Wednesday, March 14th, 1866

To day we left the mouth of the [Trinity] river and run up to Liberty, at which place we arrived about sun down. I found all my folks well except Roberta [Downes Halyard nee Hall], who is about the same as I left her. I learned from the little woman [Margaret Hall Stewart nee Sharp] that Frank Stewart had left on the stage in route for Crockett on Thursday last. Mrs. Massie is still here and has been during my absence. Maj. Bolling came up with me from Galveston on a visit but found Col. Wrigley and family absent on a visit to Houston. Weather cloudy & cold with showers of rain throughout the entire day.

Friday, March 9th, 1866

To day I am still at the Crawford house in Galveston. I got all my purchases ready to ship by first steamer to Liberty. L.E. Downes is at work purchasing for the Crockett market and I wrote by him to Sam* H. Sharp in relation to my up Country [Houston County] business. Dr. Stanwood & I drove out on the beach and spent a pleasant afternoon. Weather clear and pleasant.

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

Thursday, March 8th, 1866

To day I am still at the Crawford house in Galveston. My Cough is a little better. I purchased all the articles for which I had orders. In the evening I accompanied Dr. Stanwood in a beach drive & spent a pleasant afternoon. L.E. Downes arrived in Galveston direct from Crockett and put up with me at the Crawford house. Weather clear and pleasant.

Friday, March 2nd, 1866

To day I am confined at home with my Cough which is growing worse. Hicks is at work in the orchard preparing it for planting. Frank Stewart still improving a little and still determined to leave for Crockett. The little woman [Margaret Hall Stewart nee Sharp] and children still have sore eyes. Col. Wrigley finished the school house & is now ready for business opperations. Mrs. Massie is still here. At night the steamer Indian No. 2 arrived from Galveston. Weather clear & pleasant.

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.

Friday, November 3rd, 1865

To day I commenced again to work at the warehouse for Col. Wrigley at a salary of one hundred dollars per month. I drove up town with Col. Wrigley, who left on the stage for Polk County. Billy Stewart also left in route for Crockett. Fannie is still sick. I had two loads of wood hauled for which I paid one dollar per load. Weather variable and cold with a hard frost at night.

Saturday, October 21st, 1865

To day I am still at work at the warehouse. Col. Billy Stewart & H. Ballinger came down from Crockett. Billy Stewart put up with me. Negro man Ike did not work today. In the evening I went up town to attend a meeting of the City Council. Weather variable and cool.

Friday, August 11th, 1865

To day all the sick missed their fevers. I drove up to the depot to see William Leaverton who came over on the cars from Houston. I gave him a package of letters. He then left for the mills, going in the stage as far as Crockett. Weather clear and hot. Ther: 92°.

Sunday, August 6th, 1865

To day I sent the negro boy Crockett down to Mr. Cooks after six bushels of corn that I had ? from him. Crockett brought a part of it home and left a part of it at the warehouse. I remained at home reading. Weather changeable and hot. Temp: 81°.

Friday, June 30th, 1865

To day I left Houston in company with Charles Leaverton on the cars bound for Liberty which place we reached in safety and I found all my family well. The boys are anxious however to start up the Country. Weather variable & hot. Ther: 86°. Thus closes my notes for the month of June.

Thursday, June 29th, 1865

To day I am still in Houston and having been left by the train yesterday I must pass the time as best I can. Charles A. Leaverton arrived in Houston direct from Crockett and put up at the same hotel with me. He informs me that my friends in Crockett are well. Weather cloudy & warm with occasional showers of rain making it very disagreeable. Ther: 86°.

Tuesday, June 20th, 1865

To day I wrote a letter to W.P. Leaverton at Crockett and enclosed one in it for my little woman [Margaret Hall Stewart nee Sharp], urging her speedy departure from the mill to join me here. I am still at Booths. Weather clear & hot. Ther: 90°.

Tuesday, April 4th, 1865

To day I left home on my mule John in company with Billy Roberts in route for Liberty. We rode to Crockett & stopped for dinner with Billy Stewart. We then rode down to Dan Dailey's where we stopped for the night. Weather cloudy & warm. at the mill Hicks ground 31 bushels of corn.

Sunday, April 2nd, 1865

To day Mr. Haden & Mr. Driscol left for Crockett. Frank Stewart came out & went hunting. he killed a fine turkey and a deer. Frank then rode down to Mother's [Mahala* Sharp Hall nee Roberts] and thence to Crockett. Nellie* [Mary Alexandrien Sharp nee Lemaire] is quite sick. Weather variable & pleasant.

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

Saturday, April 1st, 1865

To day I left Crockett in company with Mr. Haden and drove in his buggy out to the mill and thence down to Father's [Joshua James Hall] where I let Mr. Haden have 15 B/C which weighed 7161 lbs for which he is to pay me 6¢ per lb. Mr. Driscol also went down with us & assisted in weighing the cotton. We then returned to the mill. I found the little woman [Margaret Hall Stewart nee Sharp] and Roberta [Roberta Downes Halyard nee Hall] had gone to Crockett to see me but we took different roads & therefore missed each other. Billy Roberts rode over to Mr. Lacy's and found my mule that had escaped from Crockett and led him home. The little woman & Roberta returned home at night pretty well worn out from fatigue. Hicks ground 17 bushels of corn. Weather variable & pleasant. It clouded up at night however and rained hard nearly the whole night.

Friday, March 31st, 1865

To day I am still in Crockett and cannot get away as my [mule] has not yet been found. Billy Stewart tried to get my money from the negro boy York which he had stolen and succeeded in getting 30$ in new issue. The balance he had disposed off. at the mill Hicks ground 41 bushels of corn. Mother [Mahala* Sharp Hall nee Roberts] got 13 lbs of cotton. Weather changeable & pleasant. Thus closes my notes for the month of March.

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

Thursday, March 30th, 1865

To day I am still in Crockett and stopping with Billy Stewart. My mule broke out of the lot last night and made his escape. Billy Stewart's negro boy York robbed my pocket book of 250$ in new issue of Confederate Money and 1$ in specie. Cols. Gregg, Jones & Crawford took dinner at Billy Stewarts. Weather clear & cool.

Wednesday, March 29th, 1865

To day I left home in company with William Roberts & rode to Crockett where I stopped with Billy Stewart. Williams Roberts returned home. Hicks ground at the mill 27 bushels of corn. Weather variable & pleasant until night when it became very cold.

Friday, March 24th, 1865

To day John is at work in the point field. Billy Stewart left for Crockett. I loaned him my compass & "Flint's" work on surveying. Hicks ground 9 bushels of wheat & 26 bushels of corn & 3 bushels of rye. Weather clear.

Tuesday, March 21st, 1865

To day Nellie* [Mary Alexandrien Sharp nee Lemaire] & I in company with Mr. Dailey rode to Crockett and put up with Billy Stewart. John worked in the field. Hicks ground 6 bushels of wheat & 4 bushels of corn. Weather clear & warm.

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