Friday, August 24th, 1866

To day I am at work at the warehouse. Hicks & Ned are at work preparing the ground to sew turnip seed. Capt. John W. Redman is still with me. Roberta [Downes Halyard nee Hall] is still staying with grand ma Gayle as Company. Mr. Beard is still at work on the railing for little Joe's grave [Josephine Martha Hall]. Weather cloudy and hot with a hard rain & wind blowing. Ther: 82°.

Thursday, August 23rd, 1866

To day I am at work at the warehouse. Capt. John W. Redman is still with me. Roberta [Downes Halyard nee Hall] is staying over with Grand Ma Gayle as Company for her. Hicks & Ned are at work getting wood. Mr. Beard commenced to make a railing to enclose the grave of my sweet little Angel Josephine Martha. Weather cloudy and hot with a hard rain in the evening. Ther: 86°.

Monday, August 6th, 1866

To day I went up town and held an election for seven trustees or alderman for the Corporation of the City of Liberty. The time of the old board having expired. At which said election I was again re-elected one of the Alderman. Capt. John W. Redman is still with me. I received from Galveston by the way of Houston the little monument purchased by the little woman [Margaret Hall Stewart nee Sharp] and to be erected over the grave of my sweet little babe Josephine Martha. Weather variable and hot. Ther : 96°.

Tuesday, July 24th, 1866

To day we left the hotel, and moved our quarters to the residence of Capt. Peacock who agreed to board my family during their stay in the Island City. I hired a hack and went with the little woman [Margaret Hall Stewart nee Sharp] and children down the beach. we had quite a pleasant drive. The little woman purchased a nice little Italian marble monument to be placed over the grave of my sweet little babe Josephine. Weather clear & hot. Ther: 91°.

Thursday, July 19th, 1866

I spent nearly the whole of to day at the warehouse. Capt. Dawson came up and took dinner with me. I paid Dr. Coleman his medical bill for his attention to my sweet little babe [Josephine Martha Hall]. Mrs. Beale* [Elizabeth Lemaire Beale nee Waring] and Mrs. Buckley spent the day with the little woman [Margaret Hall Stewart nee Sharp]. Weather variable and hot, with a shower of rain in the evening. Ther: 89°

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

 

Wednesday, July 18th, 1866

To day I drove up town in my buggy and while the[re] paid the funeral expenses of my sweet little angel Josephine Martha, which amounted to 55$ in gold. I then drove to the warehouse but did not remain long, being in no condition to attend to business. My little woman [Margaret Hall Stewart nee Sharp] is still suffering great agony for our sad bereavement. Edward Jones arrived on the [rail]cars from Houston and brough[t] me a large piece of ice, which is quite refreshing this hot weather. Mrs. Buckley came over and spent the evening with the little woman giving her all the Consolation in her power. Weather variable and hot. Ther: 90°.

Tuesday, July 17th, 1866

To day my poor wife [Margaret Hall Stewart nee Sharp] is indeed a sorrow stricken and almost heart broken woman, for the loss of our sweet little angel Josephine Martha. I performed the last sad rite for her little remains and had them interred in the burial ground at Liberty there to remain until her God shall call her again to meet him in the great day of accounts. My sweet little babe, may she rest peacefully in the bosom of her God, and may this sad bereavement be for our future good. Edward Jones left on the [rail]cars for Houston. Weather Cloudy and hot with occasional showers of rain. Ther: 86°

Monday, July 16th, 1866

To day about dawn, I arrived in Houston and immediately left in an omnibus for the depot of the Texas and New Orleans Rail Road. we left the depot on the train at 9 O'Clock A.M. for Liberty. I arrived home at 4 O'Clock P.M. just in time to witness the death throes of my sweet little daughter Josephine Martha, who departed this life at 5½ O'Clock, and now reposes sweetly upon the bosom of her Savior. She died at the tender age of two years seven months and one day. The neighbors generally came in and bestowed upon my stricken family such consolation as they could under our heavy trial. Weather cloudy and hot with occasional showers of rain. Ther: 90°.

Saturday, May 5th, 1866

To day I am at work at the warehouse. Col. Wrigley, Mrs. Gayle and Ida all left on the cars for Houston. Capt. John W. Redmond commenced to paint my house. The Str. Ruthven came down the [Trinity] river, and after repairing her wheel left for Galveston. Jimmy [James Wrigley Hall], Josephine [Martha Hall] & Conney are still recovering from the measles. Roberta [Downes Halyard nee Hall] & Florence [Mahala Hall] are now well. I am suffering with the itch. Weather cloudy and warm.

Friday, May 4th, 1866

To day I am still at work at the warehouse. The Str. Emery passed down the [Trinity] river with a full load of Cotton. James Wrigley is Considerably brused up by his fall from the wagon in the run away scrape last evening. Jimmy [James Wrigley Hall] and Josephine [Mahala Hall] are still recovering slowly from the measles. Capt. John W. Redmond is still with me. Ed. Jones left for Houston on horse back. Weather variable and warm. 

Thursday, May 3rd, 1866

To day I am engaged at work at the warehouse. Jimmy [James Wrigley Hall] and Josephine [Martha Hall] recovering from the measles. Roberta [Downes Halyard nee Hall] & Florence [Mahala Hall] are about well. The Steamer Col. Stell came down the [Trinity] river with 300 bales of Cotton on board and reports the river falling. she proceeded on her voyage to Galveston. The Steamer Kate arrived from Galveston with some freight on board which we stored except one load, which Col. Wrigley attempted to haul to town, but his horses became frightened and run off with the wagon doing considerable damage to the wagon, breaking up the harness and damaging the load of flour. Capt. John W. Redmond is still with me. Weather variable and warm.

 

Wednesday, May 2nd, 1866

To day I am busy at work at the warehouse. Jimmy [James Wrigley Hall] and Josephine [Martha Hall] are still sick with the measles. Florence [Mahala Hall] is recovering. Conney is also improving. Hicks is at work making me a ladder. Capt. John W. Redmond came back from his visit to Frank Redmond's and put up with me. Weather variable and warm. 

Thursday, April 26th, 1866

To day I am at work at the warehouse. Fawn [Florence Mahala Hall] & Roberta [Downes Halyard nee Hall] are improving a little. Jimmy [James Wrigley Hall] and Josephine [Martha Hall] were taken down with the measles, making five cases in all at my house. Messrs. Marbert and Gregg are still at work on the gallery. Hicks worked out the peach orchard. Weather clear and pleasant. 

Friday, December 15th, 1865

To day I am still at work at the warehouse. We are all still offering with the itch, which clings to us with great pertinacity and will not yield to medical treatment of any kind so far. Jimmy [James Wrigley Hall] had another chill and fever. My daughter Josephine [Josephine Martha Hall] attained the second anniversary of her birth day. Weather cloudy & intensely cold with a hard freeze all day & night.

Thursday, November 16th, 1865

To day I am still at work in the warehouse. Riley Hefley arrived from my mills with 6 bales of cotton on his wagon. He reports all my relatives up the country [in Houston County] well. Hicks hauled 2 loads of corn to Col. Wrigley's crib. Frank Stewart and Roberta are still quite sick. Jimmy & Josephine have recovered. Weather cloudy & cool with a light shower of rain at night.

Wednesday, November 15th, 1865

To day I am still at work in the warehouse. Hicks hauled me another load of corn which makes in all delivered in my crib 190 barrels. He also hauled one load of 38 barrels and put in Col. Wrigley's cribs. Frank Stewart is still sick and confined to his room. Roberta is also sick. Jimmy & Josephine are better. Weather changeable & warm with a shower of rain.

Tuesday, November 14th, 1865

To day I am still at work in the warehouse. Col. Wrigley left on the cars for Houston. Hicks hauled me another load of corn and put it in the crib. Frank Stewart is still quite sick and confined to his bed. My son Jimmy [James Wrigley Hall] and little daughter Josephine are both unwell. The little woman [Margaret Hall Stewart nee Sharp] drove up town and purchased a few articles. Weather cloudy and a little cool.

Monday, July 31st, 1865

To day I drove out to Mrs. Mass??? after the old lady to come in and do some sewing but she was sick, consequently I had my "trip" for nothing. I hired a negro woman by the name of Ophelia for one month for which I am to pay her 3$ in greenbacks, thus relieving the little woman from further labor in the kitchen. Fannie is now up & nearly well. Little Josephine is recovering. Col. Jim Wrigley came over on the cars, sick & is confined ??? Weather changeable and hot. Ther: 88°. Thus closes my jottings for the month of July.

Sunday, July 30th, 1865

To day I remained at home reading. The little woman is still doing the house work and has a very poor chance in consequence of the sickness of little Josephine who still has fever. Fannie is also still sick but improving a little. I loaned my horse & buggy to Mrs. Gayle. Weather variable & hot. Ther: 90°.

Saturday, July 29th, 1865

To day the little woman is still doing her own house work which goes pretty hard with her but she went at it very cheerfully. Fannie is still sick. Jimmy has recovered. A sudden gust of wind blew the dining room door too, and in its passage it struck little Josephine in the forehead and knocked her down, producing a large knot or bump upon her head, which instantly threw her into fevers. The Str. Mary Hill left for Galveston. Weather variable & hot. Ther: 93°.