Friday, March 10, 1933

We fixed Aunt Marys pillow cases for the pinic [sic]. Henry & family came up, & the kids stayed here & Bertille went along to Belleville with them, & got a few articles. Ben Rausch’s farm was advertised for public auction last Sat. but no bid was made on it, so it wasn’t sold. The Schoenborn farm of 117 acres near Paderborn was sold last Sat. Mar 4, at public auction. John Schoenborn purchase the farm for $4000.00. Ed Neff build a piece to his blacksmith shop. Henry Kern recently moved from Mrs. Philip Brauns property, to Smithon [sic], Mr. Walter Hecke & family moved into Braun’s property. Henry Schenider’s daughter of Waterloo was confined to their home for having case of diptheria, & Walter Jauger having chicken pox. It is awful cold out tonite.

Wednesday, Feb. 22, 1933

Washington’s birthday, Frieda Buehler’s, Martha Boll’s birthdays. Freida called this morn, wanted to know if Aunt Mary was here, but they ain’t up here, she has a quilt in the frame, what she got from Mrs. Birkner. The paper is just full of stuff where one man tried to shoot the president elect, but missed him, on account of such a crowd, but he shot the mayor of Chicago, but, he is on the road to recover. Papa took Mr. Ed. Meng to Smithon this morn. Mamie came down awhile to get her hair curled. Uncle Fred & Aunt Mary came here, then we all went up to the euchre except papa. Rosalia had 11 points & got pair pillow cases. Uncle Fred had 9, got a silver cake or bread plate. The beautiful quilt was won by Louisa Braun, the spread Dr. Isselhardt of Belleville, & Infant set, Harold Eichenseer & a pair pillow cases, for attendance prize by Mrs. Fred Riselmier of Red Bud, such a crowd from all over, Red Bud, Evansville, Paderborn, 44 tables, 34 euchre & 10 pinochle. Adm. 25¢. Huber & Jonny McDermott was also at the euchre. There where so many prizes, lot of 7! got a prize, 100 prizes; a cake with Washington as a prize, Paul Parker won it, & all other kind of prizes.

Tuesday, Feb. 14, 1933

St. Valentine’s Day, & turning cold again, rain & sleet. We got a bottle of bluing today by mail from so Co. got the Chicago Mail Order catalog. There was a fellow around & brought a bottle of medicine good for everything. Rosalia took a dose after supper. Henry Armstutz was here this morn. There was a guy around delivering Freedman Bros. papers sale. Red Bud & Waterloo are giving euchres this evening, but it is an awful bad nite, so we didn’t go. Ironed & quilt today. Mrs. Schenider called up & wanted setting eggs, but we haven’t any right now. The hard road is awful slick, there was a car turned over in front of Ed Parker’s, & Vic Braun & Paul Neff turned over in Smithon [sic] at Siebert store, they where coming home from St. Louis. Ralph Rausch turned over with his lic. [ed. note: unclear] Willie Heyl’s boy is being buried this afternoon at Waterloo.

Saturday, July 9, 1932

This morning about 12:30 or 1 o’clock every body was roused out for church bell ringing, rings over the lines of the fire at Phil Braun’s shed. It burned completely down to the ground, but saved the house & other buildings. Papa went up with a bucket, they had Smithon [sic] & New Athens fire department, got the water out of Stehefest’s pond & from the neighboring wells. It must of started by the truck, & horn kept blowing & roused Phil out, he went to the shed, broke the door in & the truck was all on flames, they couldn’t save much out of the shed, got the old Ford out & Lester Gregson’s truck. The oil barrels just shot up in the air, it looked terrible, the tin roof on & around the house saved it, & Lizzie Parkinson’s. Mrs. Rennecker came over here that while it took about 1½ to 2 hrs. It is still fire there today yet. We went to Belleville this afternoon. Steve Rennecker came over this evening. Rosalia went over to see Mrs. Hill’s flowers, she called up & said she should come over and look at them. It rained a few shower this evening. Henry was up & got some milk, he was here awhile. Josie Keller went past down to Ben Heyl’s.

Friday, April 29, 1932

Last day for schools at most places. It rained last nite, & all day. Bad for the funerals today. Ed Parker’s have a barn dance, tonite we where invited, but the weather was unfavorable, & didn’t go. Mr. & Mrs. Marshall Hill of Smithon [sic] have a little baby boy born in St. Elizabeths Hospital the other day.

Friday, March 18, 1932

It is nice an warm again today. Papa went down to Bert Thompson to see if could make a trade, & then he went to Smithon, to Stell’s farm to see a heifer. Albert Cleveland’s family, Emil & Loui Armstutz where here playing cards this eve. The men played solo & we & rest played pinochle, Grover & Bertille partner, we won 5 games. Bertille had 1500 trump diamonds, & one time 800 kings & 300 pinochle & 100 aces. Rosalia had 1500 spades, pretty good luck. Uncle Fred & Aunt Mary where here awhile, till church time, then went there & then home, they was afraid of there road. It rained awhile, but after ward’s clear off this evening.

Wednesday, Feb. 3, 1932

We sold 22 doz. eggs at Belleville for $3.44 some 14¢ & 17¢. George Bernius of Smithon is getting buried this afternoon there, also a sale Sieberts too this afternoon. Not such a nice Wedding day for Pearl & Lawrence Matthews. It rained at Belleville but not here. Henry & Leona the kids, came up 4 o clock, the kids stayed all night, we went along with them to Waterloo to Gus Geodell’s then up to Jac. Goedell’s, then out to Foster Pond’s the Wedding dance & an awful big crowd present. His brother & her cousin where best. Irvin Elbrecht have a little boy born today, seen in the paper.

Monday, February 1, 1932

Mr. Ed Volkmann is getting buried at Evansville this morn, last week they buried Mrs. now he died too. We washed, ironed, patched, baked bread, cleaned chicken house. There was a agent here selling kerose mantle lamps, & another party here & bought 2 dox. eggs 18¢. Ed Neff’s have a little baby boy born today 10½ lbs. Thehoders [sic-Theodore] Hellmer of Red Bud will be buried tomorrow. George Bernius of Smithon died this morning. Buddy Ettling was here a little while. It started raining a little this evening.