Thursday, March 1st, 1866

To day I worked at the warehouse. My cough is no better. Frank Stewart being a little better has concluded to leave on the Stage for Crockett. Mrs. Massie still here. The little woman [Margaret Hall Stewart nee Sharp] and children are still afflicted with sore eyes. I paid off and discharged one of my freedmen Albert. Hicks is still at work in the garden. Weather clear and pleasant.

Wednesday, February 28th, 1866

To day I remained at home suffering severely with my Cough and cold. Hicks and Albert are working in the garden. Mrs. Massie is still here. The little woman [Margaret Hall Stewart nee Sharp] & children are afflicted with sore eyes. Frank [Stewart] is some little improved. Weather clear & pleasant. Thus closes the notes for the month of February.

Tuesday, February 27th, 1866

To day I finished papering the school house for Col. Wrigley. I drove up town and settled in full with Mr. Baldwin & Dr. Rives. Hicks & Albert are working in the garden. My cough & cold are no better. The little woman [Margaret Hall Stewart nee Sharp] still afflicted with sore eyes. Frank [Stewart] still confined to his bed. I purchased from the Str. Col. Stell which is still here one Barrel of irish potatoes for which I paid 5$ specie. Weather clear & pleasant. Mrs. Massie still here.

Sunday, February 25th, 1866

To day I am confined to my room. Hicks and Albert are engaged in setting out peach trees. Frank [Stewart] is still confined to his bed. The little woman [Margaret Hall Stewart nee Sharp] & children are still suffering with sore eyes. Mrs. Massie still here. The Str. Col. Stell still lying at the landing and the Str. Indian No. 2 still lying at the wood yard. Weather clear and pleasant.

Wednesday, February 21st, 1866

To day I worked at the warehouse. The Str. T.J. Emery opened the draw of the rail road bridge for the first time in 3 years and passed through the bridge on her upward bound voyage. The Steamer Ruthven arrived from Galveston with a small freight on board and left again for Galveston. My cold is no better. Hicks & Albert are at work hauling. Frank [Stewart] no better. The little woman [Margaret Hall Stewart nee Sharp] drove out in the Country and brought Mrs. Massie home with her who commenced sewing for the family. I entered into a contract with Henry a free man of Color to cook for me at 10$ per month gold. Weather variable & cool.

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.

Tuesday, February 13th, 1866

To day I worked a little down at the Warehouse. Mr. Morrison & Taylor came down and let Col. Wrigley settled in full with them. Frank [Stewart] is still confined to his room and very sick. Roberta [Downes Halyard nee Hall] is better. I am still suffering with my afflictions. all the children are suffering with sore eyes. Hicks work in the garden. Albert worked all day for Mrs. Beale* [Elizabeth Lemaire Beale nee Waring] plowing. Weather variable & cool.

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

Monday, February 12th, 1866

To day I spent nearly the entire day at the warehouse. Col. Wrigley still at work on the school house. Hicks is at work in the garden and planted out irish potatoes. Albert is at work hauling wood. The little woman [Margaret Hall Stewart nee Sharp] drove up town after some medicine for me. Frank [Stewart] is still quite sick. Roberta [Downes Halyard nee Hall] is rather worse. All the children are suffering with sore eyes. I am still suffering with cough & cold. Weather variable and cold.

Friday, February 9th, 1866

To day I worked a little at the Warehouse, and then drove up town, while there I paid Mr. Bristley every dollar I owed him, amounting to 26.50$ also all the little woman [Margaret Hall Stewart nee Sharp] owed him. Hicks & Albert are engaged getting wood. Mr. Holly repaired my wagon. Mrs. Beale* [Elizabeth Lemaire Beale nee Waring] paid me 10$ for Keeping her horse, since the 16th of December last to the present time she having sold said horse to Mr. Baldwin. Frank Stewart still very sick. My cough and cold no better. Weather cloudy cool and unpleasant.

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

Thursday, February 8th, 1866

To day Hicks & Albert are engaged hauling wood. I am at work at the Warehouse although suffering greatly with bronchitis. Frank [Stewart] is still very sick. Berta [Roberta Downes Halyard nee Hall] is improving a little. I received from Thomas Haggart a bowie Knife in lieu of the one which I loaned him and which he lost while on his tour through this Country. Weather clear and pleasant.

Wednesday, February 7th, 1866

To day I worked at the warehouse although suffering greatly with a Cough & sore throat which does not seem to improve any. Frank [Stewart] and Berta [Roberta Downes Halyard nee Hall] are still quite sick. Hicks and Albert are at work chopping wood. Col. Wrigley still at work on the school house. At night there was a surprise party at Col. Wrigley's to which the little woman [Margaret Hall Stewart nee Sharp] & I was compelled to go. The party was a brilliant little affair and passed off to the general satisfaction of all concerned. Weather clear and cold with a frost at night.

Friday, February 2nd, 1866

To day I am still confined home with my cough and cold. The little woman [Margaret Hall Stewart nee Sharp] and Albert worked in the garden. Hicks still at work on the school house for Col. Wrigley. Ed. Jones gave a dancing party up town. Mrs. Massie is still at work sewing. Burt [Roberta Downes Halyard nee Hall] and Frank [Stewart] still sick. Weather variable and cool.

Thursday, February 1st, 1866

 
To day I am so sorely afflicted with a cough and cold as to render me entirely unfit for business. The little woman [Margaret Hall Stewart nee Sharp] and Mrs. Wrigley drove up town to purchase a few articles. Hicks is still at work on the school house for Col. Wrigley. Albert worked in the garden setting out onions. Mrs. Massie still here sewing for the little woman. Frank [Stewart] and Burt [Roberta Downes Halyard nee Hall] are no better. Weather variable and cool.

Wednesday, January 31st, 1866

To day Lelia & Ed. Jones arrived home from Houston. Hicks & Albert assisted Col. Wrigley on the school house. Mrs. Massie is still here. Frank [Stewart] & Burt [Roberta Downes Halyard nee Hall] still sick. Weather variable & unpleasant. Thus I close my notes for the month of January.

Tuesday, January 30th, 1866

To day I am still at work at the warehouse. Col. Wrigley is still engaged in moving the Smith house. he succeeded in getting it up to the new location and blocking it up. Hicks and Albert assisted him all day. The sloop Gray Hound left for Galveston. I drove up town in company with the little woman [Margaret Hall Stewart nee Sharp]. we purchased 20 oranges, apples, banannas & cocoa nuts. Jimmy [James Wrigley Hall] is better. Frank [Stewart] & Burt [Roberta Downes Halyard nee Hall] are still sick. Weather clear and pleasant.

Monday, January 29th, 1866

To day I am at work at the Warehouse. The little woman [Margaret Hall Stewart nee Sharp] drove out after Mrs. Masie, who came home with her, and commenced sewing at 6 bits per day. Hicks & Albert hauled pickets all day for Mrs. Beale* [Elizabeth Lemaire Beale nee Waring]. Col. Wrigley commenced moving the Smith house to a new location in order to convert it into a school house. The sloop Gray Hound arrived from Galveston with some freight on board. Weather clear and pleasant.

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

Saturday, January 27th, 1866

To day I am at work at the warehouse. Col. Wrigley received a load of lumber from Beaumont to build a school house with. Hicks & Albert set out some more trees, and hauled some lumber from the cars to the school house. They also hauled some palings for Mrs. Beale* [Elizabeth Lemaire Beale nee Waring]. Frank [Stewart], Burt [Roberta Downes Halyard nee Hall] & Jimmy [James Wrigley Hall] are still sick. Weather clear & pleasant, but cold at night with another frost.

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

Friday, January 26th, 1866

To day Hicks & Albert are at work setting out shade trees in the house yard. I drove up town after some ax handles. Jimmy [James Wrigley Hall] is still sick. Frank [Stewart] & Burt [Roberta Downes Halyard nee Hall] do not seem to improve any. Col. Wrigley with the hands finished the Cotton shed. Weather clear & pleasant but cold at night with a hard frost.

Wednesday, January 24th, 1866

To day I am very busy loading the steamer Sunflower. I drove up town to meet the cars and mail some letters. The little woman [Margaret Hall Stewart nee Sharp] went up with me. I had a full settlement with Capt. Chandler in relation to his Consignments. The steamer Sunflower then left for Galveston. Hicks and Albert went out with the little woman and got me some Mulberry trees to set out in the house yard for shade trees. Weather clear and cold with a hard frost at night. 

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.