Saturday, March 19, 1938

Pap went to see Chas. Helfrich. We went to Smithton this afternoon, sale, & to church. Bert took eggs up 15 [cents] . A kid Schmitling on the Gambach farm, & Oliver Birkner, had a scrap this evening, he knocked Oliver out, unconsious [sic]; for awhile. Dr. Eckert came happened between, Wagners & Watchels; quite an excitement for awhile. Uncle Fred & A. [Aunt] Mary came up awhile this eve. Pap went to Orlets inquire.

Thursday, May 6, 1937

Acenscion [sic] Holiday. Went to mass at 6 at Red Bud. Fr. Stern is very low received last sacrements [sic] Mon. Uncle Adam’s birthday 87 yrs. We went to Belleville, pap went to dentist, & we did shopping. Uncle Fred & A. [Aunt] Mary & Leo & Rose were all in there also, & lot of people from all over. Uncle Fred & A. Mary came planted cabbage plants 50 across the street. Miss Mildred Gambach is at Belleville hospital operated on. Sly. Kabureck is again at home. Brauns from Eliza Ball’s house moved to W. Monike’s house last week. For one day at least it didn’t rain so far. Uncle Fred & A. Mary, Henry & family, & Leo & Rose were all here this evening.

Friday, Oct. 23, 1936

Pap went out to get corn fodder. We ironed, patched. Mrs. Vera Boo canadiate [sic – candidate] was here left her card for a vote, Miss Mildred Gambach went around with her. We started fire in furnace, cold.

Tuesday, July 28, 1936

Baked bread, finished ironing, was 105 yesterday, had a real wind storm about 2 oclock this morning, but then got warm again later on. Joe Schilling moving to town today. Kenneth Kemp is tearing his old house down, ready to build; soon. Mrs. Hy. Meng who died Sat. afternoon, will be buried this afternoon at 2 o’clock to the church & cemetery; she was pretty old & in ill health for 6 week, we went to the funeral, house & church, she was 71 yrs. Uncle Fred & Aunt Mary came, she also went to the funeral, had lunch here; he cut lawn etc. Norman & Irene Reheis played & sang a song. It is so awful warm this eve, no breeze so still, bad weather some place. John Reagen moved his family to Red Bud yesterday; he works on W.P.A. Quarry; they say he gets $100 mon. Walter Monike is moving in Gambach’s house today. Nic Hess is also moving up to Schillings.

Wednesday, July 22, 1936

We dug potatoes about 3 bus. this morning. Uncle Fred & Aunt Mary came took pap along to Frank Monike’s sale at Lords Corner, report is he is going to move his family to the Gambach property on E. Main St; were Pete Watchel formerly lived; but we heard today, Walter & family is coming to Hecker, in that house & Frank is going to move to New Athens. Pap bought plow & harrow etc. & we all went to get it this evening with truck. Uncle Fred & Aunt Mary stayed for supper, it was so late when they came back.

Wednesday, Oct. 30, 1935

Leona brought Billy [Willis] up to stay till tomorrow. Walter Reheis 30 & Hilda Klube 29 are being married in priest house by F. Eshmann Waterloo Ill. Henry & Leona as attendants, at 2:30 this afternoon. Hilda has a green dress & Black hat, & assesories [sic] & Leona dark rust dress & hat, black shoes; the men dark suits; going to have yellow & rust colored bouquets, it is also Annies 38 birthday; the supper is to be served 4:30 at Reheis for close relatives, brothers & sisters. Jake’s wife is to bake the cake, good supper. Mr. Wm. Gregson’s who lives in Gambach’s place, here are moving to W.C. Heyls farm today. Christ Buehler’s truck, Levis & Mrs. Renneker are helping to move them. The Young ladies are sodality of Hecker parish are giving a euchre party at school hall tonite; second for this month already. Uncle Fred & Aunt Mary came here first then went; we didn’t go. Rose got the boys from school & did Henry’s work, feeding & milking; then came home, boys stayed all night. Alois Havey & Stockel of Waterloo, fixed our chimney, cleaned furnace, took pipe out & etc.

Monday, July 1, 1935

Reception at Ruma today. Boy! the oats bugs are awful. We washed, ironed. Henry finished cutting oats, here, had lunch & dinner. Emil came & shocked this afternoon, had lunch. It rained so heavy out at Henry’s, they had to quite [quit] cutting, so papa & Rose came home, it never rained at all here, a few drops, sure was funny, papa helped to shock. Uncle Fred & Aunt Mary were up this evening, they were at Buehler’s. Oliver Ruhl was here for signing of corn & hog contracts. There is 3¢ tax now after today; is 1¢ 2¢ & 3¢ on things you buy; here at Eichenseers to now. Mrs. Gambach, Stiffler’s & Ralph Raush left for California this morning. Ray Wittenauer’s now working in Mertz store on Ralph’s place.

Tuesday, April 16, 1935

Pap is setting posts. We finished patching & are binding the quilt. Uncle Fred & Aunt Mary were here, working in there garden; & sewed seeds. Walter Wittenauer came, for corn & hog contract signing, he is on the committee; did very little here, looked at the colt. Joe John stopped, we didn’t buy anything. This morning about 7:30 fire alarm was sounded, Gambach’s chimney was burning, no damaged done, fire department was right there, but didn’t have to use it much; put salt on the flame, in upstairs kitchen stove; alarm ring over the town lines was called. It is town election, today but no one came here, so they didn’t go to vote. Eggs are 20¢. Berti took some up to Mertz Store.

Thursday, Feb. 21, 1935

Papa went out to Henry’s, help Mr. Fournie of Ziebold’s place, got the oats, he got 64 bus @ 60¢.  Ivo Rapp was here & asked to for oats. Papa went to Mrs. Gambach &  bought her plow for Henry $2.50; it is in Wm. Gregson’s stable. Henry came furrowed the land. We went to Belleville this afternoon. This evening went out to Henry’s, played cards. Eggs are 22¢ here, we got 17¢ chickens at Belleville.

Wednesday, June 27, 1934

Rennecker & Agnes Gregson’s birthday; also 4 anniversary of Gambach Bros. death. Jos. Schilling is going to thresh this afternoon. Joe. Watchel’s machine starts to this afternoon, all getting about started, soon. The lightening struck one of Arm Geodelle’s wheat shocks yesterday, burned it all up. Marjorie Rausch is again home from the hospital. Rose & Bertille went to Waterloo took 8 bus. wheat along, got 79¢; bought 100 lbs. flour; soft wheat $3.05. stopped in at Henry’s, he is threshing by Reheis. They were at Uncle Pete’s last Sun. afternoon, Annie has a permanent wave, got it at Waterloo, also Jake’s wife. Henry got 50 barned Rock Chicks 3 weeks old from Monroe Hatchery, $7.00 a hundred. George Wagner came over awhile. We took our onions out today. Uncle Fred brought the mule home, then we took him home, stayed awhile, Ronnenberg came down there to telephone to Evansville, to tell Kissen’s that there boy is pretty sick, up here, he has it in his back, can’t hardly breathe sometimes.