Friday, May 26, 1939

Went out to Henry’s got wheat; pap went in woods got polls for beans in garden. Nice cool this afternoon, baked cookies, cake, cleaned cut lawn etc. Bill [Klein] came got Bert [Bertille] went to there place, see Mr. [Ignatz] Klein.

Thursday, April 13, 1939

Chas. Helfrich got load hay. We went to Leos awhile, then went to Kleins & by Riess to get 15 doz. eggs @ 16 [cents] white wyandottes. Quite a few people came by Kleins he looks natural; nice flowers they have. Bert [Bertille] got mass card by Fr. Aydt. Uncle Fred & A. [Aunt] Mary came took Bert along to Kleins this eve; house was just crowded; people from all over came; there pay last respects.

Tuesday, March 14, 1939

Baked cookies & pie. Wolferts tuck of Belleville got the heifer $25.00; he had mule, an traded with Gus Blackburn. Uncle Fred & A. [Aunt] Mary came & Bert [Bertille] went along to New Athens to see quilt show; so many beautiful quilts. at Geigers. Went out to see Mrs. Parker for 1/2 hr. Bert [Bertille] went quilting at Firemen’s this eve & nite. Getting colder.

Tuesday, Sept. 20, 1938

Had no frost. We took 2 hogs & went to Leo’s, loaded his calf went to Belleville to Streck’s pap stayed there with baby [Marita]; he got 11 [cents] for calf 157 lb. & we got for 175 lb. $8.60 & 230 lb. $8.75 that’s yesterdays price, today markets when down again. The Young Ladies have card party in school hall tonite; open air if it isn’t to cold. Uncle Fred & A. [Aunt] Mary came here awhile they & Bill & Bert [Bertille] went to euchre in hall, got nothing A. [Aunt] Mary got last price package napkins. 8 points. Leo & family & pap went to Red Bud to wake at Koch’s of Mrs. Isabel Gallagher. Emil came brought a letter with Nic. Brands name on it, it came from Mrs. Ryan of Oxley Mo.; wanting information about Turstenberg family, which she is a relative; to write. The sheriff of Waterloo & Belleville was out in Hecker gathering a few boys that damaged Vera’s property Sun. nite; Clyde Mueth, Clarence Braun, Bill Braun, few others yet, did about $150.00.

Monday, April 4, 1938

Washed, ironed. Uncle Fred & A. [Aunt] Mary came up this afternoon, Bert [Bertille] helped them plant onions. Eggs 14 [cents] yet. Uncle Fred & A. [Aunt] Mary came Bert [Bertille] went along up to Griffins to see Tillie, she looks natural, dressed in her wedding dress, & so many flowers; & mass cards she has; the Altar Sodality & Holy Name Society recited the rosary this eve; so many people there. Henry came got the truck to haul calf of [sic] tomorrow.

Friday, March 25, 1938

Cloudy & cool this morn. hot this afternoon. Bert [Bertille] cleaned etc; sacked load wheat went to Waterloo 21 bus. got 77 [cents] pap went home. Bert got permanent by Colonial Beauty Shop came home with Leo & Rose [Rosalia] they were in from 11 till 3:30; & going back this eve. again. Uncle Fred & A. [Aunt] Mary came to get her coat by Mamie’s. We went out to Henry’s celebrated Rob. birthday; Geodells came out this eve. to, they were at Waterloo at the wake last nit to so had birthday today had cake etc. Started in lightening, getting bleak went home.

Thursday, March 24, 1938

We went to Leo’s today, washed etc. planted potatoe. Mrs. Orlet passed away at 1 o clock this morn; to be at Quernheims tonite. Robert is 12 yrs. old today. Beautiful day; had light frost this morn. was supposed to be 34. Pap went to Smithton Bank. Leo & Rose [Rosalia] came, we went along in to Quernheims, Mrs. Orlet is laid out with black dress & white collar & gray coffin, looks natural, has lot of mass cards, & 4 bouquets flowers; there were quite a few people there this eve. Fr. Joe [Orlet] prayed rosary.

Monday, Nov. 29, 1937

Henry & family & Uncle Fred & Aunt Mary & we each butchered 1 hog here, 179 lbs. & 168 lbs. – 170 lbs.; had lunch, dinner & supper. Leo & Rose [Rosalia] helped also. Emil came over awhile. Aug. Grahlerr Mrs. Joe Watchels father died will be buried Wed. morning at Hecker. We got 8½ for hogs today. Schmidt brought sack feed & articles down.

Thursday, July 29, 1937

Bert [Bertille] baked cake, cooked catsup. Pap went to woods to look for sand. Uncle Fred & A. [Aunt] Mary came, Bert went along to Chester to the wake of Mrs. John McDermott, who passed away yesterday afternoon at 2 ‘ o clock, at Jacksonville Ill, she had been there for 2 weeks, with a nervous break down, in a private place & nurse, while the nurse was just out, she hung herself with a strap; & died; 29 yrs old; they were married will be 2 mons. on 10 of next mo; tomorrow will be taken to her home at Raddle Ill, about 12 miles from Chester, & will be buried there Sat. morn; we met her 2 sisters & brother, being there at the funeral parlor, 2 girls were all school teachers. We were there from 3 to 5:30, people came in & out; John & Ed were there. Leo & Rose came this eve. & we ate watermelons, that A. [Aunt] Mary brought from Sparta, boy what a good melon, we ate it all 22 lb. Mrs. Mehrmann got the eggs. 10 doz. @ 17¢. A fellow here wanted to sell paint. We got 19¢ for our chicks, 77 lbs. – 3 doz. shipping charges 75¢ on coop. We got a new Chicago Mail Order catalog.

Tuesday, June 29, 1937

Worked in garden; went up seen Fr. Aydt; masses said for Uncle Adam; Uncle Fred is working up here again this morn. Rained a little this afternoon. Edwin Reheis looked at the hay. To see if it would be dry enough by tomorrow. Went out to Uncle Adams; so many people there, in & out. Ed came this afternoon by train; Carrie is coming in about 10 days; were he works they send a big bouquet flowers; & children bought 1, has quite few mass cards. Josie Keller & Ella Miller were also out; Mr. & Mrs. Jac Schmidt.