Saturday, April 29th, 1865

To day I am in Galveston and after having finished what little business I had to do I strolled around the City and fortifications in Company with my old friend Col. Jim Wrigley whom I have not seen before since the summer of 1862. we had a pleasant time together and I found him the same old Jim. he seems to be enjoying excellent health, and may his shaddow never grow less. at home Hicks ground 15 bushels of corn. Weather clear & warm.

Wednesday, December 31st, 1862

To day Sam* [Samuel Houston Sharp] & I cut up and salted down the porks that we killed yesterday. I paid Chester & Ann for their services in helping to kill & salt down the pork. Dr. Murchison & Mother [Mahala* Sharp Hall nee Roberts] came to see Nellie* [Mary Alexandrien Sharp nee Lemaire] who is still very sick, but they did not remain long. Mr. Pennington's time as Miller having expired he surrendered the mill keys to me and left for his home. weather clear and cool. 

Thus I close my jottings of daily events for the year 1862 now past & gone and whether God will permit me to live to keep the events around me of the incoming year is more than I can know but trusting in his mercy I shall enter upon the duty which is pleasing to me and may be profitable to my family and myself hereafter.

*This Sam and Nellie are 2nd great-grandparents to the Keeper of this family history blog. Mahala is Sam's Mother.

Tuesday, December 30th, 1862

To day I hired Chester & Ann to salt down the pork we got from Dailey on yesterday. after that was done we killed ten other hogs which weighed 1480 lbs of pork. Mrs. Bird came down to see Nellie* [Mary Alexandrien Sharp nee Lemaire] who is still very sick so much so that Sam* [Samuel Houston Sharp] was compelled to go after Dr. Murchison but he did not come down. weather clear & cold with a strong North wind blowing and a hard frost at night.

*This Nellie and Sam are 2nd great-grandparents to the Keeper of this family history blog.

Monday, December 29th, 1862

To day I went to Crockett in my buggy and while there I purchased from Dr. Corley 25 bales of Cotton for which I paid him 17&#162 per lb. Mr. Thomas Dailey sent me 937 lbs of pork for which I had contracted some days ago at 14&#162 per lb. I employed Chester to cut it up which he did. Dr. Murchison came down to see Nellie* who is still very sick, he however returned home early. Mother* & Mrs. Bird also came down to see Nellie. Mother [Mahala] returned home but Mrs. Bird remained all night. weather clear & rather warm.

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

Sunday, December 28th, 1862

To day I employed two of Mr. Leaverton's boys, one of Mr. Bird's, Chester & his wife Ann, to salt down the pork purchased from Mr. Bird on yesterday, which they did and for their services I paid them 6$. Nellie* is still quite sick. Dr. Murchison, Mrs. Bird & Mother [Mahala* Sharp Hall nee Roberts] left for home. Nellie's sickness resuming a more alarming character, Dr. Murchison was again sent for but did not come, thus leaving us to manage the care as best we could. In justice to the Doctor I must here state that he was not at home when the messenger arrived there & hence he could not come. weather clear & cool.

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

Saturday, December 27th, 1862

This morning I sent down after Mother [Mahala* Sharp Hall nee Roberts] and Mrs. Bird to attend Nellie* [Mary Alexandrien Sharp nee Lemaire] in her sickness, and Sam* Sharp went after Dr. Murchison all of whom came to attend Nellie. I purchased from Mr. Bird 1100 lbs of pork for which I paid 15&#162 per lb. Mr. Leaverton's boys hauled another load of fodder from Mr. Renfro's weighing 1028 lbs. weather clear & cold with a hard frost at night.

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

Friday, December 26th, 1862

To day I am engaged about the mill and rode down to Father's in the evening. Mr. Leaverton's boys hauled me from Mr. Renfro's 1034 lbs of fodder. at night Nellie* was taken very sick with strong indications of her confinement. weather cloudy & warm with occasional showers of rain.

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

Thursday, December 25th, 1862

To day I remained at home with the little woman [Margaret Hall Stewart nee Sharp] and babies and enjoyed a fine Christmas dinner with several nice egg noggs gotten up in a style as only the little woman knows how to fix them. I contracted with Mr. Thomas Dailey for 1000 lbs of pork at 14&#162. The drafting of the Militia came off in Crockett and Sam Sharp* was drawn to serve under the three months call for the protection of our coast. weather cloudy and warm with occasional showers of rain.  

*Samuel Houston Sharp is a 2nd great-grandpa to the Keeper of this family history blog, and the comments made in this Journal are the only known record (as of this date) of our Sam's military experiences.

 

Wednesday, December 24th, 1862

To day I drove my horse Gladiator and buggy down to Mothers [Mahala*] and brought up a basket of glass ware. In the evening the little woman drove down to her Mothers [Mahala*] and back to try the horse and buggy. I purchased from Mr. Renfro some fodder & peas. weather cloudy, warm and showery.

*This Mahala is a 3rd great-grandma to the Keeper of this family history blog. She is the stepmother as well as the mother-in-law of JMH.

Tuesday, December 23rd, 1862

This morning before I left my old friend Dan Dailey's my boy Bill with the little wagon & mules drove up in route for Liberty and to whom I gave $5.50 to bear his expenses on the road. I then left Dailey's and drove 15 miles to Crockett where I was compelled to unload my buggy and have the balance iron repaired before I could proceed further, after which I loaded up and left for home at the Mills, and after driving 10 miles I arrived home at the mills safe and sound and where I found all my loved and dear ones enjoying good health, and who were overjoyed to see me. My arrival however was not unexpected as my little woman had been expecting and looking for me for some days. weather cloudy and warm with showers of rain occasionally.

Monday, December 22nd, 1862

To day I left Mr. Alderman's and drove 29 miles and stoped for the night at my old friend Dan Dailey's with whom I passed a very pleasant night, and enjoyed myself hugely on a good toddy being the first I have had since my departure from Liberty. weather changeable and very warm with every prospect of rain.

Sunday, December 21st, 1862

To day I left Carr's and after driving 29 miles over a very bad road arrived at Mr. Alderman's where I stoped for the night and from whom I purchased one pound of Tobacco. expenses of the day $3.00. weather clear and pleasant.

Saturday, December 20th, 1862

To day I left Mr. Hawkins' and drove 28 miles over a bad road, and stoped for the night at Carr's. weather clear and cool. expenses of the day 2$.

Friday, December 19th, 1862

To day I purchased from Dr. Stanwood a beautiful upright Piano Forte for the little woman for which I paid 300$. Dick Cole went down home with me and took dinner after which I packed up my buggy, bid farewell to all my particular friends and left Liberty in route for the mills to see my little woman and babies. I drove out 13 miles and stoped at Mr. Hawkins' for the night. weather clear and cool.

Thursday, December 18th, 1862

To day I went up town and purchased the celebrated horse Gladiator also a fine buggy from Dr. J.O. Shelby to go up the Country [to Houston County] to see my family for which I paid him 600$ Confederate money. weather clear & cool.

Wednesday, December 17th, 1862

To day I am still engaged assisted by Bob in packing up my furniture making very poor head way but as I have now got the most valuable part already packed up I shall leave for the up Country [Houston County] to see my family without packing any more at present. weather clear & cool with a light frost at night.

Tuesday, December 16th, 1862

To day I am busy assisted by Bob in packing up my furniture to move up the Country [to Houston County] and in getting ready to start up in person as I have despaired in ever seeing the wagons come down. weather clear and cool with a hard frost at night.

Monday, December 15th, 1862

To day I am busy preparing for a party to be given at the residence of Dr. Stanwood in honor of his daughter Sarah Eugenia having attained her full age of majority. The dinner given on the occasion was magnificent for the times, and passed off to the entire satisfaction of the guests and reflected great credit upon those who got it up. At night the guests assembled at the Court house where we had a first rate dancing party and as usual I had to act as Master of Ceremonies on the occasion. towards the small hours of morn the party closed, every thing passing off quite pleasantly. weather changeable. The wind having hauled around to the North made it quite cold.

Sunday, December 14th, 1862

To day I remained at home writing up this journal, also reading. weather cloudy and warm with occasional showers of rain.

Saturday, December 13th, 1862

To day I am still engaged in packing up my furniture, making rather poor headway however. I went to the office and settled with Mrs. Branch. Time is now hanging heavily on my hands and I am nearly worn out waiting for my wagons to come down for me [from Houston County]. weather cloudy and warm with occasional showers of rain.