Stephen Reiss und Diana Peterson heirateten am 10. Juli 5,006.3 cm Peoria, Illinois. Ihr erster Sohn Adam Stephen Reiss wurde am 8. August 5,019.0 cm Peoria geboren und ihr zweiter Sohn Grant Andrew Reiss wurde am 19. Mai 5,026.7 cm Peoria geboren. Steve arbeitete 40 Jahre für Caterpillar Inc. von Juli 1966 bis zur Pensionierung im Juli 2006. Diana unterrichtete die vierte Klasse, arbeitete am Illinois Central College in Adult Basic Education und unterrichtete auch Englisch als Zweitsprache in Übersee und in lokalen Schulen. Die vierköpfige Familie lebte in und um Peoria, Illinois, außer fünf Jahre in Asien Seoul, Südkorea von Anfang 1987 bis Mitte 1990 und dann bis Anfang 5,059.7 cm Hongkong. Adam heiratete Heather Pottgen am 26. April 2008. Sie haben einen Sohn William Stephen Reiss, der am 21. Januar 2010 geboren wurde und in Springfield, Illinois lebt.

Granger, Quilter, Grandma, Matriarch

Life on the Reiss Family Farm 1944-1948 St. Clair County, IllinoisBy Stephen W. Reiss

AuthorHouse

Copyright © 2012 Stephen W. Reiss
All right reserved.
ISBN: 978-1-4685-5903-3

Contents

Double Dedication........................................................vAcknowledgements.........................................................ixThe Stage and Cast of Characters.........................................xiExplanation – How Katie Wrote......................................xvKatie's Matriarch-ness...................................................xvii1944.....................................................................11945.....................................................................871946.....................................................................1291947.....................................................................1631948.....................................................................199Richard's Letter to Grandma Katie Reiss on 2/6/1968......................231Photographs..............................................................233Epilogue.................................................................267About the Author.........................................................269Other Reiss Family History Books.........................................275

Chapter One

1944

January 1944

Sat 1 – We have about 3 inches of last year's snow on the ground. It was 15 above this morning, warmed up to 35. We were at Bill & Anita's for dinner.

Sun 2 – 32 degrees, very cloudy, snow towards evening. I canned some meat and wrote a letter to Irwin to Camp Reynolds, Penn.

Mon 3 – 34 degrees, thawing snow. We butchered a 450 lb hog, made summer sausage. Boobie, Romuald, and Clara helped.

Tues 4 – 30 degrees, cloudy, and thawing during the day. We rendered the lard today. It made 10 gals. I canned 7 quarts of liver sausage.

Wed 5 – 35 degrees but getting colder, 30 by six o'clock evening. I helped butcher at Klein's.

Thurs 6 – 20 degrees, fair, warmed up to 40 by noon. I worked with taking care of the meat. Pop shelled corn.

Fri 7 – 25 degrees, cloudy, getting colder. We were in Belleville today.

Sat 8 – 14 degrees, cloudy to fair. Bill and Anita and June Ann were here in the evening.

Sun 9 – 16 above, fair. Sanders were to get some roosters.

January 9, 1944

Our Dearest Irwin,

This is Sunday evening. I just finished washing dishes. Dad is napping. We had company all day. Sanders were here. It was so very cold all day although the sun was shining. It was down to 14 above at 9 a.m. and is about 17 now at 7 p.m. We read in the paper that part of Texas had the worst cold spell they had for 50 years. The night you and Mary were here was our coldest night so far.

How did you spend the Sunday? Now why couldn't they let you stay with Mary a week longer. Altho we will be only too glad if you can stay right where you are all winter instead of going further.

Bill, Anita and June Ann were here last night. Today Bill wanted to work on his sunroom. Bill wasn't feeling so good, he had a cold in his stomach.

Howard and Mathilda Alberts have a baby boy since Friday. I might go to see Mathilda at the hospital Tuesday afternoon if Dad goes to his meeting at Belleville. Tomorrow I want to fry in meat and sausage also smoke the summer sausage.

We have to clean out chicken houses but it's too icy to drive with the horses and anyway the manure is all frozen on. So I guess Dad will saw more firewood.

This is Monday morning. It got warmer overnight, it's only 20 and the sun is out so I'll wash first.

Last week at Belleville I bought a picture frame, a 5 x 7 and put your and Mary's picture in and have it setting right here on the windowsill by the table so I can always see you both all day long. I'm having a few more of your wedding pictures made, your sponsors each want one, Uncle Henry and Aunt Carlena. I hope they turn out good. I'm having them made at Belleville as Uncle Will just can't catch up with work. Don't know of anything more. So good luck and lots of love.

Mother and Dad

George Reiss' brother Henry Reiss (who had no children) and Katie's sister Carlena Gummersheimer where Irv's "sponsors" while he was away serving in the Army. Their job was to write letters, keep up on family news, and occasionally send gifts.

Mon 10 – 24 degrees, fair, warmed up to 44 by noon. I washed in the evening. We visited with Grandma and Emil Morhmans.

Tues 11 – 25 degrees, fair, getting colder. I fried in 6 pints of pork sausage.

Wed 12 – 15 above, stayed cold all day, didn't get above 24. We were at Belleville to producers meeting.

Thurs 13 – 10 above, fair. I was at Schillings today, we patched.

Fri 14 – 10 above, fair, warmed up a lot during the day. Franklin talked on the radio today.

Sat 15 – 20 above, fair. I baked bread & cookies. Geo is making firewood.

Sun 16 – 22 above, fair. We were at Klein's in the evening.

Mon 17 – 22 above, fair. I fried down bacon and we went to the home bureau meeting at Carr's. Dorothy had a shower.

Tues 18 – 26 above, fair. Fried in more bacon. We have been getting around 6 doz eggs every day so far.

Wed 19 – 38 degrees, fair.

Thurs 20 – 35 degrees, fair. We were to the funeral of Mrs. Stuel at Smithton. She was 98 years. In evening we were at the Grange.

Fri 21 – 38 degrees, fair. John & Katie were here and we played cards.

Sat 22 – 35 degrees, fair, warmed up to 64 by noon.

Sun 23 – 30 degrees, fair. We were at church. Then Hesses came over for dinner. Bill & Anita and June Ann came in afternoon.

Mon 24 – 45 degrees, fair. Took our first hatching eggs to Smithton today. Were at Margret Merhman's in evening.

Tues 25 – 45 degrees to 65 by noon, fair. We were at Herman's to help butcher. I'm quilting a baby quilt.

Wed 26 – 46 degrees, cloudy, 65 by noon. We and Kleins and Schilling boys were to the family night at Turkey Hill Grange.

Thurs 27 – 61 degrees, showers in the morning, 68 by noon and fair.

Fri 28 – 45 degrees, fair. I helped Schillings with wallpapering. Getting colder.

Sat 29 – 30 degrees, fair. We butchered. John & Katie were here to help. Irwin called from Penn.

Sun 30 – 30 degrees, fair to warmer. We were at Schilling's.

Mon 31 – 28 degrees, fair. Pop made logs. I worked on Gerry's quilt. Evening John & Katie were here, we played cards.

February 1944

Tues 1 – 23 degrees, fair. We were at Belleville today. In the evening we were at Dintelmann's for Geo Birthday.

Wed 2 – 28 degrees, raining. I was at the ladies aid meeting. We planned to have a card party on the 20th of Feb. I'll have to help buy prizes.

Thurs 3 – Fair, colder, but only 40 degrees. I worked on Gerry's quilt. Pop shelled & crushed corn and made firewood.

Fri 4 – 30 degrees. We butchered a 300 lb hog.

Sat 5 – 44 degrees, fair. We helped Bill & Anita move to Edgar's house. Turned colder by night.

Sun 6 – 22 degrees, fair. We were at church and then at John Rapp's. Bill & Anita & June Ann and Uncle...