Tuesday, February 20th, 1866

To day I am at work at the warehouse. The Steamer Indian No. 2 came up from the wood yard and then took on her freight after which she left for Galveston with Col. Wrigley and Capt. John K. Redmond on board. The Steamer T.J. Emery arrived from Galveston bound up the river. My cold no better. Frank [Stewart] still confined to his room. The little woman [Margaret* Hall Stewart nee Sharp] is still cooking. The children are all still afflicted with sore eyes. Weather clear & cool with a frost at night.

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

Monday, February 19th, 1866

To day I assisted in discharging the Steamer Indian No. 2. She then dropped down the river to the wood yard. In the evening I drove up town and attended the meeting of the City Council. Capt. John Redmond is still here. Frank [Stewart] is no better. The children are still afflicted with sore eyes. My Cough no better. Weather cloudy & cold with a frost at night.

Sunday, February 18th, 1866

To day I spent at home not being able to get out my cough and cold growing worse. The little woman [Margaret Hall Stewart nee Sharp] still doing her own cooking. John Redmond still here. The Steamer Indian No. 2 arrived from Galveston. Weather cloudy & cold with an incessant rain all day and all night causing the Trinity river to rise rapidly and filling up to over flowing all the ponds around town. In fact there is more water in the various ponds & lakes around town than I ever saw before with a hard frost and freeze at night.

Saturday, February 17th, 1866

To day I spent the forenoon at the Warehouse and the evening at home. The little woman [Margaret Hall Stewart nee Sharp] is now doing her own cooking. I am still suffering with the cough and cold which does not improve any. Capt. John Redmond still here. Frank Stewart is still confined to his room. Burta [Roberta Downes Halyard nee Hall] is still sick. Weather cloudy & cold with occasional showers of rain.

Friday, February 16th, 1866

To day I am confined to my room at home with the cough and cold which is daily growing worse. Frank [Stewart] still confined to his room. Capt. Redmond still here. All the children are still suffering with sore eyes & colds. I discharged the negro woman Rose, who has been cooking for me, since the 1st of January last, and whom I found to be a lying, deceitful & mean specimen of negro humanity, not worth the salt that she uses in her bread. Weather Cloudy and cold with a strong north wind blowing & a freeze at night.

Thursday, February 15th, 1866

The forenoon of to day I worked at the warehouse and the evening I spent at home. I am still suffering with my cough and cold. Capt. John W. Redmond arrived in the cars from Sour Lake and stopped at my house. Frank [Stewart] is still confined to his room. Hicks worked in the garden. Albert worked for Mrs. Beale* [Elizabeth Lemaire Beale nee Waring]. The children are still afflicted with the sore eyes. Weather variable and cold, with strong norther blowing and hard freeze at night.

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

Wednesday, February 14th, 1866

To day I worked at the warehouse posting books &c. Mr. Morrison left for home. Frank [Stewart] still confined to his room. Berta [Roberta Downes Halyard nee Hall] no better. All the children still suffering with sore eyes. My cold & cough no better. Weather clear and cold with a keen norther blowing and a hard frost at night.