Thursday, January 29th, 1863

To day Sam* Sharp is still at work making the loom. The boys are still at work on the garden fence. I ground 12 bushels of corn. I also paid Mr. Renfro 39$ for the fodder & peas purchased from him some time since. I also purchased from Mr. Pennington six hogs for which I paid him 3$ per head to be allowed in our settlement. Mother [Mahala* Sharp Hall nee Roberts] & Toby left for home, she however returned in the evening. Nellie [Mary Alexandrien Sharp nee Lemaire] and the Major [James Hall Sharp] doing well. weather clear & cool, with a frost at night.

*Sam and Nellie are 2nd great-grandparents to the Keeper of this family history blog. Mahala is Sam's mother, as well as the mother-in-law and step-mother of JMH.

Saturday, January 10th, 1863

To day I sent the boys with the wagon to Mr. Renfro's after the fodder & peas I purchased from him some days ago. they made one load hauling 300 lbs of fodder and 8 bushels of peas. Sam* [Samuel Houston Sharp] rode Hawk over to see Mr. Keen to have some blacksmithing done but returned without accomplishing his mission. I ground 12½ bushels of corn. In the evening Jesse Tubbs sent one load of lint cotton over to me. I sent Bill with the mule & cart over the Trinity River after his clothing. I went down to Fathers [Joshua James Hall] in the evening and found all well. weather changeable & cool with a frost at night.

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

Saturday, December 27th, 1862

This morning I sent down after Mother [Mahala* Sharp Hall nee Roberts] and Mrs. Bird to attend Nellie* [Mary Alexandrien Sharp nee Lemaire] in her sickness, and Sam* Sharp went after Dr. Murchison all of whom came to attend Nellie. I purchased from Mr. Bird 1100 lbs of pork for which I paid 15&#162 per lb. Mr. Leaverton's boys hauled another load of fodder from Mr. Renfro's weighing 1028 lbs. 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 and Sam are 2nd great-grandparents. Sam is Mahala's son.

Friday, December 26th, 1862

To day I am engaged about the mill and rode down to Father's in the evening. Mr. Leaverton's boys hauled me from Mr. Renfro's 1034 lbs of fodder. at night Nellie* was taken very sick with strong indications of her confinement. weather cloudy & warm with occasional showers of rain.

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

Wednesday, December 24th, 1862

To day I drove my horse Gladiator and buggy down to Mothers [Mahala*] and brought up a basket of glass ware. In the evening the little woman drove down to her Mothers [Mahala*] and back to try the horse and buggy. I purchased from Mr. Renfro some fodder & peas. weather cloudy, warm and showery.

*This Mahala is a 3rd great-grandma to the Keeper of this family history blog. She is the stepmother as well as the mother-in-law of JMH.

Thursday, January 26th, 1860

To day Mr. RENFRO visited the house for the purpose of renting the lower field, which he _____ upon the following terms 1/3 of the corn & 1/4 of the cotton raised thereon, and he to receive one dollar per hundred for all new rails split and _____ into the fence. I had not been able to chop this day on consequence of a pain _____ in my right shoulder blade. Still however at work in the clearing. weather cold with the wind from the North, and very cloudy.

Dr. Abner G. King

Received from a King descendant . . .  

Dr. Abner G. King married Martha “Patty” [Pledger nee] Rentfrow, widow, in Fayette County, Georgia in 1855. Mrs. King was originally from Macon, Georgia. They had eight children. She died in 1900 and is buried in Sonora Cemetery, Fairlie, Hunt County, Texas. It is believed that Dr. King died in 1903* and is buried in Trinity County, Texas. 

One of their sons, Franklin Lafayette King (1855-1929), was a registered pharmacist and the owner of a drug store in Fairlie, Texas. He too is buried in Sonora Cemetery.

Dr. King was a close friend of a Mr. Rentfrow who also moved to Houston County from Georgia to be near the King family. Both Dr. King and Mr. Rentfrow served in the Confederate Army [5th Texas Cavalry] seeing action in New Mexico.

Saturday, October 13th, 1860. To day I went to Dr. Abner G. King's and surveyed for him 110 acres of land out of the Sam Chairs headright & wrote for him the deed for the same, which was executed by Joseph Keen. Boys at work on the carriage house. weather clear, but strong wind from the North and very cool, with a frost at night which is the first of the season.

Sunday, June 14th, 1863. To day I drove my horse (Gladiator) and buggy down after Mother [Mahala Sharp Hall nee Roberts], who came up and spent the day with the little woman [Margaret Hall Stewart nee Sharp]. Roberta [Hall] & Toby [Horace Oscar Hall] also came up on Rat. I purchased from Dr. King his place near Mr. Keen's consisting of forty acres of land with the improvements thereon, for which I paid him 300$ and took his deed. weather clear and hot. Ther: standing at 90°.

1870 Census Houston County, Texas

• A G King 42
• M P King 38
• F D L King 14
• B C King 12
• J M King 9
• E G King 7
• Mary M King 5
• M J King 2

*1880 Census Houston County, Texas [Abner does NOT appear with his famiy on this census]

• Martha M. King 47 [Widowed]
• Franklin L. King 24
• James M. King 20
• Elizabeth G. King 16
• Nancy J. King 13
• Malinda E. King 10
• Emma C. King 6