Monday, January 5th, 1863

To day Sam Sharp rode my horse Rob to Crockett in order to hire a negro man, but returned without having accomplished his mission. Father [Joshua] & Mother [Mahala] came up to see Nellie and the little woman. I ground 10½ bushels of corn. In the evening I commenced a temporary stable to keep my horse Rob in. I sold 1 bushel of meal for 2$. Nellie is still improving although quite sick yet. weather changeable & warm for the season.

Sunday, January 4th, 1863

To day I remained at home writing up this journal. I had some of my pork resalted & sold one bushel of Meal for 2$. Roberta & Toby came up to see the little woman and returned home in the evening. Nellie is still quite sick although she is still improving. weather changeable and cool.

Saturday, January 3rd, 1863

To day Sam and I are both very busy in the Mill. we ground 35 bushels of corn. We also resalted the pork that I purchased from Mr. Dailey. Nellie is still quite sick, although she is still improving. weather changeable and warm with occasional showers of rain.

Friday, January 2nd, 1863

To day Sam Sharp and I resalted the pork that I purchased from Mr. Bird. Sam went down to Mother's [Mahala] and got a little tallow for the use of the mill. we then took up the Mill rocks and rebushed the spindle. Nellie is still quite sick but improving a little. I ground 14 bushels of corn. weather cloudy and warm with occasional showers of rain.

Thursday, January 1st, 1863

To day Sam Sharp went to Crockett for the purpose of hiring a negro boy but returned home without doing so. Mother [Mahala] sent Louisa up to assist the little woman in preparing and putting up her sausages as I have now got the entire control and possession of my mill I contemplate jotting down her earnings and out lay for the current year it is agreed however between Sam Sharp & I that he shall act as the miller I attending only during his absence. Nellie is still sick but improving. I ground ten bushels of corn. weather cloudy & rather warm on my pork with a shower of rain at night.

Wednesday, December 31st, 1862

To day Sam & I cut up and salted down the porks that we killed yesterday. I paid Chester & Ann for their services in helping to kill & salt down the pork. Dr. Murchison & Mother [Mahala] came to see Nellie who is still very sick, but they did not remain long. Mr. Pennington's time as Miller having expired he surrendered the mill keys to me and left for his home. weather clear and cool. Thus I close my jottings of daily events for the year 1862 now past & gone and whether God will permit me to live to keep the events around me of the incoming year is more than I can know but trusting in his mercy I shall enter upon the duty which is pleasing to me and may be profitable to my family and myself hereafter.

Tuesday, December 30th, 1862

To day I hired Chester & Ann to salt down the pork we got from Dailey on yesterday. after that was done we killed ten other hogs which weighed 1480 lbs of pork. Mrs. Bird came down to see Nellie who is still very sick so much so that Sam was compelled to go after Dr. Murchison but he did not come down. weather clear & cold with a strong North wind blowing and a hard frost at night.