Friday, Dec. 31, 1937

Cleaned etc. Henry stopped in, got crushing done. Mrs. Geodelle is sick. Bert [Bertille] got mail, New Years Greeting from Helfrich girls, & card from Dupo, having the last raffle, for the church forbid it now, 1st prize quilt 2 $25 – 3 $20 – 4 – $10 – 5 – $5 to be raffled tonite but we got it to late, can’t send it back – $1. they wanted. Seen in Waterloo paper transfer of 105 acres from Emil Brand to Ed. Brand; never heard nothing about it; Received enveplope [sic] from Fr. Spors for Sunday collections 50 [cents] every Sun. it says.

Wednesday, December 1, 1937

Bert [Bertille] went to funeral of Mr. Grahlerr to church, wasn’t so large. Pallbearers were Geo. Parker, Geo & Joe Groosheim, Joe Gregson, Nic Helfrich, Ignatz Neff. Henry & Leona went to Belleville left Billy [Willis] here. Washed this afternoon, scrubbed basement, washed kettles. Emil came but didn’t stay, we were busy. Mr. Herbert looked at horse. Emil came over, again this eve. awhile; he told us Louie Gregson was ill; Alf. Eckert upset his dodge Sun. eve. by Belleville. Otto Koch’s girl Erma is missing since Sun. nite, got the fellow down in Chester, but he didn’t talk up yet; she is from Red Bud.

Saturday, July 31, 1937

Went out to Henry’s threshing oats this afternoon. Had them for lunch, got 676 bus. pap hauled some of our share home; Uncle Fred helped him unload. Mrs. Geodelle & Bert [Bertille] & Leona, that was all she had. Isd. Helfrich is pretty sick, had doctor, priest yesterday afternoon; high fever. Uncle Fred & A. [Aunt] Mary came this eve. we went along to Smithton HomeComing. what a crowd; they said 20,000 people; attendance prize every hr; Henry Rittmeyer was one of the winners, to receive $1. prize.

Thursday, June 17, 1937

Rain last nite & all morning showers. Bert [Bertille] washed few clothes & dresses, A. [Aunt] Mary’s front door curtains. Ed. Watchel & Lester Bruns both have new second hand cars. Mrs. Jake Helfrich is being buried this morn. at Paderborn, church at St. Mary’s [ed. note – should be St. Michael’s], then out to cemetery. She is Louis Mueth’s daughter, sister to Mike, John & Joe. Helfrichs have 12 children 7 boy & 5 girls. 1 girl died; pretty large family. Jake is manager carpenter for Relief Work. on the W.P.A. Project at Belleville. She was 43 yrs. ill 3 mons. taken to hospital on Mon. Fr. Orlet has charge of funeral, Fr. was sick to, had touch of pneumonia, but is better again now. Went to Waterloo 13 bus. wheat @ $1.18 best price; got paint for house, stopped at Henry’s; he is building a toilet, in ground one. Went to Wagner’s, Berniece fainted this morn, turned real blue & pale, called doctor, he says stomach trouble, she ate to green cherries yesterday; Mehrmann got the eggs @ 16¢. we had 8 dozen.

Wednesday, June 16, 1937

We have 10 little pigs born Sun. nite. Raining this morn. baked cookies. Mr. Jake Helfrich’s wife of Belleville was taken to hospital & died; nee Mueth of Paderborn. Uncle Fred & A. [Aunt] Mary came this afternoon picked cherries. We went to Leo’s; picked dewberries, not ripe enough yet, picked about 1½ gal.; took few home just to eat; Rose made jelly, had lunch there. Cut lawn & broke the mower, in wheel. Went out to see Uncle Adam & Emil, he is in bed, there all day, don’t eat much & can’t sleep, has awful back pain, the doctor came when we were there, he says its old age & cold in kidneys. Emil doesn’t get much sleep either had to be there day & nite, Uncle lies nearly all day, can’t sit up & nite he sits & can’t lie down. We stopped at Henry’s on way home; they picked the cherries, ½ gal. & peas, almost milk bucket full, & ain’t finished yet; she has beets to can to; lots work.

Tuesday, May 4, 1937

We washed, ironed patched, rain & heavy showers & hail, this afternoon & eve; we planted cabbage & sweet potatoes plants out; Request card for Jim & Dick to play a No. for paps birthday came over radio today. A guy here selling apple, took pk. 45¢. Chas. Helfrich & son got load hay $11.00 & 17 bus. oats @ 60¢ & wheat 1½ @ $1.27; all feed for his stock & chickens, he is going to move on Mrs. Wihelms farm, by Red Bud. Eichenseers are in  & Co. are having a Purina Meeting & Show at Kammlers free tonite, “Hidden Harvest,” we seen it last year at Red Bud; were pap got 25 chicks attendance prize. tonite they are giving as prizes 2 – 25 lb. sacks purina feed & dairy hopper. We went to the show, pretty nice crowd hall filled for conditions of weather. Ed. Parker & Adam Brauns won the feed & Al. Cleveland the hopper.

Monday, May 3, 1937

Pap’s 59 birthday. Pretty nice this morn, but rain, thunder all afternoon. Pap went to see Chas. Helfrich about selling hay. Pap took eggs up 16¢ brought beef bone had soup for dinner. Uncle Fred & Aunt Mary, Henry & family & Leo & Rose were all here this eve; had lemonade & cake.

Thursday, April 29, 1937

Cleaned dining room, awful warm. Olive Laut was here, wanted duck eggs. Chas. Helfrich got load hay this afternoon; $12.70. A fellow here selling fish; we didn’t take none. Sly. Kabureck is at Belleville Hospital operation appendix getting along well; took Mrs. Joe Kaiser in Mon. to be operated appendix.

Sunday, April 25, 1937

Pretty cool today, with some showers, went to Red Bud mass, went with Henry & family to Uncle Fred’s for dinner & supper. Leo & Rose were also over. Uncle Fred & A. Mary came. Bert [Bertille] went along to Floraville to Boeker’s Wedding dance, Boy! what a crowd; Girls played. Rained a little. We got in the ditch coming home, he drove along the side of the road on account of holes & oil, got in rut & went right in the ditch. Lee Gregson & Isd. Helfrich came along Lee took his tire chains & hooked on bumper & pulled it out backwards, Leo & Lee pushed, Isd. drove; would of never got out if he wouldn’t of pulled it out. Uncle put his chains on also.

Wednesday, April 7, 1937

Bert went along with Ivo Buehler to Leo’s, helped ironed, patch, had dinner & supper there went along to Paderborn play tonite. Texas Ranger’s, boy what crowd, players were, Hy. Roth, Al & Bertha Karban, Isd. & Ceceila [sic] Watchel, Sly. Neff, Sy. Louis Schoenborn, Esther Helfrich, Marcella Schilling, Cryil Haudrich, Skaer’s Schoenborn played for dance after play, sure was good. Hermann of Columbia got the mule in trade for cow & pigs $65 booth [sic-both]. Leo has there cow & pigs. Bert Thompson was here, pap was over at Meng’s. Uncle Fred & Aunt Mary bought Bert home this eve.