Tuesday, Jan. 12, 1937

Clean chicken house, got oats over. Bertie baked cookies. Sun don’t want to shine, still cloudy & slick icy roads. Eggs .21¢. Uncle Fred & Aunt Mary were up this afternoon. Loyd Pabst came brought book on the Orbon Stores, Iornmasters [sic – Ironmaster. Sure lot people dying from pneumonia, & flue epidemic, 35 died in Chicago 1 day; lot have it in New Athens. Hofmeister’s are sick; ugly weather, to damp. The paper & radio say the Matteson 10 yr. old boy that was kidnaped [sic] from his home at Tacoma Wash. 15 das. ago was found slain along a highway, was said to be the boy, was nude, blow marks on forehead etc. A case something like the Lindeberg’s baby that time; haven’t found the kidnapers yet; The Matteson family was to pd. a $28,000 ransom. Rosalia went to invite the neighbors for the dance. Leo came, then they went to see his uncle Geo. Roths family, Alois & Gertie were also there.

Friday, Jan. 17, 1936

Hauptman, killer of Lindberg’s baby was to be put in electric chair today, but now has 30 more das [sic] radio said. Pap got load wood for basement. Cloudy today, east wind. pap got stuck going to the wood pile, & Jac Ganley pulled him put, he didn’t get no wood; he gave him 25¢. Mehrmann came got the eggs – 5 doz. 21¢. Uncle Fred & Aunt Mary came got there saussage [sic] & grease. Rose & Berti went to Waterloo, got Rose shoes fixed & went to Geodells to see Leona for hour; she is pretty good but can’t walk very good yet. Authur Mechler who worked in Jung’s store, is not employed at Philips gas station north R.3 highway. Vicint Heck have a baby boy, now has 4 children. Mrs Matt Stahlmann died of a Auto accident Christmas eve, was buried this week. Mrs Rob. Mertz is recovering slowly, was operated at St. Mary Hospital, some one gave pt. blood to her. Mr Geodelle is laid up with lumbago; Ray has swollen cheeks.