Tuesday, June 28, 1932

We washed, ironed, patched. Clifford told us this morning that Mr. Gambach was found dead in the barn lying on sacks, like a stroke or something. Papa went down to Armstutz’s & got Hy’s team & mowed & cut the alfalfa hay. The New Athen’s cleaners & pressing factory where here with special prices on cleaning dresses, suits & such like all or each for 75¢ each article. Uncle Fred & Aunt Mary where here for lunch & supper, we helped to shell peas. Clara Wagner & the kids came over awhile. George went to the town meeting, then he came over when he got back. Mr. Gambach was 59 yrs. old, he took Lysol poisoning & had the gun lying beside him when they found him on sacks in the barn, he should off told Hy. Armstutz that yesterday was the day, but they watched him pretty close on the 27, but this morning he got away with it. They took him in to Belleville, to undertaking parlor. The paper says he took corsote [sic – creosote].

Friday, May 6, 1932

Uncle Adam is 83 yrs. old today. We planted cabbage & tomatoe [sic] plants out in our truck garden this morning. Papa & Rosalia went out to Henry’s got a load of wheat & took the mule home. We painted our kitchen chairs & table & varnished the floor. Adam Eckerts boy Edmund is awful bad sick, they took him to the hospital yesterday morning & today he got operated on for appendix, they say 4 ins [inches] long. Alphose [?] Parker is bad sick. Mrs. Conrad Rohleder, nee Laura Birkner, Petes daughter, took lysol & was rushed to St. Elizabeth’s hospital where she died this morning 3 o’clock. The funeral will be Monday from the home of Pete Birkner at Belleville to church & cemetery. She took it because her husband is out of work, & she was ill.

Friday, April 22, 1932

Uncle Fred & Aunt Mary where here this eve. Today is Cora Armstutz birthday. They tolled the bell this morning in the Catholic church for Ed Neff’s little boy died last night, it had bad cold & fever. Mrs. Bernius from Smithon [sic- Smithton] hung herself today in her home, worried over her husband’s death about 1 mo. ago. George Schilling bought the Ganley farm today sold at the court house at Waterloo.

Thursday, Jan. 28, 1932

Uncle Fred & Aunt Mary had dinner here. He went down to Red Bud to get medicine, is kind on a sick list. Then he went to Mike Armstutz’s. A Lady was here & wanted eggs. We sewed cabbage seed today. Mrs. Joe Wacthel & Angela Eichenseer where here & the little boy Delmar. The Freeburg banker Mr. Hamil shot himself this morn. at 7:45 the paper says, the bank was in good standing but there was lot of talk & that made it worse for him.

Friday, July 31, 1931

Today is baking day.  This afternoon we all went to Waterloo & from there out to Dillerberg’s sale on the Dr. Vogel place.  Nick Welzbacher is coming there now.  Dr. & Dillenberg where the only biters there, they got everything between themselves.  We had supper at Aunt Mary’s they where up here all afternoon so they had supper ready when we came home.  Hy. Armstutz gave them a call too.  We heard George Neff almost smothered, he is very bad sick.  John Euler from Floraville shot himself last night, he will be buried Mon. in St. Augustine’s cemetery of Hecker.

Friday, March 20, 1931

Today is the starting of 40 hour Adoration in Waterloo.  Papa went up to the store this morning.  Henry came up with the team today, he phoned a piece, & sowed oats, & plowed some, for us to plant potatoes, it was 3 rows, & he also plowed Uncle Fred’s patch for potatoes, so we planted them too.  Henry was here for dinner.  Uncle Fred & Aunt Mary were here for supper, then Aunt Mary, Rosalia, Bertille went to church.  Martha Boll has the measles now.  Elgin Eidman died & was buried this afternoon, & also that Janssen in Belleville that killed his wife & himself was buried this afternoon at Freeburg.  Rosalia had cleaning day upstairs.