The Hills Years

John and Gertrude still wanted their children to go to a parochial school. When they had a chance to rent a farm near Hills, a community with a school, they moved there in 1935. In the process of moving, John was injured in a tractor, hayrack and car accident and was hospitalized for a month. He was not able to work for some time so Edward came home to take over the farming. In 1936 a son Donald, was stillborn, but Gertrude's strong faith told her, " God's will be done."

In 1937 Gertrude apparently had a miscarriage. She saw the doctor early in June and spent a great deal of time in bed during June and July and the doctor visited several times. On July 14 she went to the doctor and "found out to sorrow, that all hopes were gone for this time."

House West of Hills.

Also in 1937 Edward was married to Mary Frantz and Louise married Carl Miller. In February of 1938 Elizabeth was married to Lyle Frantz. That spring John bought a farm northwest of where the family had been living.

The family changed parishes so the older children could go to a Catholic high school and the younger ones to the Catholic elementary school in Iowa City. They attended St. Mary's Church in Iowa City. Wilma was married that year to Clarence Dietsch. John and Gertrude attended daily Mass whenever they could. Their first grandchild, Dick, was born to Ed and Mary in July of 1938.

In the mid to late 30's, canning, baking, and farming consumed much of the family's time and energy. It was not uncommon for the family to bake 180 loaves of bread a month, which was actually less than the 60 loaves a week they baked during the North Dakota days.

They sold chickens for 13 cents a pound and ducks for 14 cents a pound. Corn ranged in price from 82 cents a bushel in 1934 to $1.10 a bushel in 1937. In l934 their corn yield averaged 68 bushels on 14 acres, and Edward set his all time record husking 142 bushels of corn in one day. Hogs in 1935 sold for $7.85 a hundred weight.

The family sometimes traded for things that were needed. Once they traded a piece of an old truck for two gallons of molasses.

They also made the best of bad situations. Once in 1936 when they had golf ball sized hail, they collected the hail and used it to make two freezers of ice cream.

In 1939, they bought an old Model Ford for the school children to drive to school. They paid $35 for it.

On January 10, 1940 Gertrude's father passed away. The funeral was held two days later at the Methodist Church, West Liberty.

February 26th of that year the children got out of school for the day because St. Mary's beat St. Pat's in basketball. John and Gertrude's interest in sports showed in November when they stopped at the depot to see the Iowa football team when they came home from Notre Dame.

The family enjoyed many happy reunions and get-togethers during this time. The grandchildren were brought home so their grandparents could enjoy them. In 1941 Paul married Lillian Frantz.