Friday, September 30th, 1864

To day John is engaged in hauling wood. Bill is at work setting out eschalots in the garden. I am engaged in making surcingles and made one for Mother [Mahala Sharp Hall nee Roberts] & one for Burt [Roberta Downes Halyard nee Hall]. Capt. Peacock arrived & stopped with me for the night on his way to Liberty from Parker's bluff at which place he has been confined for some time with chill & fever. Weather cloudy & warm with a hard rain & storm at night blowing down the shade trees around the house. Ther: 86°. Thus I close my notes for the month of September and also the noting of the standing of the thermometer until next summer when I will again give it, if I am permitted to live so long.

Saturday, September 17th, 1864

To day John is still hauling rails from the King house. Capt. Peacock left for Parker's bluff. Nellie [Mary Alexandrien Sharp nee Lemaire] rode down to Mother's [Mahala Sharp Hall nee Roberts] after some clothing for Sam Sharp [Samuel Houston Sharp]. I took down & built up a new back & ja?? to the chimney also laid a new hearth. Mrs. Keen came over & remained for dinner . . . [part missing]

 

Monday, May 23rd, 1864

To day the boys finished plowing the corn in the bottom field. Father [Joshua James Hall] sent up by Darby 14 hams, which weighed 192 lbs. for which I am to pay him in meal at the rate of one bushel of meal for five pounds of hams. I let him have 1½ bushels of meal on account. My daughter Josephine [Josephine Martha Hall] was taken very sick with Cholera Infantum. Mother [Mahala Sharp Hall nee Roberts] came up and remained all night. Capt. Peacock and servant also came and stopped for the night he is on his way to Liberty having completed his work at Parkers bluff. Hicks ground 6 bushels of corn. Weather clear and rather hot.

Friday, May 13th, 1864

To day I left Parker's bluff and drove home. Capt. Cameron stopped with me for the night. Hicks ground 16 bushels of corn during my absence. Weather changeable and rather warm.

Thursday, May 12th, 1864

To day Bill is at work in the lower field. I left home with John, the little wagon & mules and drove up to Parker's bluff a distance of 27 miles and stopped for the night with Mr. F. Ward, while at Parker's bluff I purchased 2 pairs of cotton cards for which I paid $150 and 1 barrel of whiskey at 20$ per Gal. Weather clear and rather warm.

Friday, April 8th, 1864

To day I made the boys work in the garden. Hicks ground 23½ bushels of corn. I drove my horse and buggy down to Mother's [Mahala* Sharp Hall nee Roberts] and brought her up to see the little woman [Margaret* Hall Stewart nee Sharp]. Mr. Bowman came down from Parker's bluff with his Government wagons after corn. He bought me a demijohn containing 3 gallons of whiskey. Weather variable & rather cool.

*This Mahala is a 3rd great-grandma to the Keeper of this family history blog. JMH is married to her daughter, Margaret, and is also Mahala's stepson.

Tuesday, April 5th, 1864

To day after breakfast I left Parker's bluff and drove ? miles over a very bad rode and arrived home in the middle of the afternoon where I found all well. The boys are engaged hunting up some cows & calves but with very poor success. Hicks ground 5½ bushels of corn. Weather changeable and cold, with high winds.

Monday, April 4th, 1864

To day the boys are still at work in the new ground. I drove my horse Rob & buggy to Magnolia & Parker's bluff a distance of 27 miles in order to procure some cotton cards but dismally failed. I stopped for the night with Mr. Ward. Weather variable and very cold with high winds.

Saturday, March 26th, 1864

To day the boys are still plowing up the new ground. Hicks ground 1½ bushels of corn. Mr. Fitzsimmons arrived from Parker's bluff & stopped with me. Weather variable & rather cool with very high wind.

Wednesday, March 16th, 1864

To day the boys are still at work planting corn in the bottom field. Nellie* [Mary Alexandrien Sharp nee Lemaire] is still down at Mother's [Mahala* Sharp Hall nee Roberts]. I ground 4 bushels of wheat. Mr. Fitzsimmons of Liberty came down from Parker's bluff and put up with me. Weather changeable & cold with a frost & freeze at night.

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

Sunday, January 10th, 1864

To day Sam* [Samuel Houston Sharp] rode out with the boys hog hunting and succeeded in finding and driving up six. Capt. Peacock arrived from Parker's bluff on his way to Houston and stopped for the night. Father [Joshua James Hall] sent two hogs up in the cart which weighed 295 lbs. Weather cloudy and misting, but very cold, although it is moderating.

*This Sam is a 2nd great-grandpa to the Keeper of this family history blog.

Wednesday, December 23rd, 1863

To day the boys are still at work on the stables. Capt. Peacock arrived from Liberty on his way to Parker's bluff. he stopped with me to spend the Christmas festivities. I ground 28 bushels of corn. Weather cloudy and warm with a hard rain at night.

Sunday, December 20th, 1863

To day Father [Joshua James Hall], Mr. & Mrs. Bird, came to see the little woman [Margaret Hall Stewart nee Sharp] and the little stranger [Josephine]. Mother* [Mahala Sharp Hall nee Roberts] is still here. Mr. Butler passed on his way to Polk County from Parker's bluff. he called in to see us, but did not stay long. Weather clear and cool with a hard frost at night.

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

Friday, December 11th, 1863

To day the boys finished putting up 3 stalls in the stable and got them partially covered in. John is at work hauling wood. Sam [Samuel Houston Sharp] is at work mending a fiddle for Martin. I ground 10 bushels of corn. Capt. Peacock arrived from Parker's bluff on his way to the City of Houston. He remained all night with me. Weather cloudy & rather cool.