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, Nov. 17, 1939

Marita was sick last nite, vomiting & fever, they took her to Dr. Pautler’s this morn; were here all day he [Leo] & papa went in wood, to make posts for corn crib floor, had dinner & supper here. We packed things belonging to Bert [Bertille]; cleaned out cupboards; man here wanted bread. Seen in paper Jerome Schilling & Elizabeth Shields getting married Thanksgiving Day with dance at Pautlers Hall. Archie Wihel have baby girl – makes 2 girls & 1 boy in family.

Thursday, May 12, 1938

Cloudy this morn. Pap went to Shields look at pigs. bought 3 – $5 a piece. Raining nearly all day. Bert [Bertille] went to Red Bud mass; stayed till 11 o’clock. Leona went down this afternoon. We went up to Leo’s, cleaning, had supper there. Bert [Bertille] went long down with Leo, to Red Bud stayed all nite. Geo. Wiegands have baby at Belleville hospital. The rooms are all filled in Red Bud Hospital now.

Wednesday, May 11, 1938

Bert [Bertille] went to Red Bud mass & brought Leona home & took her home. Uncle Fred & A. [Aunt] Mary staying there all day. Pap cleaned chicken house & hauling lumber home this afternoon, from Schillings. Ed Brand & wife came from Alba. [Alabama] are visiting here with a new hudson car, swell big car. Leo & Bert [Bertille], went to hospital, Leo stayed all nite; Bert [Bertille] came home with Uncle Fred. Mr. Shields was here this evening. We planted sweet potatoes & tomato.