Monday, January 26th, 1863

To day the boys are at work on the garden fence. Sam* Sharp is still at work making the loom for Mother [Mahala* Lee Sharp Hall nee Roberts] and progressing very well. Roberta & Toby [Horace Oscar Hall] came up to see Nellie* [Mary Alexandrien Sharp nee Lemaire] and the little Stranger [James Hall "Major" Sharp] and who are doing very well. I ground 8 bushels of corn. weather cloudy and cold with occasional showers of rain. at night there was a hard freeze.

*Sam and Nellie are 2nd great-grandparents to the Keeper of this family history blog. Mahala is Sam's Mother, and is the mother-in-law as well as the step-mother to JMH.

Sunday, January 25th, 1863

To day at 8 o'clock A.M. Sam* H. Sharp's wife Mary A. Sharp familiarally called Nellie* was delivered of a male child which weighed 7¾ lbs. which said child was by his parents named James Hall Sharp in honor of the writer of this journal, and at said delivery there was present Margaret A. Hall [aka the little woman], Mahala* L. Hall [aka Mother], Mrs. S.A. Bird, Sam H. Sharp & myself assisted by two negro woman both by the name of Louisa. Nellie sustained herself very well under the circumstances and had rather an easy time than otherwise. The child aforesaid by way of nick name we dubbed & created "Major" in order to distinguish him from the little woman's child James alias Jim. Mrs. Bird returned home in the evening. Mother however remained. weather changeable and warm with occasional showers of rain, rendering it very disagreeable.  

*These new parents, Sam and Nellie, are the 2nd great-grandparents to the Keeper of this family history blog. Mahala is Sam's Mother, and is the step-mother as well as the mother-in-law of JMH. Margaret is Sam's sister, and is the step-sister as well as the wife of JMH.

Saturday, January 24th, 1863

To day Hicks is still at work on the garden rails. The other boys are busy getting out pickets for the garden fence. Sam* Sharp is still at work on the loom progressing slowly. I ground 16½ bushels of corn & set a few of the garden posts. Frank Stewart came up to see us and returned in the evening. weather changeable and warm with occasional showers of rain.

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

Friday, January 23rd, 1863

To day Hicks is still at work on the garden rails. The other boys are getting timber for garden pickets. Sam* Sharp is still at work in making the loom for Mother [Mahala* Lee Sharp Hall nee Roberts]. I ground 6 bushels of corn, and also set some of the garden posts. weather changeable and warm with drizzling showers of rain nearly all day thereby retarding all our work greatly.

*This Sam is a 2nd great-grandpa to the Keeper of this family history blog. Mahala is his mother, and is the step-mother as well as the mother-in-law of JMH.

Thursday, January 22nd, 1863

To day I rode out in the woods to select some timber suitable to make garden pickets. Hicks still at work on the garden rails. Sam* Sharp still at work on the loom (i.e.) in making the loom for Mother [Mahala* Sharp Hall nee Roberts]. I ground only 2½ bushels of corn. James Wootters stoped to see me. he was on his way to Corsicana. I am busy setting the garden posts. weather changeable & warm with occasional showers of rain.

*This Sam is a 2nd great-grandpa to the Keeper of this family history blog. Mahala is his mother. She is also the step-mother as well as the mother-in-law of JMH.

Wednesday, January 21st, 1863

To day Hicks finished framing the garden posts, and commenced working on the rails. The other boys are engaged in hauling rails & wood. Bill found and drove up the steer that got out on yesterday. Sam* Sharp commenced work on the loom for Mother [Mahala* Lee Sharp Hall nee Roberts]. I ground 21 bushels of corn. weather clear & pleasant but a little cool.

*This Sam is a 2nd great-grandpa to the Keeper of this family history blog. Mahala is his mother, as well as the step-mother AND mother-in-law of JMH.

Tuesday, January 20th, 1863

To day I rode my horse Gladiator to Crockett & while there paid Mr. Corley for 34 bales of cotton. I also settled with W.P. Leaverton for his attention to my business. one of my steers got out of the lot and one of the boys lost the entire day looking for him without success. The other boys are still at work on the garden posts. Sam* Sharp ground 20 bushels of corn. I returned home from Crockett in the evening. weather clear & cold with a frost & freeze at night.

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