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.

 

Thursday, January 18th, 1866

To day I drove up town in the buggy after a few articles for the little woman [Margaret* Hall Stewart nee Sharp] and while there collected the freight bills for the Steamer Kate, which said boat I learned was burnt up on Red fish bar on her downward trip with 85 bales of Cotton. Frank Stewart & Roberta [Downes Halyard nee Hall] are still sick and do not improve any. I sent over to Houston for some iron bars to brace the Cotton shed. Weather changeable & warm.

*This Margaret is a 2nd great-grand-aunt to the Keeper of this family history blog, and is the wife as well as the step-sister of JMH.

Monday, January 15th, 1866

To day I discharged the Str. Kate and loaded her with Cotton. I sent to C.C. Lund & Co by Capt. Chandler $10.60 gold to pay for the potatoes & cod fish received from them by the former trip of the Kate, also for one Bbl. of potatoes received for Mrs. Beale* [Elizabeth Lemaire Beale nee Waring]. The little woman [Margaret Hall Stewart nee Sharp] drove out to Mrs. Massie's & back. Burt [Roberta Downes Halyard nee Hall] & Frank [Stewart] no better. Weather cloudy with drizzling showers of rain.

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

Sunday, January 14th, 1866

To day I am engaged in writing letters. The Steamer Kate arrived from Galveston with considerable freight. by her I received a new hat & one box raisins, Keg lard & some butter. Frank [Stewart] and Burt [Roberta Downes Halyard nee Hall] are still quite sick. Weather variable and rather warm for the season of the year.

Friday, January 12th, 1866

To day Hicks hauled the rails and lumber from the flat boat also the two skiffs or bateaux. I drove up town and Collected a part of the freight bills for the Str. Kate. Roberta [Downes Halyard nee Hall] is but little if any better with her afflictions. The little woman [Margaret Hall Stewart nee Sharp] & I drove up town & purchased some Crockery, 1 Doz. apples and oranges. Weather variable and rather warm for the season.

Thursday, January 11th, 1866

To day the Steamer Kate after taking on board 95 bales of Cotton from the flat boat left for Galveston with Frank Hitchcock on board. I had a partial settlement with him. I purchased from Sansom who is in charge of the flat boat a lot of rails some planks & 2 skiffs with one saddle blanket for all of which I paid him $250. I am at work making out accounts for the Str. Kate. James Wrigley raised the second string or row of posts for the Cotton shed. Weather cloudy and cold with occasional showers of rain.

Wednesday, January 10th, 1866

To day the Steamer Kate arrived from Galveston with a heavy freight on board. Frank Hitchcock came up on her and we had a fine settlement in relation to the cotton I purchased from him. I am very busy discharging the freight from the Kate. I received by her 2 Bbls potatoes one for Mrs. Beale* [Elizabeth Lemaire Beale nee Waring] also 1 box of Cod fish. Capt. Chandler presented me with a fine large red fish which was a nice treat. F.M. Sansom* came down the river with a flat boat & 110 bales of Cotton on board, a large portion of which was shipped by the steamer Kate. Weather cloudy and cold with indications of rain. [*possibly this man]

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

Tuesday, January 2nd, 1866

To day I am at work at the store house. The boys are at work around the house. Hicks hauled one load of wood for Mrs. Beale* [Elizabeth Lemaire Beale nee Waring]. I made Hicks a present of 10$. Weather clear & cold, with a hard freeze and frost at night, being the coldest night of the winter so far.

Galveston Flakes Daily Bulletin

January 2, 1866

Galveston Flakes Daily Bulletin

January 2, 1866

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

Monday, January 1st, 1866

To day I commence my notes of events that may daily happen immediately around me during the current year. These notes are not intended to be of any service to any one except myself as a book of reference and to my family as a faithful exposition of my daily transactions. 

I formed & entered into a copartnership with James Wrigley to carry on in the town of Liberty a general Commission and Warehouse business. The Steamer Kate & Sloop Luna left for Galveston. 

The little woman [Margaret Hall Stewart nee Sharp] had a fine new year's dinner which reflected great credit upon her art as a house Keeper. I entered into a Contract with negro man Albert to work for the year at 15$ per month with board, he furnishing a negro woman to cook. I also employed my old servant Hicks for the year at 10$ per month. Weather cloudy & cold with incessant rain throughout the entire day.

from 1866 & 1867 issues of the

Galveston Flakes Daily Bulletin

Sunday, December 31st, 1865

To day I am engaged in making out bills of lading for the Steamer Kate & Sloop Luna, both of said boats are still here. Mrs. Beale* [Elizabeth Lemaire Beale nee Waring] came over and spent the day. Jimmy [James Wrigley Hall] had another chill and fever. Frank [Stewart] is still improving. Weather cloudy with occasional showers of rain. 

Thus I close my notes for the month of December and for the year 1865, which has just passed and gone and now remembered with the things that were. Whether the Almighty wll spare me to record the daily events of things passing around me for the incoming year is more than mortal man can know but trusting in his goodness and mercy I shall enter upon the pleasing task which to me is useful as a book of reference and may here after be profitable to those who have an interest in my affairs.

The Galveston Daily News

Houston, Sunday, December 31, 1865

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

Saturday, December 30th, 1865

To day I am still at work at the storehouse. The steamer Kate & sloop Luna arrived from Galveston with a small freight. I shipped by the Steamer Kate 71 beef hides & 9 B/C [bales of cotton]. I then drove up town to attend a meeting of the citizens to raise a police guard, but it all ended in smoke. ? finished splitting up my wood and I paid him $2⁵⁰ specie for his labor. Weather cloudy with occasional showers of rain.

Monday, December 25th, 1865

To day I am very busy at the ware house loading the steamer Kate & sloop Luna. we put 135 B/C on them when they left for Galveston. The only thing I had in way of Christmas festivities was a first rate dinner which was gotten up in the little woman's [Margaret Hall Stewart nee Sharp] happy style. Weather variable and warm, for the season, with occasional showers of rain.

Saturday, December 23rd, 1865

To day I am still at work at the warehouse. The Steamer Kate & Sloop Luna arrived from Galveston and brought me a barrel of oysters. I discharged the Steamer and made out all her freight bills. Weather cloudy & cold with occasional showers of rain throughout the rain [sic, i.e., night].

Monday, December 11th, 1865

To day I worked at the warehouse & assisted in loading the Str. Kate & Sloop Luna. we put 126 Bales of Cotton on them, and they left for Galveston. At night I drove up town, with the little woman [Margaret Hall Stewart nee Sharp], to the residence of Pryor Bryan, to witness the marriage ceremony of Mr. W.D. Williams and Miss Laura Bryan. After which the Company took up the line of march to the old City Hotel, where they touched the "light fantastic toe" until the "wee sma" hours of the morn. Weather cloudy & rather warm, with indications of rain.

Sunday, December 10th, 1865

All the forenoon of to day I worked at the ware house. In the evening the propeller Kate and sloop Luna arrived from Galveston with considerable freight. I received by the Kate one barrel of flour and 35$ in specie due me from Charles C. Lund. Weather variable and pleasant.

Sunday, December 3rd, 1865

The propeller Kate left for Galveston. The forenoon I worked at the warehouse, but remained home in the evening. Mr. Sargeant came to see me in relation to business. Ed. Jones arrived home from his up country visit. Weather cloudy & warm, with occasional showers of rain.

Saturday, December 2nd, 1865

To day I am still at work at the ware house. The little woman [Margaret Hall Stewart nee Sharp] drove up town & purchased some articles of prime necessity. Henry Perkins, Mr. & Mrs. Bolling left on the cars for Houston. The propeller Kate arrived from Galveston with some freight. We loaded her with 82 Bales of cotton. My sores are still improving. Frank is also improving. Weather variable and pleasant.

Friday, October 27th, 1865

To day we left the mouth of the river on the Steamer Ruthven leaving the Kate still aground in the canal and ran down to Galveston for which I had to pay $2.75 in specie. We all stopped at the Washington Hotel. Mr. Ballinger handed me $61.50 which he had collected for the warehouse at Liberty. Weather variable & cold with a strong norther blowing all day.

Thursday, October 26th, 1865

To day we left Walnut bluff on the Steamer Kate in route for Galveston and had a pleasant run down to the mouth of the river but vessel got aground in the canal and the steamer Ruthven coming along side of our boat we left the Kate and took passage on the Ruthven for Galveston. we were compelled however to lay at the mouth of the river all night. Weather clear and pleasant until night, when a severe norther came out rendering it very cold.

Wednesday, October 25th, 1865

To day I am still at work at the warehouse and finished loading the propeller frate. In the evening Billy Stewart, Mr. Ballinger & I left my residence and drove down in my buggy to the steamer Kate and embarked on her for Galveston. Before leaving I hired a negro boy by the name of ? for two months for which I am to pay four dollars per Month. I also got from Mrs. Wrigley $150. We were compeled to remain on board of the Kate all night. The Capt. having refused to start until morning. Weather variable and cool.