Saturday, April 1st, 1865

To day I left Crockett in company with Mr. Haden and drove in his buggy out to the mill and thence down to Father's [Joshua James Hall] where I let Mr. Haden have 15 B/C which weighed 7161 lbs for which he is to pay me 6¢ per lb. Mr. Driscol also went down with us & assisted in weighing the cotton. We then returned to the mill. I found the little woman [Margaret Hall Stewart nee Sharp] and Roberta [Roberta Downes Halyard nee Hall] had gone to Crockett to see me but we took different roads & therefore missed each other. Billy Roberts rode over to Mr. Lacy's and found my mule that had escaped from Crockett and led him home. The little woman & Roberta returned home at night pretty well worn out from fatigue. Hicks ground 17 bushels of corn. Weather variable & pleasant. It clouded up at night however and rained hard nearly the whole night.

Tuesday, March 7th, 1865

To day John is at work around the house. Mrs. Lacy & Mrs. Wortham came out and spent the day. I let Mrs. Wortham have 10 lbs of flour at 6$ which she paid. James Roberts and his brother William left for the camp. Josephine [Josephine Martha Hall] had a fever. Hicks ground 10 bushels of wheat & 2½ bushels of corn. A soldier stopped all night. Weather variable, with a light shower of rain.

Monday, February 23rd, 1863

To day the boys are splitting and hauling rails to put up a cow pen. Sam* [Samuel Houston Sharp] went to Mr. Lacy's after some seed potatoes and succeeded in getting 1½ bushels, which was the best he could do. I finished the reel & reeled some cotton thread for the little woman [Margaret Hall Stewart nee Sharp]. I also ground 1½ bushels of corn. In the evening I assisted the little woman in planting out some button onions in the garden. weather changeable & rather cool.

*This Sam is a 2nd great-grandpa to the Keeper of this family history blog. He is also the brother-in-law as well as step-brother to JMH.

Monday, March 11th, 1861

To day Mother [Mahala* Sharp Hall nee Roberts] & Father [Joshua James Hall] came up to our house. I gave Father my fine double barrel shotgun. I sent Charley Hall to Mr. Lacy's for the small ? wagon, who returned with it in the evening. I am to give Lacy $100 for the wagon. Still at work in covering in the Mill house. Mother & the children remained all night. weather clear & pleasant.

*This Mahala is a 3rd great-grandma to the Keeper of this family history blog. She is also the step-mother as well as the mother-in-law of JMH.

Saturday, March 9th, 1861

To day I went to Crockett by the way of Wortham's mill. I contracted for a little wagon with Mr. Lacy. I paid Douglass, the assr. & collector the sum of $62.55 Mother's [Mahala Sharp Hall nee Roberts] taxes. at home the hands are still at work on the mill house. I also returned home from Crockett in the evening. The mill ground 13½ bushels of meal. weather clear & rather warm.

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.

Saturday, November 3rd, 1860

To day I sent Billy & Frank Stewart to town in my buggy. Wm. Lacy & Mr. Cunningham came to see me & took dinner. weather clear & warm.

Monday, October 29th, 1860

To day Mother* & Mrs. Bird came to see the little woman and Wm. B. Lacy also visited us. We went ducking with but little success. Nothing of note to record. weather changable & warm.

 *Mahala Lee Sharp Hall nee Roberts, my 3rd great-grandma