Thursday, Nov. 23, 1939

Thanksgiving Day. Leo & family came had dinner & supper here, he plowed potatoe ground. Rose [Rosalia] & Bert [Bertille] went to Red Bud to Wedding mass of Marcella Gregson & Leslie Heyl; very pretty wedding, bride had long train white Satin dress with short veil & her attendants 2 sisters, one in rust & green with veils & wreath to match dresses; Walter gave her away & best man were Robert Heyl & Cletus Gregson; during the ceremony a terrible earthquake, roared just shook the church, people all went out, for a few mins, some places it was awful bad. Jerome Cortner house Chimney was cracked & did damage several other places; some plaster fell in Red Bud church, Gregson & Heyl had wedding dance at Log Cabin & Jerome Schilling & Elizabeth Shields had there wedding dance at Pautlers. Uncle Fred & A. [Aunt] Mary came here, then they went to Waterloo to dance, there is also one at Brezzy Hill tonite. Bill [Klein] came this eve. The Thanksgiving & Turkey dinner was a big run out of Turkey had to served pork sausage, had fed 600 at 2′ o clock – turkey was all; had awful crowd.

Friday, Sept. 22, 1939

Nice cool day. Bert [Bertille] cleaned 2 rooms upstairs. Pap took chev. to Red Bud get oil changed. 5048 mi. this afternoon. Seen in paper, some thieves were around Waterloo on S. Market & Morrison Ave. took money from Wedel home & some others. Chris Buehlers celebrating their Silver Wedd. today 25 yrs. giving a free dance at Log Cabin tonite, musci [sic] by Irene, Wilma & Oliver Birkner & Dilbert Mueth; have posters up. Uncle Fred & A. [Aunt] Mary stopped in on there way down. Bill [Klein] came this eve. On Sept. 11 Lester Gregsons 10th Wedd Ann.

Wednesday, Sept. 13, 1939

Went to Orlet’s. Pap made troughs etc.; picked potatoes through, had dinner & supper there. Sure hot. Leo & family came this eve. & pap went along to Waterloo church pinic [sic]. Bill [Klein] came down, we stayed at home. Lee Gregson & Vera Schmidt were published 1st time last Sun. here. Alvin Voges & Marcella Pabst having wedding dance at Log Cabin on Sept. 24; the day of Hecker’s Firemens pinic [sic] & fish fry.

Wednesday, Aug. 23, 1939

Nice day. Uncle Fred’s Wedd. Ann.; also the weddingt today of Orville Schmidt & Loretta Braun church at 9 o clock here; wedding dance at Log Cabin; Uncle & Aunt Mary stopped in, then went down. Written cards invitation. Bill [Klein] brought 3 heifers down this morn, pap bought from Mrs. Klein $40.00. Walsh Student for priesthood was here taking order for Ex. Magzaine [sic], will be his last yr. ordered it for 2 yrs. now. for $5.00; he had dinner here with us chicken soup. They were 2 ladies here from Belleville Antique buyers. sold fruit bowl for $1. & milk pitcher corn. for 25 [cents]. Cooked catsup made carrot relish, pumpkin pie, applesauce cookies. etc. Henry was up got bu. fallen peaches for preserves & catsup tomatos [sic]. Schmidts received so many presents; cakes were served by Katzler bakery of St. Louis. Schmidt Och. played for dance. attendants were Mary Braun a sister & Dorthy Peiffer friend & Schmidt brother & Clarence Dashner of Red Bud a friend, a new home is being erected in Red Bud near Gregson’s Filling Station.

Sunday, Aug. 20, 1939

Went to mass. Martin Fahey was buried last day, he was in church on holiday 15. died suddenly. Mr. Geo Braun, of Hecker is getting buried this afternoon at Red Bud 1:30. Orville Schmidt & Lorreta Braun were published last time today, wedding Wed. morn. here at 9 o clock mass; Uncle Fred & A. [Aunt] Mary, Henrys family & Gregsons are all invited with special cards, of invitation to Log Cabin Wed eve. that is also Uncle Freds wedding day. Mr Clem Parker & Mamie Eichenseer were published 1st time here morn. Bill [Klein] & Bert [Bertille] went down Miss. bottoms this afternooon. Rained again little shower. Freeburg have Homecoming.

Saturday, June 17, 1939

Went to Orlet’s; they finished cutting last nite & shocked this morn. Bert [Bertille] baked coffee cake with dewberries, & canned 2 qts. Went to Waterloo church this afternoon. Wittenauers started cutting wheat here. Mrs. Rob. Groom (Kate Birkner) is being buried this afternoon at Belleville, she died on operation table. Sure is hot, & oats bugs terrible. Louis Cawell is giving a barn dance in the new barn tonite. Susie Gal of Hills is appearing at Log Cabin with “Sons of Ozarks.”

Wednesday, April 26, 1939

Bert [Bertille] cleaned kitchen etc. Pap worked garden cooked kettle soap; went fishing this afternoon, got 6 nice fish. “Susie Gal of Hills,” playing for a dance at Log Cabin Sat. nite & her gang. Ball players having a dance at White Pine Thurs. nite at Hirst corner, free dance & fish fry. Karl Boll was here on business for Ralph Etling.

Sunday, April 23, 1939

Went to Paderborn mass, went to Leo’s, had dinner & supper. Uncle Fred & A. [Aunt] Mary were there too all day. Bill [Klein] & Bert [Bertille] went to church this afternoon; at Paderborn. There was a bad accident by Log Cabin Frid. morn. early, 1 being killed James Moore & Ray Roscow & Seifert boy are in hospital, not in very good condition, Roscow is unconsicous [sic].

Friday, Sept. 23, 1938

Bert finished cleaning upstairs. Baked cake etc. Pap took lime dust spreader home out to Henrys with team & wagon, was going to help him spread but he wasn’t ready to start yet. Transfers in Waterloo paper Homringhausen Bro. to Chr. [unclear] Buehler. Going to be a free wedding dance at Log Cabin & one at MidWay Inn tomorrow nite; don’t know who is getting married. Went to Leo’s this eve. cut lawn etc. Leo took his dad home.

Sunday, July 24, 1938

Hot. Went to first mass. Uncle Fred & A. [Aunt] Mary stopped awhile. Becker Ins. agent came brought policy title back for our car. Henry & family came had supper here. Bill Klein & Bobby & Al, Bertha, Elsie Karban & Marcella Schilling & 2 brothers all came wanted to go to Fort Chartres, but we were getting company so Bill stayed rest left, took his car anyway. When they got to Fort Chartres. Fr. Wishkamp from Paderborn & Buddy Karban & Jerome Haudrich caught them, they all went to Ferry crossed it went to Kaskaskia to church pinic [sic], were Fr. came from; he paid all expenses 10 in all, had supper there; payed $1 a car & 15 [cents] a piece to cross ferry, they all had a wonderful time. We went to Karbans this eve. ate watermelons. Joe Schilling’s threshing run had free beer at Kaburecks to nite & lawn party. Walter Gregsons celebrating 25 yr. silver Wedding inn at Log Cabin tonite. Uncle Fred & A. [Aunt] Mary went. Fr. Spors was there made a speech. Schmidt Orchestra, playing musci [sic]. Renneker’s, Emil were all down. Nic Cortner died Belleville hospital this morn. sometime buried at Hecker.