Friday, April 7, 1939

Good Friday. 28 degrees; warmer again for today. Went to church 7 o clock. Uncle Fred & A. [Aunt] Mary stopped in. Pete Hoffmann of near Waterloo died at Querheim Parlor & Mrs. Glessener, Kroll’s sister, passed away to [sic]. Mr. & Mrs. Farbers were here looked at mare. Bert [Bertille] fixed doz. eggs & 9 for A. [Aunt] Mary’s. Went to Red Bud 3 o clock church. heard Fr. Ore Service on radio. Went to Waterloo to see Pete Hoffmann & Mrs. Glessner, they have 3 people laid out, being awful busy all week. Mr. Hill came collected telephone dues. Bert Thompson & family going to move on Weber Farm & Webers moving to New Athens.

Tuesday, Nov. 2, 1937

Went to 6 clock mass, All Souls Day. Went to Waterloo to 9 clock requiem high mass. Elder place was to be sold at court house, but was posponed [sic] on account of some heirs not being mentioned. Phil Mueth has it for sale 80 acres of ground. Uncle Fred & A. [Aunt] Mary were up for church. Armstutzs were to see them last nite. Chris Buehler stopped got the hide from Henrys heifer to take to Drosts in St. Louis. Papa went to see Etling by Smithton this afternoon. It is getting colder this evening. Emil got some more furnitures from Querheim.

Friday, May 28, 1937

We went to Fr. Eschmann’s funeral at 9:30 the priests & relatives had dinner in Memorial Hall, they buried him at Belleville in afternoon, went through Hecker at 1:15 – 40 cars & 4 police cops; pretty large funeral but not like Fr. Stern’s; according to the size of church & parish, we stopped at Henry’s had dinner there Leona & Floyd & Billy [Willis] stayed at home; Fr. had so many bought bouquets, took them all out before mass; were also quite a few priests there, in Red Bud 87. Bishoff made sermon, also another Monsigor; he [Fr. Eschmann] looked natural, only didn’t have no glass lid, like Fr. Stern; otherwise same coffin. Querherheims [sic] in charge, we all got pictures in remembrance of both priests, he was 75 yrs. old; was born at Belleville. Uncle Fred & A. Mary were up this afternoon; working. The Catholic School children have there play this eve. the quilt was won by J. Griffin; hall was crowded Aunt Mary said; Fr. Orlet & Feonnies & Ayal. were present.

Wednesday, Feb. 17, 1937

Leo and Rose came, we went along to funeral sure large, from chapel at Querheim’s to Red Bud church 10 ‘clock high Mass, then to Red Bud cemetery, were he [Omer Schilling] was laid to rest, beside his mother, father & sister. He made a will yr. ago Dec. before he got operated for tonsils, he willed $1,000 for masses for himself, & $1,000 for his father & mother, $60 for poor souls of Hecker, Red Bud & Waterloo; $1,000 for Geo. Schilling; they opened the will yesterday; at Waterloo; the pallbearers were all cousins, George, Chas. Jerome Schilling, & Eugene Reed, Joe Neary, Martha’s husband, Hoeffener, Edna’s husband; beautiful purple coffin & vault, laid out nice, may his soul rest in peace. Uncle Fred & Aunt Mary went to L. Birkners, he is pretty ill, thinks his heart is going to stop; called Oscar & Frank this morn, they went down to Chrs. Buehlers now, pretty bad there to Christ is pretty sick. Uncle Fred came stayed all nite. A. Mary stayed at L. Birkner’s tonite.

Monday, Feb. 15, 1937

Uncle Fred went to L. Birkners & we & A. Mary went out to Henrys butchering 2 pigs. Tonite Leo & Rose & A. Mary us went to Querheim’s to see Omer he is layed [sic] out so nice; they were going to come out Sun; while the rest went to church, he went in bathroom & killed himself with razor blade, cut his throat. Oh My Oh My: poor boy; sure terrible.

Thursday, Jan. 21, 1937

Uncle Fred & Aunt Mary stayed here all nite had breakfast here, we went to bed at 3 ‘o clock this morning dance lasted till 1:30, also had keg beer, box cigars, lemonade etc.; Pap & Rose & Bert went to Orlets. Querheims brought in the furniture, Eichenseers the stove, all had dinner there, Isd. is still there, the old folks live in Smithton now. We have so much of everything left, cake, pie; sure bad today ice – Aunt May send her a $5.00 wedding present. Val Adams & Gusta were out for the dance; just everybody was there. Hy & family & Lizzie Boll, came to see the presents & helped to wrap them, Leo & Rose & Isd. came to, this eve. they got stuck first in the lane, road; We cleaned up on wedding cake, sent a piece to Uncle Adam, Fr. Stern & Orlet & his housekeeper Ann & Aunt Mary, drank beer, even had to throw about 1 gal. of it away yet. Is. brought the paper along, the write up was in the New Democrat.

Thursday, Oct. 31, 1935

Halloween. Leona came & got the boy’s; they came home from the wedding, about 12 o’clock, Hilda’s dad didn’t come over; in the evening. Gus, Dan & Geo. Geodelle’s families were there, & Mrs. Susenwind & family were there all day; swell supper & beautiful cakes, 2 kegs beer. Started painting the houses, window frames today; Pap went to Red Bud got oil & things, chick feed. Walter & Hilda got 1 bedroom no kitchen, furniture from Querheim. Henry brought load corn. We went to Belleville. Uncle Fred & Aunt Mary were up, she won a quilt last night, playing 1 gamelotto.

Monday, May 27, 1935

We girls, Uncle Fred & Aunt Mary & Leona & Billy went to church, Mrs. Eulers funeral, from Querheim Chapel at Waterloo to Hecker Church 9′ o clock; large funeral quite a few flowers. Just 18 yrs. mother dead. Henry & boys came up to make hay, had dinner. Emil came with the wagon this afternoon, & Pete Watchel helped yet, all had lunch here. It started in to rain, so they didn’t get finished with the hay. G. Wagner here a little while. Eggs 21¢ today. Rogation Day’s.

Wednesday, Nov. 15, 1933

We washed, ironed. Papa went out to Henry’s, talk with the culpert boss. Cleaning chicken houses, putting in clean straw. Mrs. Jim Ganley, (“Liza Otto”) died this morning at 9:30. Uncle Fred & Aunt Mary came & we all went out to the wake, stayed all night, had supper, left 4:30, there was a few more there. Mrs. Schilling & Ben, Chas Kern & sons came after 12 o’clock. Freund boys prayed the rosary. She will be buried Sat. morn. Querheims have the funeral, they didn’t have her away. Rose is sick with swollen head.

Saturday, July 29, 1933

Today Aunt Lizzie got buried, she had gray coffin & dress, it was an awful large funeral, Querheim Undertaker, went to church at 10 ‘o clock, had blessing & sermon, organ & choir, ringing bells just like other ones only no mass, priest went to the Catholic Cemetery & said prayers. Dudenhoeffers where all out, that is Frank’s, Sig, Ludwigs’ & Adams, & others from St. Louis; people from all over. We came home by Red Bud, can’t hardly travel the roads now they are jetting the fills & makes it all mud. Uncle Fred & Aunt Mary came here for dinner. Aunt Lizzie was buried in a vault & looked natural.