Saturday, June 24th, 1865

To day I succeeded in stopping the diarrhea from running in me and am consequently much better. The little woman [Margaret Hall Stewart nee Sharp] with Fanny Fitzsimmons & Josephine in my buggy drawn by my horse Rob arrived safe and sound in Liberty. Frank Stewart with the little wagon & mules also arrived safe bringing down in the little wagon, Florence and Jimmy, also Louisa, Jemima, Conny and Wolf with sundry provisions etc. We all upon the invitation of Col. Jim Wrigley stopped at his house of course I left John Booths. The little woman passed my wagons on the road, they having left on the 16th with Jemima  was taken down at the residence of my old friend Dan Dailey & safely delivered of a female child on the 17th inst both Mother & child are doing well. Weather clear & hot. Ther: 96°.

Monday, July 25th, 1864

To day Bill is at work in the mill field pulling fodder. I drove my buggy over to Mr. Keen's and got him to mend the spring, and to put a wrought iron back in my cooking stove. Mother [Mahala Sharp Hall nee Roberts] came up and spent the day & took Fanny [Fanny Fitzsimmons] home with her in the evening. Florence [Florence Mahala Hall] is still sick. Josephine [Josephine Martha Hall] has taken sick with fever. Weather clear & hot. Ther: 90°.

Monday, July 18th, 1864

To day the boys are engaged in hunting up a beef steer but did not succeed. Mrs. Bird came up and spent the day. I cut all the hair off of her head as close as I possibly could in order to cure the latter*. The little woman [Margaret Hall Stewart nee Sharp] rode down to Mother's [Mahala Sharp Hall nee Roberts] in the evening and brought up Fanny Fitsimmons with her who has been entrusted to my care by her father to raise and take care of. Hicks ground 7 bushels of corn. Weather changeable and hot. Ther: standing at 92°. [*It was common practice for a chronically ill person to crop their hair very short.]

Sunday, April 24th, 1864

To day I drove my horse and buggy in company with the little woman [Margaret Hall Stewart nee Sharp] & children down to Mothers [Mahala* Sharp Hall nee Roberts] and spent the day. Mr. Fitzsimmons came down from Palestine on his way home and stopped for the night. Weather clear & cold.

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

Friday, April 22nd, 1864

To day the boys are still at work planting corn in the bottom field. Mr. Fitzsimmons left for Palestine, Billy Stewart & I went fishing with fine success. In the evening Billy Stewart and family drove down to Mothers [Mahala* Sharp Hall nee Roberts] & stopped there for the night. The little woman [Margaret Hall Stewart nee Sharp] also went down to Mothers but did not stop long. Hicks ground 7 bushels of corn. Weather variable & cool, with a hard rain at night.

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

Thursday, April 21st, 1864

To day the boys are still at work planting the bottom field for the second time. Billy Stewart, his wife and children in one buggy and I in my own all drove out from Crockett home, where they all put up. Upon my arrival at home, I found Mr. Fitzsimmons who had just arrived from Liberty on his way to Palestine. Hicks ground 5 bushels of corn. I purchased from Mr. Monroe while in Crockett 10 plugs of Tobacco or 5 lbs. for which I paid the little sum of one hundred and fifty dollars or $15 per plug. Weather cloudy and warm, with a considerable shower of rain at night.

Wednesday, March 30th, 1864

To day the boys are at work in the new ground. Hicks assisted me in the mill. we ground 11 bushels of wheat. Mr. Leatherman came out and stopped at the house. Father [Joshua James Hall], Judge Vontress & John Connelly came up to see the little woman [Margaret Hall Stewart nee Sharp]. after dinner they left for Crockett. Mr. Fitzsimmons left in route for his home in Liberty. weather variable & cool.

Tuesday, March 29th, 1864

To day the boys are at work hauling fire wood. Hicks ground 9 bushels of corn. Mr. Fitzsimmons deposited in the mill 3 sacks of flour for safe keeping and subject to his order. I delivered upon the order of Capt. Peacock 4 sacks of flour weighing 286 lbs. which was put on a Government wagon. Weather clear & cool with considerable frost at night.

Monday, March 28th, 1864

To day the boys drove up two cows with young calves. Hicks ground 13 bushels of corn. Mr. Fitzsimmons went hunting but without any success. Weather clear & cool with strong wind blowing from the North.

Sunday, March 27th, 1864

To day Mr. Fitzsimmons & I went out hunting and succeeded in killing a very nice deer. The little woman [Margaret Hall Stewart nee Sharp] & children with Mr. Fitzsimmons & myself all rode down to Mothers [Mahala* Sharp Hall nee Roberts] and spent the day. The boys went cow hunting but without any success. Weather variable & cool with very strong wind blowing.

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

Saturday, March 26th, 1864

To day the boys are still plowing up the new ground. Hicks ground 1½ bushels of corn. Mr. Fitzsimmons arrived from Parker's bluff & stopped with me. Weather variable & rather cool with very high wind.

Thursday, March 24th, 1864

To day the boys are at work breaking up the new ground. Mr. Fitzsimmons left after dinner for Magnolia. Sam* Sharp came out in the evening having attained a short leave of absence. Weather variable & cold.

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

Wednesday, March 23rd, 1864

To day the boys are at work hauling fire wood. Billy Stewart left for Crockett. I ground 25½ bushels of corn. Two soldiers stopped for breakfast & 2 for dinner. Mr. Fitzsimmons is still with me. Weather variable and cold, with indications of rain.

Tuesday, March 22nd, 1864

To day Bill is at work putting troughs in all the stalls in the stable. John is at work hauling fire wood. Sam* [Samuel Houston Sharp] left for Crockett to join his company. I ground 7½ bushels of wheat & 2 bushels of corn. Billy Stewart and Mr. Fitzsimmons are still with me. In the evening I rode down to Mother's [Mahala* Sharp Hall nee Roberts] in company with Billy Stewart. we found her much improved in health. Weather clear & cold with a hard frost at night.

*This Sam is a 2nd great-grandpa to the Keeper of this family history blog. Mahala is a 3rd great-grandma, and is Sam's mother. She is also the step-mother as well as the mother-in-law of JMH.

Monday, March 21st, 1864

To day Sam* [Samuel Houston Sharp] and Nellie* [Mary Alexandrien Sharp nee Lemaire] came up from Mother's [Mahala* Sharp Hall nee Roberts]. Billy Stewart & Mr. Fitzsimmons are still with me. I ground 5 bushels of wheat and 23½ bushels of corn. Weather cloudy & cold with hard showers of rain attended with occasional showers of hail. at night a frost and freeze.

*This Sam and Nellie are 2nd great-grandparents to the Keeper of this family history blog. Mahala is a 3rd great-grandma, and is Sam's mother. She is also the step-mother as well as the mother-in-law of JMH.

Saturday, March 19th, 1864

To day the boys finished planting corn in the bottom field. The little woman [Margaret Hall Stewart nee Sharp] & the children have nearly recovered of their colds. Mr. Fitzsimmons is still with me and assisting in the mill. we ground 20 bushels of corn. Sam* Sharp & Billy Stewart came out from Crockett, the former rode down to Mother's [Mahala* Sharp Hall nee Roberts] to see Nellie* [Mary Alexandrien Sharp nee Lemaire] and the latter stopped with me. I am sorely afflicted with rheumatism. Weather variable & cold.

*This Sam and Nellie are 2nd great-grandparents to the Keeper of this family history blog. Mahala is a 3rd great-grandma, and is Sam's mother, as well as the mother-in-law AND the step-mother of JMH.

Friday, March 18th, 1864

To day the boys are still at work planting corn in the bottom field. The little woman [Margaret Hall Stewart nee Sharp] and children are still sick but somewhat better. Mr. Fitzsimmons is still with me and assisting in the mill. we ground 26½ bushels of corn. Nellie* [Mary Alexandrien Sharp nee Lemaire] came up from Mothers [Mahala* Sharp Hall nee Roberts] but the whole family being very sick she returned late in the evening. I let Dr. John ? have 50 lbs of flour at 60 ? per lb. Weather variable and cool for the season.

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

Thursday, March 17th, 1864

To day the boys are still at work planting corn in the bottom field. The little woman [Margaret Hall Stewart nee Sharp] and children are all confined with severe colds. Mr. Fitzsimmons is still with me and assisted in the mill. we ground 16½ bushels of corn. Weather clear and cold with a light frost at night.

Wednesday, March 16th, 1864

To day the boys are still at work planting corn in the bottom field. Nellie* [Mary Alexandrien Sharp nee Lemaire] is still down at Mother's [Mahala* Sharp Hall nee Roberts]. I ground 4 bushels of wheat. Mr. Fitzsimmons of Liberty came down from Parker's bluff and put up with me. Weather changeable & cold with a frost & freeze at night.

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

Saturday, January 30th, 1864

To day the boys are still at work in the bottom field. Hicks is still at work covering in the cribs. Capt. Peacock and Mr. Fitzsimmons left for Magnolia. Father [Joshua James Hall] came up with the road hands having worked his section through from Hall's bluff to the Mills. I ground 13 bushels of corn. weather cloudy and warm with occasional showers of rain.