Friday, November 24th, 1865

To day I am still at work at the warehouse. Frank [Stewart] and Burt [Roberta Downes Halyard nee Hall] are about as well as their diseases will admitt of. Col. Wrigley arrived in the cars from Houston. The Steamer Mary Hill on her upward bound trip struck a snag in demijohn bend and sunk, she will prove a total loss with every thing on board. Passengers and crew all safe. Weather variable and warm.

Monday, October 9th, 1865

To day about one hour before day break, Col. Wrigley & I drove down to Walnut bluff in the buggy in order that I could get on the Steamer Mary Hill in accordance with my agreement with Capt. Peacock, but she had dropped down the river and I was disappointed in my expected trip to Galveston. So we returned home in time for breakfast. Col. Wrigley's wagon hauled me 47 bus. of corn that I had purchased from Mr. F.W. Key. Charley Lund left for Houston. Weather variable and rather cool.

Sunday, October 8th, 1865

To day the steamer Mary Hill arrived from Galveston and took on board at the warehouse 45 b/c [bales of cotton] and then droped down the river to finish loading with wood. I made all my arrangements to leave for Galveston in the morning and am to meet the steamer Mary Hill at Walnut bluff for that purpose. My son James attained the 3rd Anniversary of his birth day. Weather variable and a little cool. At night a few wild geese flew over southward, being the first of the season.

Sunday, September 24th, 1865

To day I drove my horse Rob and buggy down to Moss' bluff and back, a distance of 24 miles, in order to carry Col. James Wrigley down there that he might [take] passage on the Steamer Mary Hill for Galveston, she having merely dropped down the river on yesterday to take a load of wood on board. Weather variable & hot with a light shower of rain.

Saturday, September 23rd, 1865

To day the steamer Mary Hill arrived at Walnut bluff from Galveston with 300 sacks of salt on board, which were consigned to James Wrigley. I drove down there and got my freedman John from off of her. He having run away the trip before, and left here on said boat. He promised me upon his arrival home to faithfully remain out the time for which he entered into a special contract. The Steamer Mary Hill left for Galveston. In the evening I drove up town in company with James Wrigley and we were both regularly registered as voters of the County & State. My wagon driven by Hicks is engaged in hauling salt from Walnut bluff to the warehouse, and hauled 72 sacks at 10? per sack. Capt. John Redman left my house for parts unknown. Weather cloudy & hot with a very hard rain late in the evening.

Tuesday, September 19th, 1865

To day Capt. John Redman is still with me. My negro man John or rather freedman by the nefarious proclamation of the President of the United States, although indentured to me for one year ran off and shipped on the Steamer Mary Hill and left for Galveston. I finished papering my parlor. The little woman [Margaret Hall Stewart nee Sharp] drove up town after sundry articles. Weather cloudy with a light shower of rain.

Monday, September 18th, 1865

To day I am engaged in papering the parlor. Capt. John Redman came and stopped with me for the night. Hicks & John are engaged hauling with my big wagon Cotton from the ware house to the Steamer Mary Hill now lying at Walnut bluff, they made 4 loads carrying 8 bales at a load. At night I attended a party given at the residence of Mrs. John Wrigley's. Weather variable and hot with a light shower of rain.

Sunday, September 17th, 1865

To day Col. Jim Wrigley & Mr. Haggart left for the up Country and to the latter I loaned my revolver & Bowie knife. The Steamer Mary Hill arrived from Galveston and after taking aboard about 80 bales of Cotton dropped down to Walnut bluff. Weather variable & warm with occasional showers of rain.

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°.

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°.

Wednesday, July 26th, 1865

To day Jimmy & Fannie are still sick but are improving. I made a couple of cribbage boards. The Str. Mary Hill arrived from Galveston, and Capt. Peacock came up and remained all night. Weather variable & hot. Ther: 94°.

Monday, July 24th, 1865

To day Fannie, Jimmy and Conny are still sick. The two latter are improving. The Str. Mary Hill left for Galveston. I drove my buggy to the shop for repairs & left it there. Weather changeable & hot with a rain at night. Ther: 94°.

Friday, July 21st, 1865

To day I am still engaged in pulling fodder. I rode down to the river to see the Str. Ruthven leave for Galveston. The Steamer Mary Hill came up from Galveston. Jimmy is still sick, but improving slowly. Conny was taken with fever. Weather variable and hot. Ther: 92°.

Wednesday, July 12th, 1865

To day I am still confined to the house with fever. The Steamer Mary Hill left for Galveston. Weather variable and hot with a light shower of rain. Ther: 90°.

Tuesday, July 11th, 1865

To day I am confined to the house with fever and diarrhea. Mrs. Wrigley came over and spent the evening. Louisa is now entirely recovered. The Steamer Mary Hill arrived from Galveston. Weather variable and warm. Ther: 90°.

Friday, July 7th, 1865

To day Col. Jim Wrigley came over from Houston. The Str. Mary Hill left for Galveston. Mrs. Beale [Elizabeth Lemaire Beale nee Waring] came over and remained all night. Louisa is still sick. Weather cloudy & warm with occasional showers of rain. Ther: 88°.

Thursday, July 6th, 1865

To day Mrs. Beale [Elizabeth Lemaire Beale nee Waring], let the little woman [Margaret Hall Stewart nee Sharp] have a cow & calf & sent several articles of furniture over to be taken care of. Billy Roberts left on his way for his house going by the way of Houston. Capt. Peacock came up on the Steamer Mary Hill from Galveston & stopped with me. Louisa is still sick. Weather variable & hot with occasional showers of rain. Ther: 86°.

Monday, May 1st, 1865

To day early in the morning we arrived at Liberty and found the river falling very fast. The Mary Hill also arrived about 12 O'ck. M. I received a letter from home being the first since I left there. I again went up to Capt. Peacock's. Weather clear and pleasant.

Sunday, April 30th, 1865

To day I left Galveston in company with Capt. Peacock on the Steamer Mary Hill in route for Liberty. The boat run up as far as Moore's bluff & tied up for the night. The Steamer Lone Star coming up, we got on board of her and came on up the river. Weather clear and pleasant. Thus closes my notes for the month of April.