April 29 - May 5, 1948

April 29: "Went to farm early today. Plowed in timber all day. Didn't get home till eleven o'clock. Finished one patch that I started night before last. Broke mold board on plow. Was cool this morning but got pretty warm during the day. Have poison ivy. Carol went to Grandma Adcox's all day."

Gro. 1.94
paper  .35
stamps .30

April 30: "Went to farm early this morning. Harrowed most of morning. Hauled some stumps. Plowed after dinner. Dad got plow fixed by noon. Looked like rain all afternoon. Some farmers are planting corn. We won't start till May 10th. Saw the kids for the first time in three days."

May 1: "Went to farm early. Disked all morning as Dad was getting the plow fixed. Started plowing after dinner. Broke point off of plow shear about first round after dinner. Dad went to Delavan to get a new pair of points. I burned brush after dinner. Went to Pekin to show last night. Nancy Koch stayed with kids."

show and eats  1.86
groc. 5.06
tire  1.35
paper  .20
medicine  .35

May 2: "Stayed home most of day as it was raining. Went to Grandma Adcox's to visit with Harriet and Gale and Mertie and Dave. I had to go to the doctor to get something out my eye. It was pretty sore."

paid on doctor bill  19.00
paper  .15

May 3: "Went to farm early this morning. Started plowing about 8:30. Was still pretty wet. Knocked the valve stem off of front tractor tire. Had to quit early and get it fixed."

Sauder & Brunner tire  1.35
Avon  3.11
George McMullin for welding  .50

May 4: "Went to farm late this morning as we had pretty heavy rain. Went to timber to get tractor and hunt mushrooms. Found a paper sack full. Worked on corn planter all afternoon. Aunt Ebbie was home today."

ice cream  .75

May 5: "Went to farm early. Finished plowing sod in timber. Disked all afternoon in timber. Got done about 7:30. Helen was down and worked in garden. Started raining this evening. Some are planting corn."

lights and water  8.86
gro.  1.43

April 22 - 28, 1948

I know the bill date doesn't go with my journal dates but I wanted to post this anyway. Henry and Jesse Schurter ran the hardware store in Green Valley, IL together. This shows nothing was free.

April 22: "Went to farm early. Disk rest of corn stalks, then plowed till noon. Went to timber after dinner. Hellmann got done about 4:30. Plowed till 9:00. Had shower of rain this afternoon. Looked very much like rain this evening."

April 23: "Went to farm early. Plowed till 10:30, blew out tire on front wheel. Went to Morton to get a new tire. Had front end of tractor welded. Planted potatoes this afternoon. Came home early this evening. Was very warm today. Charles went to farm this afternoon. Grandma Adcox, Vic and kids (Norman and Ruth) up this evening. Mrs. Brown and Bette here today."

Gro. 1.10
Med. 1.55
shoes 2.30

April 24: " Went to farm this morning. Had a shower of rain this morning. Harrowed all our plowed ground. Came home early this evening. Went to Pekin with family this evening. Got a hair cut about 10:30 this evening. Haircut was $1.00, first one I ever paid for."

Gro. 1.55
Slip 3.06
ice cream  .73

April 25: "Went to farm today and plowed about an acre in the timber. This is sod that has never been plowed before. Was very warm today, about 83. Looked like rain this evening. Came home early. Was up to Grandma Adcox's for lunch."

Gro. 1.55

April 26: "Went to farm about 10 o'clock this morning. Had a nice shower of rain. We went to McMullins to find some __, but they didn't have any. Plowed sod this afternoon. Got home about 8 o'clock. Johnnie picked up for speeding and reckless driving. Fined $81.80."

April 27: "Went to farm early this morning. Harrowed and disked all morning. Disded in timber all afternoon. Was very cold all day. Found a couple of messes of mushrooms. Dan was plowing so we had to wait for plow. Helen came to farm this afternoon."

April 28: "Had telephone installed today. Went to farm early. Plowed in timber most of day. Disked some sod. Didn't get home until 10:45. Was very cool all day. Helen had a lot of company, Edna (Kahler), Eunice (McMullin), Mrs. Sch--iel, Vic, Grandma Adcox and Norman. Helen had baked an angel food cake."

April 15 - 21, 1948

Front Left: Hannah, Katie, Leah and Rosie; Back Left: Conrad, Marie (wife of Bill Schurter), Bill and John.

April 15: "Went to farm early, hauled manure all morning. Took tractor to Dan's at noon. Disked all afternoon for Dan. Finished sowing his oats, was fine day, looked awful like rain. But only sprinkled. Helen went to Jr. Womans Club & Eunice McMullin's, enjoyed very much."

April 16: "Went to farm early this morning. Started disking by school house. Disked it twice then sowed oats in 6 acres. Then disked the rest of the patch this evening. Was very cool all day. Jimmy couldn't stand up for about 2 hours, don't know what is wrong."

Gro.  2.72
         1.61

April 17: "Went to farm at 5 o'clock this morning, started disking for plowing. Then put on corn plow and went to timber and plowed alalfa patch after dinner, we sowed oats and alfalfa. Came home early, went to Scharlachs for pinochle with Zimmermanns. Took Jimmy to doctor with a cramp in foot."

April 18: "Got up late this morning. Charles and I went to farm and worked on tractor, then disked awhile. Ruth (sister to Henry) and Elmer were down. Came home early. Jimmy had a cramp in his leg. Dr. was up to check."

Gro/gas  1.90

April 19: "Went to farm early. Plowed all day, got home about nine o'clock. Jimmy's foot has bothered him several times today. Will take him to Dr. tomorrow."

April 20: "Went to farm early. Hauled load of manure, then went to timber as Bill Hellmann was pushing brush. Worked in timber til 2 o'clock. Then started plowing and plowed til 9:30, stayed at farm all night. Got tire at Beyer's. Helen was down til 8:00. Took Jimmy to Dr. had a Vit. B shot, had Charles' small pox vaccination."

Gro.  2.35

April 21: "Started plowing at 6 o'clock this morning. Went to timber at 10 o'clock. Hellmann was still working. Burned brush most of afternoon. Johnnie (brother to Henry) plowed this evening. Was very cool all day. Helen and family was down all day. Tick (Christine, sister to Henry) went to Peoria."

Living Expenses Part II some prices from 1950 and 51

Living Expenses 1953

Good exercise to understand inflation. Also a good activity to research income tax percent.

April 1948

Picture above from left: John Schurter, Rose Schurter (wife), Aunt Elizabeth Feldman (serving) and Katie (sister to John S.) celebrating 50 years of marriage for John and Rose. This picture was taken in the "living room" on the farm. I vividly remember the lamp behind Aunt Elizabeth. Now on with the Henry Schurter journal.

April 8: "Went to farm this morning and worked on kisk. Hauled manure and straw in grape patch, also in garden. Was very cool all day, but clear and sunshine, went to Adcox's this evening. Kids and Helen have bad colds, Caterpillar is out on strike."

gas   1.25
gro. & ice cream   1.84

April 9: "Went to farm early this morning. Hauled straw in grape patch and ditches, started disking after dinner. Was nice day, rather cool. Frost last night."

April 10: "Went to farm early this morning, finished disking. Then sowed 8 acres oats til noon. Hauled manure all afternoon. Was pretty nice day, awful windy and looks like rain, Grandma was here for supper Grandpa came this evening."

gro.  2.73
drugs  1.43

April 11: "Got up late this morning. Worked around home most of morning, went to timber to get some trees to plant in yard. Came home early. Was cool all day."

April 12: " Went to farm early this morning. Hauled one load of manure, then took tractor and drill to Dan's and started drilling oats. Worked 1.5 hrs and then it started to rain. Dan let a board catch valve stem on tractor and broke it. Took it off and brought it to Beyer's on Dan's trailer right after dinner. Took Grandpa S. to Dr. Calhoun, high blood pressure  220."

gro.  .72

April 13: "Went to farm this morning, made some fence this morning. Went to Delavan after dinner to get some parts for tractor, after we got home went down to Dan's, and worked on corn planter. Was raining most of day and cold."

April 14: " Went to farm this morning, worked on brooder house most of day. Hauled four loads of manure this evening. Was a fine sunshine day. didn't get so warm. Helen took kids for walk downtown, they enjoyed it very much."

gro.  1.12