Wednesday, February 27th, 1861

To day I am still in Crockett in attendance upon the District Court. I collected from Mr. Casteel the sum of $4.50 on a/c of Ella Lodge I.O.O.F. I am nearly worn out in dancing attendance upon the Court. I was compelled to institute suit against J. C. Hepperla for the recovery of the "Argus Office" and also to sue out a writ of sequestration for its recovery because after patiently waiting for 2 years he (Hepperla) refused to pay me one red cent. weather clear & rather warm for the season of the year.

Tuesday, February 12th, 1861

To day Mr. Hepperla returned to Crockett. Father [Joshua James Hall] came up to see us. We are still at work on the mill house. Bill is still engaged in hauling shingles. Florence has another spell of sickness & is quite fretfull. weather cloudy windy and cool.

Monday, February 11th, 1861

To day Mr. Hepperla came out to see me and remained all day. We are still at work weatherboarding the mill house. Bill commenced to haul shingles. Mr. Leaverton returned my wheat fan and I paid him $17.50 for ginning cotton. weather clear & cool.

Sunday, February 3rd, 1861

To day Father [Joshua James Hall], Mother [Mahala* Sharp Hall nee Roberts] and Mr. J. C. Hepperla came up to see us, and remained for dinner. in the evening they returned to Mother's. weather clear and cold with a heavy frost at night.

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

 

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.

Tuesday, June 19th, 1860

To day Mr. Harwell went to Crockett & returned in the evening. Mother [Mahala* Sharp Hall nee Roberts] came up & remained all day. Father [Joshua James Hall] & Mr. Hepperla also took dinner. Mother carried Toby [Horace Oscar Hall] home in the evening. weather changable & warm.

Sunday, June 17th, 1860

To day I went with the little woman [Margaret Hall Stewart nee Sharp], Mr. Hepperla & Harwell to Mothers [Mahala Sharp Hall nee Roberts] & there took dinner. Bill Hicks hauled rails. weather clear & warm.

Friday, June 8th, 1860

To day I went to Hall's Bluff for a keg of printers ink and sent it to town to Hepperla. I went to see Sam Sharp, who is still improving. I also sent Melinda to the place. The hands still at work in the cotton. weather changable & warm.

The Crockett Argus was established in 1860 by J. M. Hall and J. C. Hepperla and for a time edited by Preston Hay, one of the most finished writers ever in the State; truly was Hay a genial, whole-souled gentleman. After Hall committed a homicide at Crockett he left the paper. Hepperla was killed during the War. The Argus was published only in 1860 and 1861. . . . from History of the Texas Press Association by Ferdinand B Baillio.

Sunday, May 27th, 1860

To day the little woman in company with Mr. Hepperla* went to see her mother and in returning was thrown from Mustapha through the negligence of the one who fastened on the saddle. no hurt however only a little vexed. Bill & Martin made another load to day. Sam Sharp still sick. Weather clear dry & warm.

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*Crockett Argus, began publication in 1857. John C. Hepperla, publisher, died of typhoid fever at Camp McLeod, Va., in 1861. His office was located on the SW corner of the public square and he shared with W. A. Stewart and James M. Hall, who owned the building. Hepperla favored H.R. Runnels for governor in 1857, and opposed Sam Houston. "Come Now and Let Us Reason Together" was this paper's motto.

Monday, March 12th, 1860

To day I purchased in Crockett 2 hoes, 1 rake and some other articles which I sent home by Dick. In the evening I purchased my bay horse Mustapha at public out cry on a 12 months credit for the sum of $124.75 for which I executed my note with W.A. Stewart as my security payable to S.A. Miller who sold the horse. At home still planting corn, with 2 plows running. I also gave my note to Isaac Adair for the sum of $120 for costs in sundry cases. Weather clear and pleasant.

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Crockett Argus, began publication in 1857. John C. Hepperla, publisher, died of typhoid fever at Camp McLeod, Va., in 1861. His office was located on the SW corner of the public square and he shared with W. A. Stewart and James M. Hall, who owned the building. Hepperla favored H.R. Runnels for governor in 1857, and opposed Sam Houston. "Come Now and Let Us Reason Together" was this paper's motto.