Wednesday, Dec. 13, 1939

Orlets came, fried in meat & washed, ironed. Pap & Leo made fence. Bill [Klein] came went to see several people came back for supper & Bert [Bertille] went along back with him, stopped at Geo. Cortners, ordered goose for Christmas dinner.

Sunday, Dec. 10, 1939

Went to mass. Uncle Fred & A. [Aunt] Mary & Henry & family were here for dinner & supper. Leo & family were out at Henry’s they weren’t home, so they came here this afternoon, had supper here also. Uncle Fred & pap went to see lumber at Baums Church Wartburg. Bill [Klein] & Bert [Bertille] went to Smithton service then to Emerich Keherer’s playing cards Booby & girlfriend were there to. Emil was called over to telephone, by Cleveland wanted him to come out for solo game. Grover was at home today.

Friday, Dec. 8, 1939

Holiday. Went to 6 o’clock mass at Red Bud. Uncle Fred & A. [Aunt] Mary stopped awhile after church, they have 13 hr. Devotion today. Bill [Klein] & Bertille went to Belleville, ordered wall of paper & went to E. St. Louis & St. Louis on business, stopped a few min’s at Uncle Ed’s shop. got a tarpaulin at Child’s for Leo 14 x 20 – $9.13 with tax. Dr. Werth have a baby girl. Orlin Skaer’s have a boy at Red Bud hospital; Ethel Prediger is home again from Belleville hospital, going to call there girl Madeline.

Thursday, Dec. 7, 1939

Baked cookies. Leo & Rose [Rosalia] came, they finished concrete block foundation. Uncle Fred & A. [Aunt] Mary came, she went to church, he brought a load wood, for butchering. Emil was over awhile. Marita went along home this eve. Jos. Braun was buried this morn. formerly ex. banker of Hecker, had been sick awhile.

Wednesday, Dec. 6, 1939

Leo & Rosalia came down, brought her wash along, we washed together, & ironed patched etc. Bill [Klein] came helped put concrete posts down; Marita stayed here all nite. Jos. Braun died will be buried tomorrow morn. at Fateyville Church & Mt. Carmell cemetery at Belleville. Berrings had free coon lunch & horse peffer [hasenpfeffer?] last nite called over lines. Louis Schoenborn got tickets for wrestling match at E. St. Louis; Bill [Klein] got Bert [Bertille] & went.

Tuesday, Dec. 5, 1939

Leo’s birthday. Went to Belleville with meat etc. eggs 30 [cents]. Mertz paying 20 [cents] here. They had supper here. Uncle Fred went to Waterloo & A. [Aunt] Mary stayed here this morn; beautiful weather these days.

Monday, Dec. 4, 1939

Butchered 180 lb. hog. Uncle Fred & A. [Aunt] Mary Leo & family were here. Marita stayed all nite.

Sunday, Dec. 3, 1939

Went to Red Bud mass with Bill [Klein], he had Walter Helfrich, Les Becker along. Leo & family came this afternoon & pap went to see Perry May & guy back at Burksville. Bill came took Bert [Bertille] along & Mr & Mrs Walter Sternan & son Roland, all went to Ridgetop Tenn. at Nashville left at 3:30, got there at 10:30, plesent [sic] trip, Mr Sternan went to see his brother Henry who is sick in a sanatorium, had flat tire on way back, left down there at 10:30 Mon. morning & got home about 6 at Smithton, then Bill & Bert & Frank Klein & wife & Louis Schoenborn went to Edwardsville, took Frank to poultry meeting there, altogether made 838 miles trip from Sun. afternoon till Mon. nite. Bert won pencil at poultry meeting, brought a few rocks, like sponge from Tenn.

Thursday, Nov. 30, 1939

Leo & Rose [Rosalia] came, brought her wash along & we washed cloudy & rainy a little hung it in basement, ironed some this afternoon; had dinner & supper here, took Marita along tonite, going to Smithton to Orlets, Mr. birthday, Phyliss invited them send them a card. Rose [Rosalia] hurt her back this morn. lifting heavy. Bill [Klein] came this afternoon, sold another car to Sterns. Send order to Sears for [unclear] for Leo & things. Wagners having supper 6 o’clock for guests. Thanksgiving Day. Bill came, took us along to Lester Gregsons this eve. Gregsons & Wittenauers were there, had Thanksgiving supper by them; played cards, solo & pinochle, had apples & wine.

Wednesday, Nov. 29, 1939

Bert [Bertille] washed, etc. Leo & Rose [Rosalia] came, he & pap hauled sand from woods, with wagon & truck; had dinner & supper here, this afternoon Leo hauled 2 loads wheat – 76 [cents]. Feruer brought load corn. We lost one of our horses, bleed so bad out of mouth up in woods; died this eve; got it home; Johnsons came this eve to get it. Marita stayed here all nite, again. Chicago Mail Order came, everything O.K. but curtain not like ordered.