Monday, May 18th, 1863

To day the boys finished putting up the fence around the mill field also put up the posts & bars to the same. John drove the large wagon over to the shop to have it put in good running order. Frank Stewart rode my horse (Gladiator) up to Magnolia & back a distance of 44 miles to get some sugar for the little woman [Margaret Hall Stewart nee Sharp]. he obtained 50 lbs. at 6¢ per lb. In the evening I drove my horse (Rob) and buggy down to Mother's & back. Sam [Samuel Houston Sharp] ground 13 bushels of corn. weather clear & pleasant.

Sunday, May 17th, 1863

To day Mother [Mahala Sharp Hall nee Roberts] sent the little woman [Margaret Hall Stewart nee Sharp] a quarter of a beef. William Leaverton came to see us, who has just returned from a trip to Navarro he did not stay long but left for Crockett. I remained at home all day reading. weather clear & pleasant.

Saturday, May 16th, 1863

To day the boys finished making rail bars and posts to enclose the mill field. I drove my horse Rob & buggy to Crockett in order to get me a pair of boots and while there I tendered to Wm. B. Stokes the agent of Herndon's estate the amount of principal & interest due on a note of hand I gave to his estate but he declined to receive the money. I also made L.E. Downes a title for 2 lots in Crockett viz lots 31 & 32. I returned home in the evening. Sam* [Samuel Houston Sharp] ground 37½ bushels of corn. weather clear & pleasant.

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

Friday, March 15th, 1863

To day the boys finished laying up the rails they had heretofore made to enclose the mill field and there not being sufficient for the job I sent them out to split more. Father [Joshua James Hall] came up and took dinner with us and from whom I purchased a pair of gold spectacles for which I paid him 25$. In the evening the little woman [Margaret Hall Stewart nee Sharp], children & myself drove down to Mother's [Mahala* Sharp Hall nee Roberts] in the buggy. Sam* [Samuel Houston Sharp] ground 13 bushels of corn. weather changeable & warm with indications of rain.

*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 oldest living son.

Thursday, May 14th, 1863

To day the boys are at work putting up the fence around the mill field. John is at work hauling rails. Sam [Samuel Houston Sharp] ground 20 bushels of corn. Roberta [Hall] & Toby [Horace Oscar Hall] commenced boarding at my house in order to be near the school house, thereby superseding the necessity of horse to ride there & back. weather changeable & very warm with indications of rain.

Wednesday, May 13th, 1863

To day the boys finished splitting rails and Bill commenced to put up the fence around the mill field. John went with the wagon to the black smith shop to carry my buggy wheels and then went to hauling rails. I drove my horse & buggy over to Mr. Keen's and carried Fawn [Florence Mahala Hall] with me. Sam* [Samuel Houston Sharp] & Hicks took up the Mill stones and gave them a pretty good dressing. I ground 11½ bushels of meal. weather changeable & very warm with a light shower of rain.

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

Tuesday, May 12th, 1863

To day the boys are still at work splitting rails to enclose the mill field. I am at work in the garden. Father [Joshua James Hall] carried Roberta* [Hall] & Toby* [Horace Oscar Hall] up to the school and there entered them with Mrs. Beasley for the current session. Sam* [Samuel Houston Sharp] ground 3 bushels of corn. weather changeable & warm.  

*Roberta (b. 1852) and Toby (b. 1854) are much younger half-siblings to JMH (b. 1819), the writer of this Journal, as well as to his wife, Margaret (b. 1840), aka "the little woman." Sam is the brother-in-law as well as the step-brother of JMH. Sam is also a 2nd great-grandpa to the Keeper of this family history blog.