Tuesday, Nov. 21, 1939

Leo & Rose [Rosalia] came & Bert [Bertille] went to Belleville with things eggs 32 [cents]; they left Marita here went home did there work & came back for supper. Bill [Klein] came this eve, played cards. Leo is going to trade his Ford for truck ford V8 from Bill soon. Uncle Fred & A. [Aunt] Mary stopped in going to euchre at Waterloo. Bert [Bertille] gave her 25 [cents] to play for her; also one at Broad Hollow Grange.

Monday, Feb. 27, 1939

Washed. Pap went to Farmers meeting at school hall with H. Wittenauer this morn. & afternoon with Henry. Ford agent of Waterloo stopped in, thought maybe we want to trade Whip for Model A. Ford he has there now. A fellow & Pierre Laut around selling magzaine [sic] don’t want any. Uncle Fred & A. [Aunt] Mary stopped in were over at New Athens took a quilt over for show next month. Leona isn’t feeling well up & down has it like Uncle Fred in gall [bladder]; eating to much pork.

Tuesday, Feb. 22, 1938

Holiday. Went to Leo’s, Pap put there meat away, Bert [Bertille] went along to church with them, to wedding mass. Aloys Roth & Gertie Cortner; best was Hy. Roth & Viola Cortner. Gertie was dressed all white satin & lace set in, veil long. L. Kaiser flower girl, in white carring [sic] basket flowers; Viola with a red dress, silver slippers; had Ford garage men’s Dealers car. We had dinner by Leo’s. Chris Buehler got a hide here that Henry brought up yesterday, he butchered beef yesterday. Leo & Rose [Rosalia] came took Bert [Bertille] along to Wedding dance at Daab’s, large crowd & lot presents received. Jac Schoeneborn, Ron Schilling, Laf. Geodelle furnished music, we also stopped in Smithton at Orlets. Mrs. is sitting up, but is weak.

Tuesday, June 8, 1937

Washed ironed. Pap painted. The ford agent of Waterloo was here with 1935 Ford coach $450.00. Werner Kammler was around gathering rubbish around town. Uncle Fred & A. [Aunt] Mary were up again this afternoon, had horse worked his corn patch; canned pt. cherries. A lady here selling books. Burkhardt was here looked at the horse. Canned 2 qts. beets.

Tuesday, March 24, 1936

Pap is working in the woods. The Ford garage dealer was here, left us a calander [sic] & almanac. Trast from Waterloo. Bert Thompson came to look at the colt. We went out to Henry’s; this evening, on Robert’s birthday 10 yrs. old, Uncle Fred & Aunt Mary went to see Uncle Adam first, then stopped at the birthday. Joe Buss’s family came there to see the barn he has for sale, so they all came in the house; Mrs. Buss birthday will be Thurs. Berti milked this eve. Rose fells pretty good but still has a lump yet. Montgomery Ward Or. came today. Berti’s dress is pretty aqua, greenish blue, 34, little big.

Saturday, Sept. 29, 1934

Papa got crushing done. A man around selling pears 60¢ bu. We went to Belleville. Zippel brought the hog feed that was ordered. We walked up to Mamie’s but she wasn’t at home, then she came down here, & gave us a call; she was by Mrs. Staufenbiel. Odillo has a new chev, traded his old one in, coach, orange weehls [sic] tan body; got it this morning. Ed Parkers have a V8 ford, not new.

Wednesday, June 6, 1934

Werner Kammler was gathering rubbish this morn. Papa & Rosalia are filling up & around the barn. Henry came to cut his hay had lunch & dinner. Uncle Fred & Aunt Mary came this afternoon went to Red Bud with load wheat, brought sack mash feed along for our chicks, & a flower from Buehler’s. Lester Gregson has a new Ford truck. We bought a magazine from Pierre Laut, he sells them every Wed. afternoon he says, 10 a week.

Sunday, July 30, 1933

Uncle Fred & Aunt Mary where here for dinner, lunch. It is rather warm again today. We went early to church, had a blow out coming home close to Chas Helfrichs, changed tires & came on. Fred Papenberg got a new chev & Oscar Birkners a used Ford, all close cars. There must be some thieves around Hecker, Hugo Probst got $10 stolen, Wagners got all the ripe & green plums stolen. Lester Gregson moved from the Gambach place to his own that he bought on East Main St. & Mr. & Mrs. Willie Gregson moved in Gambach property. We had our first roasting ears corn for dinner. The pallbearers from Aunt Lizzie where, Emil Brand, Ben Schilling, Hy Eichelman, Edwin & Willie Reheis, Fred Wiegand. The Heyl’s relatives have basket pinic [sic] at the Round Prairie Park, in honor of Mrs. Kessler from Alba. The threshing crew of Oscar Klotz’s have chicken bouilion, at Sam Krehers woods. It is in the paper that Lavern Koerber 23 & Irene Neff 21 where married at Red Bud by Rev. Stern in Catholic parsonage, Mary Havey & Paul Neff where attendats; last Wed. Roller skates & bicycle riding is the latest in Hecker at present. Mr. Rettinhouse is very bad expecting to live only couple days. We have 2 qts tomatoes canned so far, Mrs. John Reheis has 28 qts. & ain’t near finished yet.

Saturday, July 9, 1932

This morning about 12:30 or 1 o’clock every body was roused out for church bell ringing, rings over the lines of the fire at Phil Braun’s shed. It burned completely down to the ground, but saved the house & other buildings. Papa went up with a bucket, they had Smithon [sic] & New Athens fire department, got the water out of Stehefest’s pond & from the neighboring wells. It must of started by the truck, & horn kept blowing & roused Phil out, he went to the shed, broke the door in & the truck was all on flames, they couldn’t save much out of the shed, got the old Ford out & Lester Gregson’s truck. The oil barrels just shot up in the air, it looked terrible, the tin roof on & around the house saved it, & Lizzie Parkinson’s. Mrs. Rennecker came over here that while it took about 1½ to 2 hrs. It is still fire there today yet. We went to Belleville this afternoon. Steve Rennecker came over this evening. Rosalia went over to see Mrs. Hill’s flowers, she called up & said she should come over and look at them. It rained a few shower this evening. Henry was up & got some milk, he was here awhile. Josie Keller went past down to Ben Heyl’s.

Saturday, July 19, 1930

Today is Hy. Geodelle’s sale and also Herman Auer.  We all went to Auer’s sale, Papa bought a few things & a six gallon crock.  Henry bought some crocks too and also some tools.  Uncle Fred bought a great big dish pan.  Louis Weihl was sale cryer.  They had so much stuff to sell.  Papa got his hair cut this morning.  Somebody’s Ford car started to burn at the sale, they put it out by taking the wires off, putting ground on top of the flames, & smothered it with a sack.  Our machine was right in front of it, & Henry’s right behind it.  Eggs are .18¢ now.