Thursday, Jan. 23, 1936

In St. Louis it was 11 degrees below zero, this morning, pretty cold; but some places it is 66 & 55 below, tonight it is to be zero here, getting warmer, snow this morn, now sunshine. Papa went to Red Bud to see butcher & paid pew rent; Went to Mertz, wants to ship our calf. Hartmann of below Red Bed was here, looked at the horse. Mrs. A. Eckert & Roland Birkner’s birthday anniversary; this is the coldest weather ever been here, they claim; anyway when you ain’t use to it; have to making fire all the time. Calf 13¢.

Friday, Jan. 17, 1936

Hauptman, killer of Lindberg’s baby was to be put in electric chair today, but now has 30 more das [sic] radio said. Pap got load wood for basement. Cloudy today, east wind. pap got stuck going to the wood pile, & Jac Ganley pulled him put, he didn’t get no wood; he gave him 25¢. Mehrmann came got the eggs – 5 doz. 21¢. Uncle Fred & Aunt Mary came got there saussage [sic] & grease. Rose & Berti went to Waterloo, got Rose shoes fixed & went to Geodells to see Leona for hour; she is pretty good but can’t walk very good yet. Authur Mechler who worked in Jung’s store, is not employed at Philips gas station north R.3 highway. Vicint Heck have a baby boy, now has 4 children. Mrs Matt Stahlmann died of a Auto accident Christmas eve, was buried this week. Mrs Rob. Mertz is recovering slowly, was operated at St. Mary Hospital, some one gave pt. blood to her. Mr Geodelle is laid up with lumbago; Ray has swollen cheeks.

Tuesday, Aug. 27, 1935

We washed cloudy day no sunshine, Mertz got 2 coops chickens, young & old we shipped to St. Louis 33 young & 15 old. Gus Klotz & Aeron Papbenberg went to Centralia yesterday & got peaches. Uncle Fred & Aunt Mary were up, he helped to fix stands up for the pinic [sic] tomorrow. We went out to Henry’s this evening, put up hair.

Tuesday, July 2, 1935

Henry & papa went to Red Bud to see Ratz. Baked cookies canned 5½ qts beets & 1 can beans; had chicken dinner. There was a car went by just like a train, from Hollywood; Motion Picture Studio. was very pretty. an airplane flew south west real low this morn. Papa went out to help Henry cut oats again, the Whip. stopped coming home on the other side of town, he called for Rose to come, pull him in now it works again. had lunch out there. Uncle Fred & Aunt Mary came up, she & Berti went over to Minnies Staufenbiels, tried her dress; they had lunch here, & she went back over there again. Celestine Neff is working for Mrs. Mertz taking care of the baby Mrs. she is help out in the store, when the mail comes in.

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.

Thursday, June 20, 1935

Cleaned chicken houses. Rained morning & afternoon. Mrs. Rennecker came to talk over the phone, theres dosen’t [sic] work. Berti took eggs to Merz’s got 19¢. Papa made another girl with a can..

Saturday, June 15, 1935

Papa went over to Meng’s a little to see the barn. We got the check for our chickens that we shipped, got 17¢ medium springs & broilers 15½¢. & heavy hens 16½¢. Mertz charged 65¢ for hauling. Papa & Rose went to Waterloo with a load wheat; got 73¢ bu; there was also a train wrecked, sale on Rickert lot; things sold so cheap, papa bought paint for $1.50 & 80¢ gal; vanilla 2 bottle $1. for 25¢ etc so much. Rose went to Hecker, paid Ted Eichenseer for house insurance $24.90; some cheaper than last year. Eggs 20¢. We went to Waterloo to Pautler’s, Paderborn baseball club gave a dance, Moonlighters playing.

Thursday, June 13, 1935

Henry & family came up 5:30, him & papa went horse trading to Okawville, Red Bud etc; had lunch, dinner & supper. Rain this afternoon & warm. Wagners kids were over. Catholic church pinic [sic] at Dupo, today, we have chances to win $125.00 cash & $30 quilt, 4 times. raffling. Eggs 19¢. Berti bought 1 bar soap & got a chance to win a water set by Mertz store. Rained all nite.

Wednesday, May 22, 1935

Finished the dresses. Uncle Fred & Aunt Mary came here, then went to Belleville, they brought us 5¢ – 2 gal. skim milk along from the creamery, to make cheese. Papa got hair cut. We cleaned hen house, & put the young spring roosters over & fed them up to sell. Clifford gave up his job by Waterloo, & came back to Meng’s again now. Eggs are 20½¢ at Mertz today. Uncle Fred & Aunt Mary came up, she went to church. It started in to rain again a little this evening & cloudy.

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.