Tuesday, September 10th, 1861

To day I left Father's and moved up to the mill as my home until I should start for Liberty. I assisted Harwell in pecking the mill stones. Wm. Leaverton & his negro man came over and assisted us in raising and putting down the runner. weather changeable with occasional showers of rain & hot.

Sunday, September 1st, 1861

To day John Harwell came down from the mill and I went fishing with fine success having caught a nice mess of perch. In the evening Harwell returned to the mill. weather changeable and very hot.

Saturday, August 31st, 1861

To day I felt some better and went up to the mill. John Harwell & Father [Joshua James Hall] went to Crockett. Mrs. Bird spent the day at Fathers and in the evening James McDonald* & Charley Hall came out to spend the night. weather cloudy with occasional showers & very hot.

*Nephew of Mahala. He was killed in Arkansas during the war between the states.

Monday, August 26th, 1861

To day I went up to the mill and assisted Harwell in grinding corn & wheat. Thomas & Silas Keen went to Crockett and returned in the evening with several letters for me. weather cloudy & showery.

Sunday, August 25th, 1861

To day John Harwell came down from the Mill and we went fishing with fine success, having caught a nice mess of perch. weather changeable and hot with hard rain nearly all night.

Friday, August 16th, 1861

To day Father & myself went up to the mill. I found my Miller, Harwell, out to work on the road. we returned to dinner and in the evening I occupied myself in writing several letters. weather clear and hot.

Monday, August 12th, 1861

To day I went up to the mills and assisted Mr. Harwell in fixing on the new bands. we put the Gutta Percha band on the grist and the leather band on the wheat Mill after which I returned to Father's. weather clear & hot.

Sunday, August 11th, 1861

To day I went with Roberta & Toby fishing with pretty good success and during my absence Mr. Harwell & Leaverton came to see me. They spent the day at Father's where I am staying, but returned in the evening. weather clear & hot.

Saturday, August 10th, 1861

To day I went up to the mill in company with Father and found J. Harwell my miller busy grinding corn. he is still however in feeble health. In the evening I returned to Father's and employed myself in repairing my saddle. weather clear & good hot.

Thursday, August 8th, 1861

To day Redman & myself left Sumpter and arrived in Crockett about 4 O'Clock where I parted company with him. I then started for the Mill & met Father [Joshua] on the road. after riding 43 miles I arrived at the mills & found John Harwell my miller sick with chills & fever. I then rode down to Mothers [Mahala] where I found the Little woman [Margaret] & my pet Baby [Florence] well & glad to see me. Father remaining in Crockett for the night. The balance of Mother's family I found sick. weather changeable & very hot.

Monday, July 1st, 1861

To day Frank Stewart, Toby & I went up to the Mill in the buggy and while there caught a fine mess of fish. I borrowed Harwell's horse and went to see William Leaverton. We all returned to Mother's in the evening. weather changeable & warm with a hard rain at night.

Sunday, June 30th, 1861

To day we left Dailey's and drove 25 miles passing through Crockett and arrived at the mill about 4 o'clk. P.M. there we found John Harwell sick. We then went to Mothers and stoped. weather clear & very warm.

Tuesday, March 12th, 1861

To day at 12 o'clock I started for Liberty in the buggy with the little woman [Margaret Hall Stewart nee Sharp] and Florence and arrived in Crockett in good time. we remained there all night stopping at Lady Downes'. I employed Frank Stewart for the balance of the year at the rate of $200 per annum. I left John S. Harwell in possession of my mill, and also left Charley Hall there. Harwell is in possession of the mill under a written contract for the current year. weather clear & pleasant.

Saturday, February 23rd, 1861

To day I went with John Harwell to the polls, and while there had to act as one of the clerks to the election. The vote at precinct No. 7 stood for Secession 31, against Secession 5. I voted for it. weather cloudy & warm, until in the evening when the wind hauled around to the North & it became very cold with a heavy frost at night.

Wednesday, January 16th, 1861

To day John Harwell & Bill are engaged in taking down the old Machine shop and succeeded in taking off the roof & the rafters. In the evening Billy Stewart came up and he and Mr. Hepperla left together for Crockett. I sent Bill for my horse, he having jumped out of the stable last night and ran off down to Fathers. Bill returned at night with him. weather clear & rather cool.

Tuesday, January 15th, 1861

To day Billy Stewart, Frank Stewart, Genl. Beaver, John C. Hepperla and Charley Hall came to see me and remained to dinner. I then wrote some interrogatories for Genl. Beavers propounded to certain witnesses in Georgia. In the evening Billy Stewart, Frank Stewart & Charley Hall went down to Fathers [Joshua James Hall]. Genl. Beavers returned home and Mr. Hepperla remained all night with me. Mr. Harwell & Bill commenced to take down the old Machine shop, and also ground 7 bushels of corn. weather changable with a strong wind blowing from the North which made it very cold and at night there was a severe frost.

Wednesday, January 9th, 1861

To day I went up to the mill to see John Harwell & John Williams in relation to their working the mill for the year, but Williams could not agree to the requirements wanted and thus his claim or proposition was rejected. I remained for dinner and then went to Mothers [Mahala* Sharp Hall nee Roberts]. I loaned Father $8 in money. Weather cloudy & cold.

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

Tuesday, January 8th, 1861

To day I went in company with Father to Dailey's store, and from there to the election. there I met Richard Duglass, the Assessor & Collector, give in a list of property and paid him my taxes for the year 1860 and took his receipt for the same. I then went to the Mill in company with W. B. Lacy and Mr. Cunningham where we all dined. John Harwell then went to the election & I returned to Mothers [Mahala* Sharp Hall nee Roberts], where the little woman [Margaret Hall Stewart nee Sharp] is still still staying, waiting favorable weather to carry Florence home. weather clear & warm.

*This Mahala is a 3rd great-grandma to the Keeper of this family history blog. Margaret is her daughter from her first marriage, who is married to JMH, the son of her second husband.

Monday, January 7th, 1861

To day I rode up to the mill to see John Harwell and found him getting on pretty well. In the evening I returned to Mothers [Mahala* Sharp Hall nee Roberts], where the little woman [Margaret Hall Stewart nee Sharp] has been staying during my absence. weather changable & cold.

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

Sunday, December 16th, 1860

To day I carried the little woman [Margaret Hall Stewart nee Sharp] & Florence down to Mother's [Mahala Sharp Hall nee Roberts] in the buggy, where she intends to remain during my visit to Liberty. In the evening John Harwell came down & remained to supper. weather changable & rather warm for the season.