Monday, February 23rd, 1863

To day the boys are splitting and hauling rails to put up a cow pen. Sam* [Samuel Houston Sharp] went to Mr. Lacy's after some seed potatoes and succeeded in getting 1½ bushels, which was the best he could do. I finished the reel & reeled some cotton thread for the little woman [Margaret Hall Stewart nee Sharp]. I also ground 1½ bushels of corn. In the evening I assisted the little woman in planting out some button onions in the garden. weather changeable & rather cool.

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

Sunday, February 22nd, 1863

To day being the anniversary of my birth day the little woman [Margaret Hall Stewart nee Sharp] gave me a fine dinner to which she invited Mother [Mahala* Lee Sharp Hall nee Roberts], Mr. & Mrs. Bird, all of whom came up and remained until late in the evening. I spent most of the day in writing up this journal. weather clear & pleasant, but a little too cool.

*This Mahala is a 3rd great-grandma to the Keeper of this family history blog.

Saturday, February 21st, 1863

To day the boys are still at work splitting rails. Hicks finished the axle tree and started the big wagon to running again. Frank Stewart came up to see us and went to Mrs. Keen's for the little woman [Margaret Hall Stewart nee Sharp] to get her a couple of turkeys which he brought home to her. I am still at work on my reel. Sam* Sharp ground 32 bushels of corn. The little woman & Fawn [Florence Mahala Hall] went down to see Mother [Mahala* Lee Sharp Hall nee Roberts] and returned in the evening. weather clear but rather cool.

This Sam is a 2nd great-grandma to the Keeper of this family history blog. Mahala is his mother, as well as the mother of the little woman.

Friday, February 20th, 1863

To day the boys are still at work splitting and hauling rails. Hicks is still at work on the axle tree for the wagon. I am engaged in making a reel for the little woman [Margaret Hall Stewart nee Sharp]. Sam* Sharp ground 33½ bushels of corn. weather changeable and cool with a hard rain at night.

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

Thursday, February 19th, 1863

To day the boys are still splitting rails. Hicks is at work making an axle-tree for the wagon. I finished the garden fence all complete and ground 38 bushels of corn. The water is drying up a little from the face of the earth. The Elk Hart is falling a little and I now think the mill levee is safe against this last freshet. Sam* Sharp rode Rob to Crockett after Massaline who was there in jail and while in Crockett Sam sold the boy Massoline to Mr. Arrington for the sum of $1500. weather clear and a little cool.

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

Wednesday, February 18th, 1863

To day the boys are at work splitting rails except Hicks who is helping me to put up the inner string of the garden fence. Sam* [Samuel Houston Sharp] made a gate for the garden and also ground 2 bushels of corn. weather changeable and pleasant after so much rain.

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

Tuesday, February 17th, 1863

To day the boys are busy at work in carrying sand to stop a rend in the mill dam. The water is fearfully high in the Elk Hart and the Mill dam is just on the wiggle. the water however is falling a little and probably the mill dam may stand the presure. In the evening the boys went after a load of wood and bogged down and in their effort to get the wagon out of the bog broke an axle tree, thus giving more trouble. Be it known and remembered that Sam* Sharp took a strole out in the woods with his gun and while out succeeded in killing a fine Deer, the steaks of which when nicely broiled was not hard to take. The whole face of the low lands is still covered with water. weather cloudy & cool with misting rain throughout the day.  

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