Monday, February 15th, 1864

To day the boys are still at work plowing in the bottom field. I rode my horse Rob to Crockett for the express purpose of indicting Jim Leaverton for hog stealing before the District Court which commenced its session there to day, but was pursuaded out of it. I will now have to rely upon a suit to recover my property which I can prove beyond the shadow of a doubt. Hicks attended the mill during my absence and ground 2½ bushels of corn. Weather changeable & cool with a frost at night.

Sunday, February 14th, 1864

To day Mr. Leaverton came over and had the impudence not only to claim the shoats spoken of in my notes of Friday last but to claim the sow too, and as a matter of course I will be compelled to prosecute him for hog stealing. I drove down to Mother's [Mahala* Sharp Hall nee Roberts] in the buggy carrying Fawn [Florence Mahala Hall] with me after the late papers. Nellie* [Mary Alexandrien Sharp nee Lemaire] who has been staying down at Mother's for several days came home with me in the buggy. Weather cloudy with light misting showers of rain. at night it rained in torrents for about one hour, and continued to rain lightly throughout the entire night.

*This Mahala is a 3rd great-grandma to the Keeper of this family history blog. Nellie is a 2nd great-grandma.

Saturday, February 13th, 1864

To day I kept the boys at home assisting me in marking some pigs. Hicks is attending the mill I not being able to do so in consequence of a hurt I received on my fingers. he ground 12 bushels of corn. I loaned Mr. Smith 19 lbs of flour. Weather changeable and warm, with strong indications of rain.

Friday, February 12th, 1864

To day the boys are still at work plowing in the bottom field. Hicks is still at work on the hen house. I sent over for Mr. Keen who came and examined a sow & some shoats. The sow is in my mark but strange to say the shoats are in the mark of J.H. Leaverton. The little woman [Margaret Hall Stewart nee Sharp] & children drove down to Mothers [Mahala Sharp Hall nee Roberts] and spent the day there. I ground 5 bushels of corn. Weather clear and pleasant.

Thursday, February 11th, 1864

To day the boys are still at work plowing in the bottom field. Hicks is still at work on the hen house. I ground 2½ bushels of corn. At night four soldiers stopped with me. They belong to Lane's Regiment of Texas Volunteers. Nellie* [Mary Alexandrien Sharp nee Lemaire] is still staying down at Mother's [Mahala* Sharp Hall nee Roberts]. Weather clear and warm for the season of the year.

*This Nellie is a 2nd great-grandma to the Keeper of this family history blog. Mahala is her mother-in-law.

Wednesday, February 10th, 1864

To day the boys are still at work plowing in the bottom field. Hicks is at work putting up the hen house for the little woman [Margaret Hall Stewart nee Sharp]. Nellie* [Mary Alexandrien Sharp nee Lemaire] came up from Mothers [Mahala* Sharp Hall nee Roberts] but returned there again in the evening. I ground 17½ bushels of corn. Weather clear and pleasant, but rather cold at night.

*This Nellie is a 2nd great-grandma to the Keeper of this family history blog. Mahala is her mother-in-law and is Margaret's mother, as well as the mother-in-law and step-mother of JMH.

Tuesday, February 9th, 1864

To day the boys are at work plowing in the bottom field. Mr. Coburn passed on his way to Magnolia with a gang of impressed negroes in the government service. John is at work hauling the logs in to build the hen house. Mother [Mahala* Sharp Hall nee Roberts] came up in the evening and Nellie* [Mary Alexandrien Sharp nee Lemaire] rode home with her. I ground 1½ bushels of corn. Weather clear and warm, but cold at night.

*This Mahala is a 3rd great-grandma to the Keeper of this family history blog. Nellie is a 2nd great-grandma, and is Mahala's daughter-in-law.