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* Sharp Hall nee Roberts] came up to see Nellie* [Mary Alexandrien Sharp nee Lemaire] and the little woman [Margaret Hall Stewart nee Sharp]. 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.

*This Sam is a 2nd great-grandpa to the Keeper of this family history blog. Mahala is his mother. Nellie is his wife. Margaret is his only full sibling, and wife of JMH.

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 [Hall] & Toby [Hall] came up to see the little woman [Margaret Hall Stewart nee Sharp] and returned home in the evening. Nellie* [Mary Alexandrien Sharp nee Lemaire] is still quite sick although she is still improving. weather changeable and cool.

*This Nellie is a 2nd great-grandma to the Keeper of this family history blog.

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.

*This Sam and Nellie are 2nd great-grandparents to the Keeper of this family history blog.

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* Sharp Hall nee Roberts] and got a little tallow for the use of the mill. we then took up the Mill rocks and rebushed the spindle. Nellie* [Mary Alexandrien Hall nee Lemaire] is still quite sick but improving a little. I ground 14 bushels of corn. weather cloudy and warm with occasional showers of rain.

*Sam and Nellie are 2nd great-grandparents to the Keeper of this family history blog. Mahala is Sam's mother.

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* Sharp Hall nee Roberts] sent Louisa up to assist the little woman [Margaret Hall Stewart nee Sharp] 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* [Mary Alexandrien Sharp nee Lemaire] 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.

*This Sam and his wife, Nellie, are 2nd great-grandparents to the Keeper of this family history blog. Mahala is Sam's Mother.

Wednesday, December 31st, 1862

To day Sam* [Samuel Houston Sharp] & 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* Sharp Hall nee Roberts] came to see Nellie* [Mary Alexandrien Sharp nee Lemaire] 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.

*This Sam and Nellie are 2nd great-grandparents to the Keeper of this family history blog. Mahala is Sam's Mother.

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* [Mary Alexandrien Sharp nee Lemaire] who is still very sick so much so that Sam* [Samuel Houston Sharp] 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.

*This Nellie and Sam are 2nd great-grandparents to the Keeper of this family history blog.