1866 :: Death of James Madison Hall

One hundred fifty years ago today . . . "I shall have shuffled off this mortal soil and been reaped to the bosom of my ancestors."

It was the 12th day of September . . . in the year was 1866 . . . and according to the information recorded on a military tombstone in the Liberty City Cemetery, this was the final day on this earth for James Madison Hall aka the author of this Journal . . .


A handwritten note on the last page of my copy of the Journal indicates that the "Liberty Gazette says J M Hall died of Cholera Sept 1866" . . . another source says he survived until November of 1866 . . . and yet another handwritten note on the last page of the Journal indicates that he did not die until September of 1867 . . .

Research will be on-going . . . with periodic postings and updates as information is revealed and compiled . . .

James Madison Hall was fond of posting a closing statement at the end of every month of the year as well as at the end of every calendar year . . . since we do not (yet) have access to his final thoughts, we will now go back to his closing notes for the month of December 1864 . . .

Thus I close my jottings for the month of December and for the year 1864 which has just passed & gone and now numbered with the things that were. Whether the Almighty will spare me to chronicle the daily events of the incoming year is more than poor mortal man can foresee or know but trusting in his goodness I shall enter upon the pleasing task which is meaningful as a book of reference and may hereafter be profitable to those who have an interest in my affairs after I shall have shuffled off this mortal soil and been reaped to the bosom of my ancestors.

Monday, September 10th, 1866

To day I remained at the warehouse during the forenoon. In the evening I drove up town and while there settled in full with J.D. Skinner up to this date. I also purchased a few articles for the little woman [Margaret Hall Stewart nee Sharp]. Capt. Redman returned from his visit to the Country in a state of intoxication, and was rather quarrelsome & abusive. Hicks & Ned are at work getting fire wood. Weather cloudy and hot with occasional showers of rain.

Sunday, September 9th, 1866

To day I remained at home reading. Capt. Redman is still absent on his visit. Dr. Tarleton & family are still here. Weather cloudy and hot with occasional showers of rain throughout the entire day.

Saturday, September 8th, 1866

To day I am at work at the warehouse. In the evening I drove up town in my buggy with my horse Charley working in order to try him. The boys finished chopping white oak blocks. Hicks went to [still?] and upon his return he had a hard chill & fever. Capt. Redman left on his pony and rode out in the Country and remained all night. Dr. Tarleton and wife are still here. Weather cloudy and hot with occasional showers of rain and a severe storm at night attended with a flood of rain.

Friday, September 7th, 1866

To day I am at work at the warehouse. Hicks is engaged hauling rails for Capt. Dawson & worked for him all day. Capt. Redman is still with me also Dr. Tarleton & wife who make haste very slowly to leave. Weather cloudy and hot with occasional showers of rain throughout the day and hard rain at night.

Thursday, September 6th, 1866

To day I am at work at the warehouse. Ed. Jones left on the cars for Houston in order to procure some painting materials for Col. Wrigley's house. Hicks is at work hauling fire wood. Dr. Tarleton & wife are now making preparations to leave my house & may God speed them. Capt. John W. Redman is still with me. Weather cloudy and hot with occasional showers of rain.

Wednesday, September 5th, 1866

To day I am at work at the warehouse. Billy Sowell is at work painting the chimneys to my house. Capt. Redman is still with me. Mr. Beard made a tongue for Jimmy's [James Wrigley Hall] little buggy. Hicks is engaged hauling wood. My relations with my boarder Mrs. Tarleton are still quite unpleasant. Weather variable and hot.

Tuesday, September 4th, 1866

To day I am at work at the warehouse. Billy Sowell is still at work painting my house. Fanny had a chill & fever. Capt. John W. Redman is still with me. I am sorry to record that I was compelled to have a slight altercation with my boarder, Mrs. Tarleton, in order to protect my children from insult and abuse, all of which was very unpleasant to me & which I am determined to obviate by requiring her to seek other quarters. Weather cloudy and hot with a storm attended with rain in the evening.

Saturday, September 1st, 1866

To day I am at work at the warehouse. Ned Smith worked part of the day assisting Hicks to pull the corn out of the little patch. Capt. Redman is still with me & is still quite sick. Jimmy [James Wrigley Hall] missed the fever. The little woman [Margaret Hall Stewart nee Sharp] drove up town and purchased a few articles. Dr. Tarleton & family are still with me. Weather clear and hot.

Friday, August 31st, 1866

To day I am at work at the warehouse. Billy Sowell came over on the cars from Houston in order to paint Col. Wrigley's & my house. Mr. Beard also arrived on the cars. Hicks still at work hauling white oak blocks. Capt. John W. Redman is still with me and quite sick. Jimmy [James Wrigley Hall] had a fever. Roberta [Downes Halyard nee Hall] again missed the fever and is now well. Weather variable and hot. Ther: 89°.Thus closes my notes for the month of August and as it also closes the summer months, I shall cease noting the state of the thermometers until next summer, should I be spared to live.

Thursday, August 30th, 1866

To day I am at work at the warehouse. Capt. Dawson, Dr. Tarleton and I rode down to gum lake on a fishing excursion and had fine success. Dr. Tarleton was taken with chill and fever. Hicks still hauling white oak blocks from the woods. Capt. John W. Redman is still with me. Roberta [Downes Halyard nee Hall] missed her chill and fever. Weather variable and hot. Ther: 88°.

Wednesday, August 29th, 1866

To day I am at work at the warehouse. Jimmy [James Wrigley Hall] broke the tongue of his buggy. Mrs. John Wrigley arrived on the cars from Houston and reported that Col. Wrigley, Lelia & John left Galveston on Saturday the 26th inst. in route for New York. Capt. John W. Redman is still with me also Dr. Tarleton & family. Hicks made one load in the woods after white oak blocks. Roberta [Downes Halyard nee Hall] had a chill and fever. Weather variable and hot. Ther: 84°.

Tuesday, August 28th, 1866

To day I am at work at the warehouse. Capt. John W. Redman is still with me. Hicks is at work sewing and brushing in turnip seed. Ned Smith assisted Capt. Dawson in the black smith shop to mend the tonge of Jimmy's [James Wrigley Hall] little buggy which was broken. I paid Ned Smith on a/c $1.50. Mr. & Mrs. Tarleton are still boarding with me and upon the whole are the most disagreeable couple that I ever had any transactions with. Weather cloudy and hot with a strong north wind blowing. Ther: 80°.

Monday, August 27th, 1866

To day I am at work at the warehouse. Capt. John W. Redman is still with me. Ned Smith is still sick and done no work. I received by the cars my son Jimmy's [James Wrigley Hall] little buggy which I purchased when in Houston last and for which I paid $22.50 in gold. Weather cloudy and hot with occasional showers of rain. Ther: 84°.

Sunday, August 26th, 1866

To day I remained at home writing up this journal. Late in the evening the little woman [Margaret Hall Stewart nee Sharp] and I visited Grand Ma Gayle. Weather cloudy and hot with occasional showers of rain. Ther: 82°.

Saturday, August 25th, 1866

To day I am at work at the warehouse. Hicks and Ned are preparing the ground to sew turnip seed. I paid Ned two dollars on a/c. he was taken sick and lost nearly the entire day. Capt. John W. Redman is still with me. Dennis went to mill in the wagon. Weather cloudy and hot with occasional showers of rain. Ther: 81°.

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°.

Saturday, August 18th, 1866

To day I left Liberty on the cars for Houston in Company with Col. Wrigley and his family. We arrived in Houston safe and sound and put up with Mr. Perkins. I carried over with me $4000. in gold. Col. Wrigley's son John was sick all the way over. I am sorry to state that I drank too much brandy as medicine, to prevent the cholera which is now prevailing in Houston. Weather cloudy and hot with occasional showers of rain. Ther: 88°.

Friday, August 17th, 1866

To day I worked at the warehouse. Col. Wrigley and family arrived on the cars from Houston. Capt. John W. Redman is still with me. I received by the cars my horse Charley which I purchased when I was last in Galveston and for which I paid 250$ besides the stall and expense bills which amounted to $31.50. Weather cloudy & hot with a hard rain in the evening. Ther: 90°.