Sunday, April 24th, 1864

To day I drove my horse and buggy in company with the little woman [Margaret Hall Stewart nee Sharp] & children down to Mothers [Mahala* Sharp Hall nee Roberts] and spent the day. Mr. Fitzsimmons came down from Palestine on his way home and stopped for the night. Weather clear & cold.

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

Friday, April 22nd, 1864

To day the boys are still at work planting corn in the bottom field. Mr. Fitzsimmons left for Palestine, Billy Stewart & I went fishing with fine success. In the evening Billy Stewart and family drove down to Mothers [Mahala* Sharp Hall nee Roberts] & stopped there for the night. The little woman [Margaret Hall Stewart nee Sharp] also went down to Mothers but did not stop long. Hicks ground 7 bushels of corn. Weather variable & cool, with a hard rain at night.

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

Thursday, April 21st, 1864

To day the boys are still at work planting the bottom field for the second time. Billy Stewart, his wife and children in one buggy and I in my own all drove out from Crockett home, where they all put up. Upon my arrival at home, I found Mr. Fitzsimmons who had just arrived from Liberty on his way to Palestine. Hicks ground 5 bushels of corn. I purchased from Mr. Monroe while in Crockett 10 plugs of Tobacco or 5 lbs. for which I paid the little sum of one hundred and fifty dollars or $15 per plug. Weather cloudy and warm, with a considerable shower of rain at night.

Saturday, April 9th, 1864

To day the boys are at work hauling fire wood. Hicks attending the mill and ground 11 bushels of corn. I loaded the two Government wagons that Mr. Bowman came down with on yesterday with eighty bushels of shelled corn, after which he left for Palestine. Mother [Mahala* Sharp Hall nee Roberts] & Nellie* [Mary Alexandrien Sharp nee Lemaire] drove down home in my buggy. Nellie remained there all night. Weather clear & cold with a hard frost at night.

*This Mahala is a 3rd great-grandma to the Keeper of this family history blog. Nellie is her daughter-in-law, and is my 2nd great-grandma.

Monday, July 8th, 1862

To day my hands are still at work on the mill levee. John again went hunting and succeeded in finding his oxen. Billy Stewart stoped and remained with us all night. he is on his way to Crockett from his trip to Palestine. Mother [Mahala Sharp Hall nee Roberts] & Father [Joshua James Hall] went to Crockett to remain all night and Nellie [Mary Alexandrien Sharp nee Lemaire] went down to Mother's to remain and take care of the children [Roberta & Toby] until Mother's return. Sam [Samuel Houston Sharp] is improving, but my babies are still sick. In the evening Billy Stewart and myself went fishing with tolerable success. weather changeable and very warm. Ther: 96°.

Saturday, February 7th, 1863

To day Sam* [Samuel Houston Sharp] is engaged in making a gate for the house yard. The boys are at work on the road leading to Palestine. Mother [Mahala* Lee Sharp Hall nee Roberts] came up but returned in the evening. I ground 55 bushels of corn. Fawn [Florence Mahala Hall] is still improving but still quite sick. At night my negro boy John and negro girl Jemima were married after the style of negro marriages, they had a general blow out with a congregation of all the negroes in the neighborhood and seemed to enjoy themselves hugely. weather clear, cool & very windy.

*This Sam is a 2nd great-grandpa to the Keeper of this family history blog. Mahala is his mother, and is the step-mother as well as the mother-in-law of JMH.