Saturday, Dec. 30, 1939

Leo & Rose [Rosalia] came this afternoon took Marita along home this eve; Leo & pap went to Smithton, Leo took 29 bus. of our wheat to Freeburg got 90 [cents] he also went to dentist over there. Awful cold this morn. 10 above & tonite to be zero radio says.

Friday, Dec. 29, 1939

Vi Papbenberg hauled load corn to E. St. Louis for us today. Leo & Rose [Rosalia] came this afternoon. Took our truck along home, did there chores & brought some hogs along back, pap went to help them load; played cards, Bill [Klein] came this eve.

Thursday, Dec. 28, 1939

Cloudy again all day. Leo & family came this afternoon, brought load corn down, coming back tonite again to catch chickens & ship them of; Lengylon on Milsdadt was at Mertz’s at time, so sold them to him; heavy 11 1/2 & light 9 1/2 – 1/2 [cents] lower then market price, had 290 lbs. heavy & 122 light. We had ice cream this eve.

Tuesday, Dec. 26, 1939

Uncle Fred stoped [sic] in, he went to Red Bud to bank. Nice this morn, little cloudy. Pap went to see Fr. Aydt; about renting pew here. Bill [Klein] & Bert [Bertille] went to Belleville this eve; came back pap went along, went to Henry’s. Leo & family were also out there; sure bad weather, snowing heavy; again tonite, not very nice driving on highway.

Monday, Dec. 25, 1939

Christmas. Birkner’s Orlet’s & Brand’s were here, for dinner goose & supper. Bill [Klein] & Bert [Bertille] went to Bill’s mother, Booby & Marcella were also there. Simon Havey stopped in, want to get signers for rock road in blackjacks.

Saturday, Dec. 23, 1939

Snowing this afternoon & heavy, sure is beautiful. Went to Smithton this afternoon to church. Leo & Rose [Rosalia] & Marita came, we killed & cleaned a goose got it from Geo. Cortners. 156 lbs. 12 lb; cleaned it this eve.

Friday, Dec. 22, 1939

Put in tree & cleaned etc. Leo & Rose [Rosalia] & Marita came, brought load corn; we cleaned out basement. Received Christmas greeting from Becker of Red Bud. picture & envelope from Fr. Spors. Cloudy, looks like rain.

Monday, Dec. 18, 1939

We butchered one & 1 for Uncle Fred & A. [Aunt] Mary 220 lb. hog @ $5.65. Leo & family came & Bill [Klein] helped all day; all came back this eve. played cards; had supper.

Saturday, Dec. 16, 1939

Leo & Rose [Rosalia] came down again; this afternoon went to Smithton this afternoon to clean up there. Uncle Fred & A. [Aunt] Mary came this afternoon. Bill [Klein] brought Bert [Bertille] home.

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.