Yes, but what did they do for FUN?

Glad you asked!

 Evidently, Buckman and Pierz (as well as most small towns in the 19-teens) had singing groups, bands, athletic and card clubs, church related activities and house parties.  Plus, there was also one outstanding (and a little unbelievable) recreation--putting on plays. According to Horst's book and the Pierz Journal, thespianism was rampant in Morrison county then ☺.

"A Modern Ananias", huh?  Let's see if it's online...wow, it is!  TG for Archive.org and the Library of Congress, huh?  It's an old-time comedy, a laugh a minute, perfect for amateur players with a little prompting from the author:

Click the link there and page thru the script.  Can you imagine some of our greats saying those lines, ON STAGE?  Me neither.  But they did.
I'd love to see this play produced, wouldn't you? A challenge: round up a cast and put it on, costumes and sets and all.  I'll pay ya five times what dad paid to trim trees, honest!