Monday, May 23rd, 1864

To day the boys finished plowing the corn in the bottom field. Father [Joshua James Hall] sent up by Darby 14 hams, which weighed 192 lbs. for which I am to pay him in meal at the rate of one bushel of meal for five pounds of hams. I let him have 1½ bushels of meal on account. My daughter Josephine [Josephine Martha Hall] was taken very sick with Cholera Infantum. Mother [Mahala Sharp Hall nee Roberts] came up and remained all night. Capt. Peacock and servant also came and stopped for the night he is on his way to Liberty having completed his work at Parkers bluff. Hicks ground 6 bushels of corn. Weather clear and rather hot.

Sunday, December 9th, 1860

To day I went to Halls Bluff & took Bill with me. Darby, Martin, Albert, Masoline, Joe & Leaverton's George worked on the levy. Weather rainy & warm.

Thursday, December 6th, 1860

To day Baker, Charley Hall, Frank Stewart, John Williams, Darby, Masoline, Martin, Albert & Bill worked on the levy. Col. John M. Murchison came to see me. In the evening I went to see the little woman. weather clear & rather warm.

Wednesday, December 5th, 1860

To day Baker, Charles Hall, Frank Stewart, John Williams, Darby, Masoline, Martin, Albert, Bill & Joe worked on the levy. Milton Dailey came to see me, & in the evening I went to see the little woman. weather changable & rather warm.

Tuesday, December 4th, 1860

To day Baker, Charley Hall, Frank Stewart, John Williams, Brown, (Mrs. Bird's Martin & Emery) Darby, Masoline, Martin, Albert & Bill worked on the levy. In the evening I went to see the little woman. weather clear & cool.

Monday, December 3rd, 1860

To day Baker, Charley Hall, Frank Stewart, Brown, Darby, Masoline, Martin, Albert, Bill, Joe, John Williams, (Martin / Mrs. B.) Daniel & Emory worked on the dam. In the evening I went to see the little woman. weather clear & cool.

Sunday, December 2nd 1860

To day Darby, Martin, Masoline, Albert, Joe & Bill worked on the levy, also Frank Stewart & in the evening I went to Mothers & remained all night, weather clear & rather warm.

Saturday, December 1st, 1860

To day I went to Dailey's to attend to the Suit against Taylor & recovered a judgment against him for $10- & costs. Charley Hall, Alex Baker, John Williams, Darby, Masoline, Albert, Joe & Bill with Martin, Daniel & Brown worked on the levy. Father came home with me & remained for dinner. in the evening I went to Mothers & remained all night. weather clear & cool.

Friday, November 30th, 1860

To day John Williams, Brown, Alex. Baker, Charley Hall, Frank Stewart, Darby, Masoline, Albert, Joe & Mrs. Bird's 3 negroes worked on the levy but to little or no good. in the evening I went to Daileys Store. Father came up & remained all day. I recd by Mr. Keen 1 Keg of nails. weather clear & cool. Bill made 1 load from Wortham's Mill, bringing 604 ft.

Thursday, November 29th, 1860

To day Darby, Masoline, Albert, Joe & Frank Stewart came to work. Bill made 1 load from Wortham's Mill 560 ft. John Williams came to work about 11 O'clock & Mrs. Bird sent 2 _____ me & Brown after dinner I returned to Mrs. Bird 69 lbs. of beef heretofore borrowed from her. Mr. Brown done no work on this day. In the evening Alex Baker came out. I sent to Fathers by Charley Hall for some nails, who sent me 29 lbs. I also killed one hog & recd. one half of a beef. weather clear & cool.

Wednesday, November 28th, 1860

To day about 10 o'clock a.m. Father sent me Darby, Masoline, Albert & Joe also 3 yoke of oxen.- Frank Stewart & Masoline left after dinner to kill a beef. Bill made a load from the Mill 300 ft. I took My wife & Florence to her Mother's in the evening. weather clear & cool.

Saturday, October 6th, 1860

To day I laid off the frame for the carriage house and put Bill to framing. I went to Crockett & back, and at night I discharged Darby and sent him home. weather clear but rather cool.

Sunday, May 13th, 1860

To day went fishing, with good success. Darby split 101 rails for me. weather clear & pleasant.

Saturday, March 17th, 1860

To day I started 3 plows planting corn. I also received notice and a quietus (but I say no more on this subject) I also paid Darby all I am due him for splitting rails save 59 for which I still owe. Weather clear pleasant.

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YAZOO DEMOCRAT [Yazoo City, MS], March 17, 1860, p. 2, c. 4. Negro's Crop.—Our attention was directed to a load of five bags of cotton in Broad street this morning, and we were informed that it was the crop of the "house gang" (for the information of our friends up towards the North pole, we will tell them that the house gang signifies the cook and negro children about the house too young for regular work) belonging to Mrs. O'Conner, of Mount Vintage, Edgefield district, S. C. The cotton was of extra quality, and brought 12½ cents, producing nearly $250 for the cook-woman and her little "drab shets," a very comfortable sum to spend in luxuries, and more money than thousands of poor men and women in New England see in one sum in the whole course of their lives. Augusta Dispatch.

Tuesday, February 28th, 1860

Isaac TANNER set in to day for one month. It rained all day and consequently no work was done, all hands idle. I let Darby have 1 lb. of Tobacco in payment for his rails, making us even & square up to date.

Sunday, February 26th, 1860

To day I went to Hall's bluff and found the river rising fast and one Steamer the Lone Star passed up yesterday. Bill & Darby split rails to day Bill got 202 & Darby 100. Weather warm & pleasant.

Sunday, February 19th, 1860

To day sent the cart to the bluff for the articles purchased at sale of HERNDON'S est. considerable error in the bill, and several articles missing. Darby split rails, & made 110. weather warm & clear.

Sunday, February 12th, 1860

To day Darby split 37 rails, which made 100 in all and for which I paid him cash. Bill split 150 rails and Albert commenced his patch. weather fair.

Sunday, January 29th, 1860

To day negro Bill split [300?] rails and Darby split 63 rails for me in the clearing. weather clear and pleasant.

Sunday, January 22nd, 1860

To day I employed negroes Bill & Darby to cut and split rails to fence my clearing. No other incident to chronicle this day.