Tuesday, January 23rd, 1866

To day I am at work at the warehouse. I loaned to Col. Wrigley my horse and buggy to drive up town. Ed. Jones left for Houston on the cars. The Steamer Sunflower arrived from Houston or rather from Galveston with Considerable freight. Capt. Chandler came up on her. Weather cloudy and cold with occasional showers of rain throughout the entire day.

Monday, January 22nd, 1866

To day I am at work at the Ware house. Hicks & Albert are engaged hauling logs to store the Cotton upon. Col. Wrigley finished the well at the convent. Frank [Stewart], Burt [Roberta Downes Halyard nee Hall] & Pet [Florence Mahala Hall] are all still sick. Wrigley consumated his contract with Mrs. Buckley to teach school until the 1st day of July next. Weather cloudy and cool.

Sunday, January 21st, 1866

To day I am engaged in writing up this journal. Pet [Florence Mahala Hall] is still sick also Frank [Stewart] & Burt [Roberta Downes Halyard nee Hall]. Mrs. Beale* [Elizabeth Lemaire Beale nee Waring] came over and spent the day with the little woman [Margaret Hall Stewart nee Sharp]. her horse is still here. Col. Wrigley employed Mrs. Buckley to teach school for him until the 1st of July next. Weather clear & cold with a hard frost at night.

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

Saturday, January 20th, 1866

To day I am at work at the Warehouse. John Cochran left on the cars for Houston. Col. Wrigley is still at work in the Convent well. Hicks & Albert are at work with the little wagon, hauling ground poles to store cotton upon. Frank [Stewart] & Burt [Roberta Downes Halyard nee Hall] are still sick. Pet [Florence Mahala Hall] had a chill and fever. Mrs. Waring [Harriett Waring nee White] was buried to day near the residence of Leon White [her cousin]. Weather variable and cold, with a severe norther blowing.

Friday, January 19th, 1866

To day I drove up town and purchased a few articles from Dr. Rives. John Cochran arrived on the cars from Houston and brought over $10,000 gold to purchase cotton with. Frank [Stewart] still very sick. Burt [Roberta Downes Halyard nee Hall] slightly improving. Col. Wrigley commenced digging a well at the convent. Hicks at work getting logs to store cotton on. Mrs. Basil Waring* [Harriett Waring nee Gill] after a short illness died. Weather cloudy & very cold. 

*This is a sister-in-law of Mrs. Beale aka Elizabeth Lemaire Beale nee Waring who is a 3rd great-grandma to the Keeper of this family history blog. This is the ONLY record I have found of Harriett's date of death.

Thursday, January 18th, 1866

To day I drove up town in the buggy after a few articles for the little woman [Margaret* Hall Stewart nee Sharp] and while there collected the freight bills for the Steamer Kate, which said boat I learned was burnt up on Red fish bar on her downward trip with 85 bales of Cotton. Frank Stewart & Roberta [Downes Halyard nee Hall] are still sick and do not improve any. I sent over to Houston for some iron bars to brace the Cotton shed. Weather changeable & warm.

*This Margaret is a 2nd great-grand-aunt to the Keeper of this family history blog, and is the wife as well as the step-sister of JMH.

Wednesday, January 17th, 1866

To day I am at work at the store house. The little woman [Margaret Hall Stewart nee Sharp] drove up town & purchased some articles. Col. Wrigley finished covering in the Cotton shed. The rail road commenced this day to make tri-weekly trips from Houston to Beaumont. Mrs. Beale* [Elizabeth Lemaire Beale nee Waring] still has her horse here. Negro boy Albert is now at work in the garden. Weather variable and rather warm.

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