Wednesday, Sept. 20, 1939

Went to Leo’s all day helped strip molasses cone. he hauled one load, in over to Keim’s at Floraville; Bert [Bertille] made pumpkin pie; had lunch, dinner & lunch; nice cool, days. Went to Smithton tonite to meeting held by Rev. Fr. Kunkel & Rev. Hosto, at Turner Hall to keep America out of war, what we must do, write a letter or send telegram to U.S. Senator Scott & Lucas & Congressmen Edwin Schaefer. that would help.

Friday, July 14, 1939

Awful hot. Pap dug 2 rows potatoes. H. Wittenauer was here, going to thresh here tomorrow. Transfer in paper of Barney Kaiser to Joe Kaiser. We received the books for pinic [sic] at Red Bud from Fr. Spors. Henry Grossman 62 & Clara Keim 18 of Floraville were married last Sun. in St. Louis, dance in eve. at Keimes. Lightening last Sat. nite; stroke several places at Waterloo Hermans. Country Club; Johanning had 3 cows killed. Bill Weitkamp & Vivian Ripley beauty operator of Waterloo were married last Sat. in St. Louis. Some W.P.A. workers are back on job & others of [sic – off] for good; they had dynamite laid for quarry here by Hecker if they started in working, they would blow things up, so they didn’t work. We went to Leo’s awhile this eve; threshing at M. Mueth.

Thursday, Nov. 10, 1938

Today is big celebration at church, solemn Pontifical High Mass; 100 yr. church; will be tomorrow but was celebrated today, by Bischoff [sic – Bishop] & 50 priests, had dinner in school hall; for priests & cooks; church was filled. Bert [Bertille] went to mass. Uncle Fred stopped he went to Red Bud, Louis Dehn got 2 doz. eggs 26 [cents]. Papenbergs got an awful lot of wedding presents. musci [sic] furnished by Keim, Rehling & B. Schilling. Canning was here wanted to know were [sic] Uncle Fred lives.

Wednesday, Aug. 31, 1938

Pap hauled posts, has wood & all hauled now, got corn fodder from U. [Uncle] Freds. Went to barber shop got hair cut & shave. Uncle Fred & A. [Aunt] Mary were up again this morn. cutting corn etc. The Wedding picture of Pete Kaiser 31 & Adella Karban 20 was in paper were married last Sat. morn. in St. Louis, in St. Peter & Paul’s Church. Attendants Bertha Karban her sister, & Lawrence Kaiser, cousin to groom. Wore white dress with long veil, carried flowers, Lilies, nice picture. Mrs. Emma Bechtold of Waterloo passed away 57 yrs. will be buried at Waterloo this afternoon; has 4 children, 1 boy Armin, 3 girls Ida Wright, Malinda Valmeyer & only 1 single Viola; also the boy was at home. Arthur Dour & Reickert girl are being married today, dance at Keims, Floraville.

Sunday, Aug. 21, 1938

Went to mass. Pretty warm. Freeburg have homecoming today, pinic [sic] at Wartburg. Went to Freeburg seen KMOX Radio Stars, Pappy Cheshire & gang, Frankie, Patsy, Roy Iruern [? – unclear], Sons of Prairie, Mickey Allen, Gene Rogers & few others, they put on 2 hrs. show & musci [sic], was good. Roy Ivers & gang were also playing for dance at Milsdadt [sic] Vegutle [sic – Vegetable] growers pinic [sic]. Keims had free dance at Floraville, musci [sic] by 2 girls. Erwin Lizinger & wife & Mr. & Mrs. Hess of St. Louis, stopped awhile at noon, going to Freeburg pinic [sic]. Maniers also had a bunch out from St. Louis; had 25 young chickens. Fisher of Floraville stopped in to look at hogs; bought them & say to dear, so he left.

Sunday, Feb. 6, 1938

Raining this morn; for about 1 hr. then after wards, nice sunshine day. Emil was over awhile this morn. We went to mass. Leo & Rose [Rosalia] came down for dinner & supper. Cleveland’s family were here this evening, playing solo. Bert [Bertille] went to Wagner’s along with them to Floraville Masquerade Ball, Schmidts Merry Makers musci [sic]. Prizes were won 1st group, 4 girls, Norma Etling; Edna Probst, Elvira Kroft, M. Keim. 2nd prize, dressed a best gent. Mrs. Walter Vogel & Erma Fisher lady. 3rd. Ruth Specinger. 4th. Walter Vogel comic n****r, big crowd; case beer attendance prize. Mueth had an accident this afternoon, at Columbia & Milsdadt [sic] road, car all smashed Phil. & Eddy, Phil wife; they say were hurt bad; Josie had scratches to; but they took her home, but the rest are at St. Mary’s hospital, they were on there way to St. Louis to see Rosie, who was operated on is in hospital; Phil had fractured skull & Ed rib broken. Louis Hofmeister of New Athens fell asleep tonite & ran of left side of hard road up the bank by Al. Parker’s on New Athens hard road; he wasn’t hurt, but car was damaged quite a bit; they say $95. to repair it again.

Monday, Jan. 10, 1938

Cloudy all day, we went out to Henry’s butchering, had dinner, finished up about 2 o clock brought load oats along. Went out again for supper; Geoddels also came out, we made gal. ice cream we took the ice & bannanas [sic] along out, played musci [sic]. Ray brought his guitar along. He said Pautlers had big crowd, Neff & Probst’s birthday dance, couple fights he said. Rhenhardts quite [sic – quit] playing musci [sic] now, Ray joined Keim’s Och. now, played first time with them Sat. nite; at Dreamland Palace; have several jobs.

Wednesday, Nov. 24, 1937

We went to Waterloo, pap ordered an overcoat from Priper [?- unclear] $13. Bert [Bertille] went along with Wagner’s to Floraville, to Hilda Keim’s & Horn wedding dance, at Keims hall awful large crowd. girls played musci [sic].

Saturday, Nov. 20, 1937

Cold 20 to be 16 tonite. Schmidt delivered egg mash & articles. Triple birthday dance at Keims at Floraville tonite. Bert [Bertille] got mail & paid the bill. Henry & family came this eve.; we played 2 games pinochle. Snowing a little.

Saturday, Oct. 23, 1937

John Braun came talking oil leasing again. Wagner kids got ½ bu. sweet potatoes 50¢. Uncle Fred & A. [Aunt] Mary came Bert went along to Floraville to Keim’s wedding dance of Clarence Keim & Lydia Doerr, attendants were Miss Keim & Horn boys Waterloo; such crowd received few presents; bride had blue dress. Henry & Billy [Willis] came, brought beef up. 55¢ for us & A. [Aunt] Mary he as roast & ours soup. 16 & 18¢ he sold it for; at Waterloo. Ed. Scheinader was the butcher. Pretty cold froze ice last nite.