa & Rosalia went out to Henry’s got wheat & oats. We baked Christmas cookies this afternoon. Klotz’s, Fritsche’s, Boll’s, Buehler’s are all butchering today, Uncle Fred & Aunt Mary had to help Christ. nice day. Fr. Grooten’s is very ill, some said he was out of mind.

Monday, Dec. 12, 1932

Emil’s birthday 49 yrs. old. We washed, hung it in basement, it is ugly out. Mr. Tecklenburg egg man paid 33¢ for eggs. Papa & Rosalia went out & got oats at Henry’s & went over & got crushing done at Christ Buehler’s.