Monday, February 9th, 1863

To day Hicks is still at work on the house fence. The other boys are out in the woods splitting rails. The little woman [Margaret Hall Stewart nee Sharp] commenced gardening in the new garden having planted some english peas. Sam* [Samuel Houston Sharp] finished & hung the gate to the house fence. I ground 8½ bushels of corn. Fawn [Florence Mahala Hall] is still sick but improving rapidly. Mother [Mahala* Lee Sharp Hall nee Roberts] & Roberta [Hall] left for home. weather cloudy & warm with occasional showers of rain & very disagreeable so much so as to almost prevent any business from being done.

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

Sunday, February 8th, 1863

To day I remained at home writing and reading. Mother [Mahala* Lee Sharp Hall nee Roberts] came up and remained all night. Fawn [Florence Mahala Hall] is still improving and I think much better. weather cloudy with drizzling rain & rather cool.

*This Mahala is a 3rd great-grandma to the Keeper of this family history blog. She is also the step-mother as well as the mother-in-law of JMH.

Saturday, February 7th, 1863

To day Sam* [Samuel Houston Sharp] is engaged in making a gate for the house yard. The boys are at work on the road leading to Palestine. Mother [Mahala* Lee Sharp Hall nee Roberts] came up but returned in the evening. I ground 55 bushels of corn. Fawn [Florence Mahala Hall] is still improving but still quite sick. At night my negro boy John and negro girl Jemima were married after the style of negro marriages, they had a general blow out with a congregation of all the negroes in the neighborhood and seemed to enjoy themselves hugely. weather clear, cool & very windy.

*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.

Friday, February 6th, 1863

To day the boys are still splitting rails in the woods. Hicks still at work on the house fence. I ground 30 bushels of corn, when the rattle staff broke and I had to send Hicks to the shop in order to get it mended. Fawn [Florence Mahala Hall] is still sick but I think improving. Sam* [Samuel Houston Sharp] made another clothes horse & then went hunting but without any success. weather clear & very cold.

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

Thursday, February 5th, 1863

To day the boys are splitting rails out in the woods. Hicks is still at work on the house fence. Sam* [Samuel Houston Sharp] went to the shop for a balance iron for the mill but did not succeed in obtaining one. In the evening he went down to Mothers [Mahala* Sharp Hall nee Roberts] with the loom & put it up in running order for her. I fixed the mill and ground 18 bushels of corn. At night my pet baby Fawn [Florence Mahala Hall] was taken very sick which kept me up nearly all night. weather cloudy and cold as the devil with a hard freeze and plenty of ice.

*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.

Wednesday, February 4th, 1863

To day the boys are hauling fire wood. Sam* [Samuel Houston Sharp] made a clothes horse. I ground 19 bushels of corn when the balance iron of the mill got out of fix preventing me from grinding any more for the present. weather cloudy with occasional hard showers of rain and as cold as the devil with a hard freeze at night, the ice forming full ½ inch thick in all the vessels that had water in them, making it a winter's night indeed.

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

Tuesday, February 3rd, 1863

To day Sam* Sharp rode my horse Rob to Crockett and back in order to collect some money from Capt. Odell but he failed in his mission. he however purchased me a good iron wedge. I had the garden plowed up for the little woman [Margaret Hall Stewart nee Sharp] to commence her gardening. Hicks at work on the house fence. I ground 5½ bushels of corn. weather cloudy, cold, dark and gloomy with strong indications of rain.

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