Monday, May 11th, 1863

To day the boys are still at work splitting rails to enclose the mill field. The little woman [Margaret Hall Stewart nee Sharp], children and myself drove home in the buggy from Mother's [Mahala* Sharp Hall nee Roberts] who is rapidly improving. I made Fawn [Florence Mahala Hall] a pair of shoes. Sam* [Samuel Houston Sharp] ground 31 bushels of corn. weather clear & warm.

*This Mahala is a 3rd great-grandma to the Keeper of this family history blog. Sam is a 2nd great-grandpa, and is Mahala's first-born son.

Sunday, May 10th, 1863

To day the little woman [Margaret Hall Stewart nee Sharp] & children remained down at Mother's [Mahala* Sharp Hall nee Roberts] who is still sick but improving some. at night Father [Joshua James Hall] & Frank Stewart returned home from their Huntsville trip but without accomplishing the business for which they went. weather changeable & warm with indications of rain.

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

Saturday, May 9th, 1863

To day the boys are still at work splitting rails to enclose the mill field. Sam* [Samuel Houston Sharp] & Nellie* [Mary Alexandrien Sharp nee Lemaire] came up from Mother's in the buggy. I ground 33 bushels of corn. In the evening the little woman [Margaret Hall Stewart nee Sharp], children & I went down in the buggy to see Mother [Mahala* Sharp Hall nee Roberts] who is still quite sick. we remained all night. weather clear & pleasant.

*This Sam and Nellie are 2nd great-grandparents to the Keeper of this family history blog. Mahala is a 3rd great-grandma, and is Sam's mother. Mahala is also the mother of Margaret aka the little woman.

Friday, May 8th, 1863

To day the boys are still at work splitting rails to enclose the mill field. Sam* [Samuel Houston Sharp] & Nellie* [Mary Alexandrien Sharp nee Lemaire] remained down at Mother's [Mahala* Sharp Hall nee Roberts]. I ground 1½ bushels of corn and then worked in the garden. weather changeable and warm.

*This Sam and Nellie are 2nd great-grandparents to the Keeper of this family history blog. Mahala is a 3rd great-grandma, and is Sam's mother.

Thursday, May 7th, 1863

To day the boys are still at work splitting rails to enclose the mill field. I went fishing and caught a nice mess. In the evening the little woman [Margaret Hall Stewart nee Sharp], children & myself returned home from Mother's [Mahala* Sharp Hall nee Roberts] when Sam* [Samuel Houston Sharp] & Nellie* [Mary Alexandrien Sharp nee Lemaire] drove down there to remain with her. she is still quite sick. Sam ground 15½ bushels of corn before he left. The little woman & I set out some potato slips. weather clear & cold as much so as to require a fire for comfort.

*This Mahala is a 3rd great-grandma to the Keeper of this family history blog. Sam and Nellie are 2nd great-grandparents. Sam is Mahala's oldest living child.

Wednesday, May 6th, 1863

To day the boys finished replanting & hoeing the corn in the bottom field and commenced splitting rails to enclose the mill field. Father [Joshua James Hall] & Frank Stewart left for Huntsville. Sam* [Samuel Houston Sharp] went out hunting and killed a fine deer. In the evening the little woman [Margaret Hall Stewart nee Sharp], children & I went down in the buggy to see Mother [Mahala* Sharp Hall nee Roberts], who is sick again. Roberta [Hall] came up and I sent her and Toby [Horace Oscar Hall] home on Hawk. we remained all night with Mother. weather changeable & very cold for the season of the year.

*This Sam is a 2nd great-grandpa to the Keeper of this family history blog. Mahala is a 3rd great-grandma, and is Sam's Mother, as well as the step-mother AND the mother-in-law of JMH.

Tuesday, May 5th, 1863

To day the boys are still at work hoeing & replanting corn in the bottom field. The little woman [Margaret Hall Stewart nee Sharp] & children went down to Mother's [Mahala* Sharp Hall nee Roberts] in the buggy in company with Frank Stewart. Charley Hall came out from Crockett to see me & to whom I gave a blanket, he being about to leave for the army. Sam* [Samuel Houston Sharp] ground 24 bushels of corn. I worked in the garden nearly all day. weather changeable & rather cold for the time of the year.

*This Mahala is a 3rd great-grandma to the Keeper of this family history blog. Sam is a 2nd great-grandpa, and is Mahala's first-born son.