Friday, Dec. 31, 1937

Cleaned etc. Henry stopped in, got crushing done. Mrs. Geodelle is sick. Bert [Bertille] got mail, New Years Greeting from Helfrich girls, & card from Dupo, having the last raffle, for the church forbid it now, 1st prize quilt 2 $25 – 3 $20 – 4 – $10 – 5 – $5 to be raffled tonite but we got it to late, can’t send it back – $1. they wanted. Seen in Waterloo paper transfer of 105 acres from Emil Brand to Ed. Brand; never heard nothing about it; Received enveplope [sic] from Fr. Spors for Sunday collections 50 [cents] every Sun. it says.

Thursday, Dec. 30, 1937

Rained a little today, & Boy the roads, terrible mess. Uncle Fred & A. [Aunt] Mary wanted to go to Belleville, got as far as Sphalts’s land, turned around, & went home again, couldn’t make it she said. Pierre Laut came, asked for permission to go hunting on our ground. Geo. Wagner butchering today. Rennecker & Laut helping got it from Hy. Armstutz. Sure warm, but cloudy & south wind. The mail carried Schmidt has been going around the last several days, well all week, so far with the buggy & horses; some trip, & some mud. We got Christmas card from Fr. Joe Orlet Mon. Sun starting to shine.

Wednesday, Dec. 29, 1937

Foggy day again. Bert [Bertille] washed. Emil came over awhile this morn. Pap & him walked up to Frank Emery’s funeral this afternoon 2 o’clock services at house; then to city cemetery, he was 63 yrs. of age. had been ruptured some time ago; Pallbearers were Vic Eichenseer, Jac. Neff, Steve Rennecker, Oscar Klotz, Adolph Lother, Bill Fritsche. Wagner boy’s came got 4 doz. eggs for Mehrmann 25 [cents] today. Mrs. Bill Kaiser was taken to hospital in ambulance yesterday, double pneumonia, for 6 days; had Dr. Frein & nurse out yesterday also. Mr. Martin Fritsche here in town also has double pneumonia; so much sickness around & real weather for it to. Miss Kate McDermott who was making her home in St. Louis past while, suffered stroke Sun. morn, was taken to Red Bud hospital, were there she died, will be buried tomorrow morn, at Tipton church & cemetery at Koch [? – unclear]. Wagner’s family came this eve; we play 7 games pinochle, ladies winning every game.

Tuesday, Dec. 28, 1937

Heavy fog today. Uncle Fred & A. [Aunt] Mary went home after breakfast this morn. Emil came over to pay the rent to them before they left. We went to mass at Paderborn, of Fr. Teoonine [sic – Toennies], church was filled; & so many priests, all had lunch in hall and at 12:15 was going to leave, burial at Germantown; had honorable & pallbearers. Uncle Fred left there car set at Neff’s lane & walked home the rest of way. Rob & Alice Laut came this eve. we played 7 games pinochle. Pierre was by Osie Neff’s, Myrtle birthday celebration; played games etc. Walter Wittnauer was here with his books again on land.

Monday, Dec. 27, 1937

Uncle Fred & A. [Aunt] Mary had breakfast & supper here going to stay over nite again, awful warm out. Went out to Henry’s butchering, had dinner. Boys got piona [sic – piano] accordion from Santa Claus for Christmas. Lena Meng was here to see Uncle Fred. Uncle Fred fixed the pump for Emil, after we came home from butchering. Frank Emery died this morn. 2 oclock is by Wagners. We played cards this eve. pinochle. Lena Meng stopped in on way town.

Sunday, Dec. 26, 1937

Went to Red Bud. Uncle Fred & A. [Aunt] Mary came up, went along with us to Leo’s, had dinner & supper there, they drove out with there car opened track & we went out after them some mud. Fr. Teonnies died, going to bring him out to Paderborn this afternoon at house till tomorrow afternoon 3 o clock, take him over to church, funeral Tues. Morn. 9:30 buried at Germantown, they have church at Paderborn to nite devotions by there assistant Fr. Brandmeyer. Uncle Fred & A. [Aunt] Mary stayed in Hecker over nite, played cards, stayed in there house & slept over nite to much mud on the roads.

Saturday, Dec. 25, 1937

Christmas. Went to Red Bud, 6 o clock mass. stayed for 2 masses. Uncle Fred & A. [Aunt] Mary, Henry & family & Leo & Rose [Rosalia] all here for dinner & supper played cards etc. Uncle Fred & A. [Aunt] Mary & we went out to Henry’s this eve. listened to radio, ate candy, nuts, cookies etc. Nice warm, rain this morn.

Friday, Dec. 24, 1937

Nice day. Berneice [sic] got 5 doz. eggs. @ 27 [cents]. Bert [Bertille] baked pies etc, getting ready for Christmas duck & chicken etc.

Thursday, Dec. 23, 1937

Went to Belleville church & shopping. Bert [Bertille] went to Renneckers brought his cone boxes back; went up town got card from Elenora Steiger. Looks like we might have rain.

Wednesday, Dec. 22, 1937

Send cards, etc. Beautiful day. Decorated etc. scrubbed front porch. Arlene Klotz is sick in bed with cold as Renneckers, quite few people have measles they say at Red Bed & Mayben Picketts school will be closed, on that account. The Catholic school children have there program & Santa Claus tonite. There is no school Picketss girls have the measles at present.