Thursday, March 22nd, 1866

To day I am at work at the warehouse. My cough is rather worse. Capt. John K. Redmond rode down to Frank Redmond's where he remained all night. Mrs. Massie is still here. The Str. Indian still below wooding. Weather cloudy & cool with misting rain.

Wednesday, March 21st, 1866

To day I am at work at the warehouse. The Steamer Indian No. 2 arrived from Galveston with some little freight. Mrs. Massie is still here, also Capt. Redmond. The Str. Indian No. 2 dropped down to Cole's wood yard. At night I attended a dancing party given at Mr. Baldwin's hotel, and in consequence of which my cough is much worse. Weather clear and cool.

Saturday, March 17th, 1866

To day I am at work at the warehouse. I loaned my horse and buggy to Mrs. Trowell to drive to Walnut bluff in order to take passage on the Str. Indian No. 2 which boat left Cole's wood yard for Galveston. Roberta [Downes Halyard nee Hall] and the children went out crawfishing. In the evening the little woman [Margaret Hall Stewart nee Sharp] drove out in the buggy and carried Mrs. Massie out home. My cough still continues to improve. Weather clear & cool.

Friday, March 16th, 1866

To day I am at work at the warehouse. Col. Wrigley & family arrived on the cars from Houston. Maj. Bolling still here. Hicks is engaged hauling to the warehouse. The Steamer Ruthven arrived from Galveston and discharged about 200 Bls Corn & left for Galveston again. The Str. Indian No. 2 dropped down to Cole's wood yard. Mrs. Massie is still here. My cough is still improving. Weather clear and cool.

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.

Saturday, February 24th, 1866

The forenoon of to day I worked at the warehouse and the evening I spent at home. I got from Col. Wrigley 100 peach trees and 2 bales of hay. The steamer Col. Stell arrived from Galveston bound up the river. The Steamer Indian No. 2 took on some freight and dropped down the river to the wood yard. Frank [Stewart] is still confined to his room. The little woman [Margaret Hall Stewart nee Sharp] & children are still suffering with sore eyes. At night I sent for Dr. Shelby to visit me professionally. He came and administered some medicine for my Cough which is no better. Mrs. Massie is still here. Negro Henry's wife came over for him on the ? in order to be near her husband. Weather clear & cold.

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.

Thursday, August 3rd, 1865

To day my new woman Jemima came back home, bringing her Mother home with her who I suppose I will now have to support in order to keep Jemima with me. I drove my horse and buggy (with John Booth in Company with me) down to Richard Coles. we remained there for dinner. William Leaverton spent the evening with us. he is waiting for the cars to carry him to Sour Lake. The steamer Mary Hill arrived from Galveston. Weather cloudy and warm. Ther: 88°.

Wednesday, June 21st, 1865

To day I rode down to gum lake to attend a party or rather a fish fry. we had fine luck and an excellent dinner. I passed a very pleasant time and everything passed off to the satisfaction of all the parties interested. At night I went down to Mr. Cole's in his yawl [boat] to attend a party given by Mr. Cole in honor of Col. Denson & his bride they having just been married and the party might be considered as a bridle [sic] party or ball. I have received nothing as yet from home [Houston County]. I am still at John Booths. Weather clear & very hot. Ther: 91°.

Friday, June 2nd, 1865

To day I am still at Liberty and boarding at John Booth's. Lieut. Edwards returned on the train from Houston which came across the bridge being the first train that has crossed since the bridge has been repaired. The Steamer Orizaba in her downward trip run upon a snag and sand, about one mile below the residence of Dick Cole. Nothing yet from home. Weather clear and hot. Ther: 91°

Thursday, May 25th, 1865

To day I am still at Booth's. Today another large party of soldiers after stealing all they could find around in the County left for Beaumont on the cars. Capt. Harrison, Lt. Edwards, Mr. Felkins & I went down to Mr. Cole's and found him gone to parts unknown. Weather clear & very hot.

Wednesday, May 3rd, 1865

To day I am still in Liberty and stopping with Capt. Peacock. In the evening I went down to Richard Cole's with several other gentlemen and spent the night there. We had a pleasant time. Weather clear and warm.

Tuesday, April 18th, 1865

To day I left Mr. Cole's and returned to Liberty, and again stopped with Capt. Peacock. At home Hicks ground 49½ bushels of corn. Weather variable & warm with a hard rain at night.

Monday, April 17th, 1865

To day I visited Clay Stone in company with Geo. White & Richard Cole, and there partook of a fine dinner after which I went in company with Mr. Cole down the river in a batteaux to his residence where I stopped with him for the night. we enjoyed ourselves very well drinking lager beer. at home Hicks ground 29½ bushels of corn. Weather variable and pleasant.

Sunday, April 16th, 1865

To day I went in company with Capts. Peacock & Harrison all over the bottom below Liberty trying to get down to Mr. Cole's but in consequence of the high stage of the river our efforts proved abortive & we returned home. Weather variable & pleasant.

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.

Tuesday, November 4th, 1862

To day I rode my horse Rat down to my friend Richard Cole's in company with a party of gentlemen for the express purpose of going out ducking which we did and had pretty fair success I having bagged fifteen. We returned to Cole's for dinner and I confess that I sat down to a splendid one, the time passing off very agreeably & pleasantly. We all returned home in the evening. Mr. A.B. Trowell left on the cars in route to Waul's legion in Mississippi & by whom I sent a letter to Captain Wrigley, notifying him of my intention to remove from Liberty up to my mill [i.e., to Houston County], where my family has been for the past five months. The boys are now busily engaged in digging potatoes. In the evening after Tea, I visited Charley Lunds and spent a pleasant time with him & his family. I then returned to my solitary abode to cogitate upon the past. weather clear & pleasant.

Tuesday, August 5th, 1862

To day I am busy in the war tax collector's office making out certificates of sale. In the evening I went home with Richard Cole and spent the night there. Sam Sharp busy in his office. Boys are still at work on the fence. weather clear &y very hot. Ther 96°.

Tuesday, July 22nd, 1862

To day I rode my horse Rat down the river in company with Clay Stone to the residence of Dick Cole where I remained for dinner and spent a very agreeable time. The remains of old deaf Smith was buried with masonic honors. The boys were engaged all day in digging the grave for the old man, and in assisting at his burial. weather very hot. Ther. 99°.