Friday, Dec. 15, 1939

Leo & Rose [Rosalia] came down; worked in barn. Wetzler of Maeystown died of rabbit fever & his wife is also sick. Paul McDermott son of Luke McDermott was out hunting Tues. nite, with his brother & cousin Willie & Ed Crook; he got tired stopped & built a fire & must of fell asleep clothing caught fired & was burned so badly & died. Elmer Matzenbacher & Emil Geodell found him called for doctor & took him to hospital.

Friday, Nov. 10, 1939

Raining nearly all morn. Leo & family came this afternoon, he went to New Athens to dentist, she stayed here, we made pillows. Seen in Waterloo paper Ed McDermott of Washington have baby boy Charles Luke born Oct. 31 at Washington Providence Hospital. Bill & Bert [Bertille] went to see Bill’s mother & Booby. Fr. Joe Orlet & his dad were here this eve. on business.

Sunday, April 16, 1939

Cloudy with showers. Went to mass. Children made there first Holy Communion; all dressed in white. Uncle Fred & A. [Aunt] Mary stopped in after mass awhile. Hubert McDermoot & Miss Schmidt were published for 2nd. time today. Mr. & Mrs. Lerow Haudrich are having there wedding dance at Totsch’s tonite, Uncle Fred & A. [Aunt] Mary got invitation card. The Happy Ramblers Orc. are playing & giving a dance at Kammlers tonite. Bill [Klein] came Bert [Bertille] went along to Dr. Eckerts, he wanted to pay him.

Thursday, Jan. 12, 1939

Cloudy again today. We cleaned chicken house; painted chairs for Marita, had piegeon [sic] for supper. The Christmas card I send to Ed. McDermott at Washington D.C. came back unclaimed, it sure is funny it came back. Klotz’s family & Wagner’s family all got vaccinated for small pox.

Saturday, Oct. 8, 1938

Pap hauled load wheat to Waterloo it starting to get hot, got 60 [cents] a bu. We took another load in the afternoon, then went to Burksville to Zimmer’s sale, bought nothing. Uncle Fred & A. [Aunt] Mary were also there she bought few articles. Bert [Bertille] varnished kitchen floor this eve. after supper. Chas. McDermott, Luke’s son & Austin’s [? – unclear] brother passed away false report – he is in hospital from a fatal accident, falling of a truck several day ago. Pap went to Emil’s awhile. Bert [Bertille] listened to radio & fix curtains.

Wednesday, Sept. 7, 1938

Harry Witteanuer [sic] was here. Bill [Klein] came, took our car & all went to State Fair at Duquoin & people about 150 mil trip, enjoyed it wonderfully, & seen things, never have seen before, most exciting attractions were Jimmie Lynch & his 2 hr. circus of death dodgers; real dare devil, went through fire seated in his dodge. Went to Donahue’s to Ed. McDermott & Beat Friel wedding dance which took place in St. Louis; both of Washington DC big crowd, Chas Irose & girlfriend best; bride & them came 9:30. from St. Louis, received a few gifts. From reports Chris Buehler is going to move out on farm occupied by Buettner by Red Bud traded [unclear] for farm.

Saturday, Aug. 20, 1938

Pap went to Waterloo to see The Eddy place being sold by McDermott the heirs. Phil Mueth got it $2350.00 – 80 acres almost $30. @ acre; him & Geo. Schiling were the bidders. Went to Maeystown this eve. to see Louis Schilling had a mower for sale, sold it yesterday for $10.00, just were to late; stopped at Henry’s .

Saturday, April 16, 1938

Cleaned 2 roosters for tomorrow, had soup dinner. Pap went to meeting at Kammler’s hall. Henry stopped in. Uncle Fred & A. [Aunt] Mary came, pap went along to Log Cabin, sale of the late Kate McDermott; didn’t buy nothing. Pap went to Emil’s.

Friday, April 1, 1938

April Fools. Pap went in woods finished hauling wood. Bert [Bertille] cleaned bedroom, & hall etc. Uncle Fred & A. [Aunt] Mary came, were at Belleville brought a curtain stretcher along for me [Bertille]. Transfer in Waterloo paper of Dav. & Joe. Donahue to Bill Donahue. Huber McDermott is selling the furniture etc. of Catherine McDermott at Log Cabin on 16 Apr.

Wednesday, Dec. 29, 1937

Foggy day again. Bert [Bertille] washed. Emil came over awhile this morn. Pap & him walked up to Frank Emery’s funeral this afternoon 2 o’clock services at house; then to city cemetery, he was 63 yrs. of age. had been ruptured some time ago; Pallbearers were Vic Eichenseer, Jac. Neff, Steve Rennecker, Oscar Klotz, Adolph Lother, Bill Fritsche. Wagner boy’s came got 4 doz. eggs for Mehrmann 25 [cents] today. Mrs. Bill Kaiser was taken to hospital in ambulance yesterday, double pneumonia, for 6 days; had Dr. Frein & nurse out yesterday also. Mr. Martin Fritsche here in town also has double pneumonia; so much sickness around & real weather for it to. Miss Kate McDermott who was making her home in St. Louis past while, suffered stroke Sun. morn, was taken to Red Bud hospital, were there she died, will be buried tomorrow morn, at Tipton church & cemetery at Koch [? – unclear]. Wagner’s family came this eve; we play 7 games pinochle, ladies winning every game.