Wednesday, July 25th, 1866

To day we are still in Galveston and stopping at Capt. Peacock's. In the evening I purchased a match horse for Rob for which I paid 250$. I drove out to the beach with Capt. Peacock in order to try my new horse Charley. The transport Clinton arrived in port with several cases of cholera on board. Weather variable & hot. Ther: 91°.

 

Thursday, January 4th, 1866

To day I am at work at the store house. Albert the negro boy that I hired on the first has been sick all the week and not a lick of work has he done as yet. Hicks lost the whole day in hunting up Rob. He got out on yesterday through the negligence of some of the children leaving the yard gate open. Frank walked out and succeeded in killing a couple of squirrels. Weather clear & cold with a hard frost at night.

Friday, October 20th, 1865

To day I am still at work at the warehouse. After much trouble I succeeded in getting my horse Rob up when the little woman [Margaret Hall Stewart nee Sharp] and Mrs. Wrigley drove up town. William Leaverton left in the stage for my mills [Houston County] and carried some letters up with him for my relatives. I hired negro man Ike to dig my potatoes. Weather clear and rather cool.

Saturday, October 19th, 1865

To day I am still at work at the ware house. Wm. Leaverton is still with me. My daughter Florence [Florence Mahala Hall] attained the 5th anniversary of her birth day. The little woman [Margaret Hall Stewart nee Sharp] made her a first rate birth day cake. My horse Rob got out of the stable & ran off. Weather clear and rather cool.

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.

Monday, September 4th, 1865

To day I am a little better with my boil, and able to work a little. I finished pulling what corn was in the patch and opened the pasture for my horse, Rob. The little woman [Margaret Hall Stewart nee Sharp] drove up town and purchased from Mr. Bristley one dollars worth of sugar on a credit. Col. Wrigley is still confined but improving slowly. Weather variable and hot, with a light rain at night.

Monday, February 20th, 1865

To day I rode my horse Rob in company with James Roberts to Crockett and back and while there I paid Mr. Douglass the assessor & Collector my state & County taxes, which amounted to $235. Hicks done nothing in consequence of the mill machinery getting out of running order. Weather cloudy and cold with a rain at night.

Wednesday, January 25th, 1865

To day the boys are at work in the lower field. I rode my horse Rob to Crockett and stopped with Billy Stewart. Hicks ground 10 bushels of corn. Weather changeable and cold, with a freeze at night.

Friday, January 13th, 1865

To day the boys are at work on the public road leading from the Mill to Crockett. Sam* Sharp rode my horse Rob to Crockett & back in order to sell some cotton but failed to do so. Hicks ground 12 bushels of wheat. The little woman [Margaret Hall Stewart nee Sharp] rode down to Mothers [Mahala* Sharp Hall nee Roberts] and Burt [Roberta Downes Halyard nee Hall] came home with her. Weather cloudy & cold with misting rain.

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

Tuesday, December 27th, 1864

To day John went out hog hunting but without success. Mother [Mahala* Sharp Hall nee Roberts] & John Connell [son of Mahala's sister] spent the day with us. Sam* Sharp rode my horse Rob to Crockett and back. Hicks ground 15 bushels of wheat. Weather clear & rather warm.

*This Mahala is a 3rd great-grandma to the Keeper of this family history blog. Sam is a 2nd great-grandpa, and son of Mahala.

Thursday, November 17th, 1864

To day the boys are at work splitting rails. I rode my horse Rob to Crockett and stopped with Mr. Downes for the night. Hicks ground 10½ bushels of corn. I am still sick with the sore mouth. Weather cloudy and cool with occasional showers of rain.

Thursday, September 8th, 1864

To day the boys are still at work on the house to save peas in. I let Mr. Keen have ½ bushel of meal. After dinner I left home on my horse Rob in route for Huntsville and rode 25 miles and stopped with Mr. Brown for the night and for which I paid him 20$. Weather clear & hot. Ther: 90°.

Tuesday, August 30th, 1864

To day the children & I drove down to the mill in the little wagon. The little woman [Margaret Hall Stewart nee Sharp] rode down on Rob. we finished cleaning the house. Nellie [Mary Alexandrien Sharp nee Lemaire] is still down at Mother's [Mahala Sharp Hall nee Roberts]. Weather clear & hot. Ther: 95°.

Wednesday, June 29th, 1864

To day the boys finished working in the bottom field. Nellie [Mary Alexandrien Sharp nee Lemaire], Father [Joshua James Hall] and Roberta [Roberta Downes Halyard nee Hall] all drove to Crockett to attend an instrumental & vocal concert. Nellie drove my horse Rob & buggy. I sent Billy Stewart by Mr. Wingfield's wagon 2 bushels of meal, 1 bushel of corn and 50 lbs. of flour. Hicks attended the mill and ground 4 bushels of corn. Jimmy [James Wrigley Hall] is still quite sick. Weather clear & warm. Ther: 86°.

Wednesday, June 15th, 1864

To day the boys are still at work in the little field. I drove my horse (Rob) and buggy to Crockett and stopped with Billy Stewart. Maggie rode down to Mother's [Mahala Sharp Hall nee Roberts] and took Roberta [Roberta Downes Halyard nee Hall] home with her. she bought Toby [Horace Oscar Hall] up home with her. Hicks attended the mill and ground 22 bushels of corn. Weather clear and warm. Ther: 86°.

Wednesday, April 20th, 1864

To day the boys are still at work planting corn in the bottom field. I drove my horse Rob & buggy to Crockett and stopped with Billy Stewart for the night. Hicks ground 4 bushels of corn. Weather changeable & cool, with indications of rain.

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.

Monday, February 15th, 1864

To day the boys are still at work plowing in the bottom field. I rode my horse Rob to Crockett for the express purpose of indicting Jim Leaverton for hog stealing before the District Court which commenced its session there to day, but was pursuaded out of it. I will now have to rely upon a suit to recover my property which I can prove beyond the shadow of a doubt. Hicks attended the mill during my absence and ground 2½ bushels of corn. Weather changeable & cool with a frost at night.

Thursday, February 4th, 1864

To day I drove my horse Rob and buggy to Crockett in order to carry Mrs. Beale* [Elizabeth Lemaire Beale nee Waring] that far on her way home. She left Crockett in company with Dr. Stanwood in route for Liberty where she resides. Hicks is at work on the mill irons. Bill commenced plowing in the bottom field. Having become perfectly disgusted with the military rule that is now prevailing in Crockett I left for home and reached there late in the evening. Weather clear and cold with a frost and freeze at night.

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

Thursday, January 14th, 1864

To day the boys are at work covering in the stables. I rode my horse Rob to Crockett and while there was again arrested by the conscript officer. when they will get through conscripting me God only knows for one set of officers pulls down as fast as the others set up. I however after much difficulty attained another discharge, but how long it will last I cannot say. 

When I returned home I found Dr. Murchison and Mother [Mahala* Sharp Hall nee Roberts] in attendance upon Nellie* [Mary Alexandrien Sharp nee Lemaire] whose symptoms are more aggravating. Weather changeable and rather cold.

*This Mahala is a 3rd great-grandma to the Keeper of this family history blog. Nellie is pregnant, and is married to Mahala's son, Sam.