Friday, October 20th, 1865

To day I am still at work at the warehouse. After much trouble I succeeded in getting my horse Rob up when the little woman [Margaret Hall Stewart nee Sharp] and Mrs. Wrigley drove up town. William Leaverton left in the stage for my mills [Houston County] and carried some letters up with him for my relatives. I hired negro man Ike to dig my potatoes. Weather clear and rather cool.

Saturday, October 19th, 1865

To day I am still at work at the ware house. Wm. Leaverton is still with me. My daughter Florence [Florence Mahala Hall] attained the 5th anniversary of her birth day. The little woman [Margaret Hall Stewart nee Sharp] made her a first rate birth day cake. My horse Rob got out of the stable & ran off. Weather clear and rather cool.

Wednesday, October 18th, 1865

To day I am still at work at the ware house. In the evening I rode up town in company with Wm. Leaverton who is still with me and while there I purchased a hat? form? for little Major [James Hall Sharp] for which I paid $1.50 specie. Weather clear & cold with a frost at night which is the first frost of the season ?

Tuesday, October 17tth, 1865

To day I am still at work at the warehouse and sent forward 39 bales of Cotton to ? William Leaverton arrived on the cars from Sour lake and put up with us. Weather variable and cool with a light rain at night.

Monday, October 16th, 1865

To day I commenced clerking for James Wrigley in his warehouse at a salary of $5. per day, or if I remain as much as a Month, then at 100$ per Month. William Leaverton and my sister Roberta [Roberta Downes Halyard nee Hall] arrived from the up Country [Houston County] on the stage and put up with me. Roberta is to go to school. They left all my relatives well. William Leaverton left on the cars for sour lake. I purchased from J.F.Carr & A. Drew 21 bales of Cotton at 23 Cts./lb. for a/c of Col. Wrigley. I received family letters from the up Country by Mr. Leaverton. Weather variable  and warm. [My copy of this page is not very clear.]

Saturday, September 16th, 1865

To day I drove up town in my buggy, and while there I purchased from Mr. Bristley one barrel of flour at 11$ one half barrel Mackeral at 11$ one ½ barrel Sugar at 18$ and two decks of cards at $1. I done nothing in the way of papering. Charles Leaverton arrived on the train from Sour Lake, and left immediately on the same train for Houston, and as said train attempted to pass over the trestle work in the river bottom the work gave way and precipitated the Locomotive, tender and one of the platform cars into the bottom although it was a smash up among the cars, it mercifully happened that no person was hurt in the least. A special train came over from Houston after the passengers, and they all left on it. Weather changeable & hot with occasional showers of rain.

The Houston Tri-Weekly Telegraph
September 20, 1865

Friday, September 15th, 1865

To day Charles Leaverton left on the train of Cars for Sour Lake. I am still engaged in papering the parlor. In the evening I drove down to John Booth's and paid him up in full for the time I boarded with him during last summer. Weather cloudy and warm with showers of rain throughout the entire day.

Thursday, September 14th, 1865

To day I went over to Mr. Patillo's shop and made two cribbage boards, one for Mr. Trawick and the other for Mr. Jones, after which I commenced papering my parlor. Charles Leaverton arrived from my mills on the mail stage, bringing us letters from our relatives and friends up the Country [Houston County] also 255$ specie. The little woman [Margaret Hall Stewart nee Sharp] drove up town in the buggy in order to get me some tobacco. Hicks is engaged in hanging the garden and house yard gates. Weather variable and cool with occasional showers of rain.

Friday, August 11th, 1865

To day all the sick missed their fevers. I drove up to the depot to see William Leaverton who came over on the cars from Houston. I gave him a package of letters. He then left for the mills, going in the stage as far as Crockett. Weather clear and hot. Ther: 92°.

Tuesday, August 8th, 1865

To day I drove up to the depot and waited until the cars arrived, in order to see William Leaverton, who came in them from Sour Lake, in route for Houston. Fannie & Florence are sick again with fever. Weather variable & hot. Ther: 86°.

Friday, August 4th, 1865

To day I drove up to the cars to see William Leaverton off. he left on the train for Sour Lake. . . . bushels of corn from Capt. Cameron and carried it to the mill being . . . The Steamer Mary Hill left for Galveston. Weather clear and warm with occasional showers of rain throughout the day. Ther: 86°.

Thursday, August 3rd, 1865

To day my new woman Jemima came back home, bringing her Mother home with her who I suppose I will now have to support in order to keep Jemima with me. I drove my horse and buggy (with John Booth in Company with me) down to Richard Coles. we remained there for dinner. William Leaverton spent the evening with us. he is waiting for the cars to carry him to Sour Lake. The steamer Mary Hill arrived from Galveston. Weather cloudy and warm. Ther: 88°.

Wednesday, August 2nd, 1865

To day William Leaverton arrived from my mills. he informed me that my relatives are well and the mill in successful opperation. He is on his way to Sour Lake. He brought the little woman some apples and a package of letters. He remained for dinner in order to wait for some letters I am engaged in writing. Weather cloudy and warm with a very hard rain. Ther: 86°.

Saturday, July 15th, 1865

To day I am about well again, and drove up town in my buggy with Col. Jim Wrigley. we remained at the depot until the cars came in, in which I found William Leaverton, who has just come down from the mills, and who informed me that all my relatives up there [Houston County] are well. Mr. Leaverton is on his way to Houston. The Steamer Ruthven arrived from Galveston. Weather clear and hot. Ther: 92°.

Monday, July 3rd, 1865

To day the trains came over from Houston, and brought my bagging & rope, also a barrel of sugar. I had the wagons loaded up, and after dinner, they left en route for the mills [Houston County]. Frank Stewart & Charles Leaverton going along in charge of them. I purchased from Charley Lund 100 lbs of bacon at 10¢ per lb. I borrowed from Charles Leaverton 25$ and gave him a draft for the amount on Sam H. Sharp [Samuel Houston Sharp]. Weather clear & hot. Ther: 90°.

Sunday, July 2nd, 1865

To day Charles Leaverton & Frank Stewart are still with me. Mr. & Mrs. Lund came down & spent the evening with the little woman [Margaret Hall Stewart nee Sharp]. Fanny and Florence [Florence Mahala Hall] are both sick with fever. Weather clear & hot. Ther: 90°.

Saturday, July 1st, 1865

To day Charles Leaverton, Frank Stewart and I drove up to town in the buggy and while there I purchased for Roberta [Roberta Downes Halyard nee Hall] one pair of shoes, for which I paid $2.⁵⁰. The boys are engaged hauling wood. Weather clear & hot. Ther: 90°.

Friday, June 30th, 1865

To day I left Houston in company with Charles Leaverton on the cars bound for Liberty which place we reached in safety and I found all my family well. The boys are anxious however to start up the Country. Weather variable & hot. Ther: 86°. Thus closes my notes for the month of June.

Thursday, June 29th, 1865

To day I am still in Houston and having been left by the train yesterday I must pass the time as best I can. Charles A. Leaverton arrived in Houston direct from Crockett and put up at the same hotel with me. He informs me that my friends in Crockett are well. Weather cloudy & warm with occasional showers of rain making it very disagreeable. Ther: 86°.

Tuesday, June 20th, 1865

To day I wrote a letter to W.P. Leaverton at Crockett and enclosed one in it for my little woman [Margaret Hall Stewart nee Sharp], urging her speedy departure from the mill to join me here. I am still at Booths. Weather clear & hot. Ther: 90°.