Friday, August 31st, 1866

To day I am at work at the warehouse. Billy Sowell came over on the cars from Houston in order to paint Col. Wrigley's & my house. Mr. Beard also arrived on the cars. Hicks still at work hauling white oak blocks. Capt. John W. Redman is still with me and quite sick. Jimmy [James Wrigley Hall] had a fever. Roberta [Downes Halyard nee Hall] again missed the fever and is now well. Weather variable and hot. Ther: 89°.Thus closes my notes for the month of August and as it also closes the summer months, I shall cease noting the state of the thermometers until next summer, should I be spared to live.

Thursday, August 30th, 1866

To day I am at work at the warehouse. Capt. Dawson, Dr. Tarleton and I rode down to gum lake on a fishing excursion and had fine success. Dr. Tarleton was taken with chill and fever. Hicks still hauling white oak blocks from the woods. Capt. John W. Redman is still with me. Roberta [Downes Halyard nee Hall] missed her chill and fever. Weather variable and hot. Ther: 88°.

Wednesday, August 29th, 1866

To day I am at work at the warehouse. Jimmy [James Wrigley Hall] broke the tongue of his buggy. Mrs. John Wrigley arrived on the cars from Houston and reported that Col. Wrigley, Lelia & John left Galveston on Saturday the 26th inst. in route for New York. Capt. John W. Redman is still with me also Dr. Tarleton & family. Hicks made one load in the woods after white oak blocks. Roberta [Downes Halyard nee Hall] had a chill and fever. Weather variable and hot. Ther: 84°.

Friday, August 24th, 1866

To day I am at work at the warehouse. Hicks & Ned are at work preparing the ground to sew turnip seed. Capt. John W. Redman is still with me. Roberta [Downes Halyard nee Hall] is still staying with grand ma Gayle as Company. Mr. Beard is still at work on the railing for little Joe's grave [Josephine Martha Hall]. Weather cloudy and hot with a hard rain & wind blowing. Ther: 82°.

Thursday, August 23rd, 1866

To day I am at work at the warehouse. Capt. John W. Redman is still with me. Roberta [Downes Halyard nee Hall] is staying over with Grand Ma Gayle as Company for her. Hicks & Ned are at work getting wood. Mr. Beard commenced to make a railing to enclose the grave of my sweet little Angel Josephine Martha. Weather cloudy and hot with a hard rain in the evening. Ther: 86°.

Saturday, July 21st, 1866

To day I drove up town in Company with Col. Wrigley to attend a meeting of the board of aldermen for the City of Liberty, and while there was re-elected Mayor of said City for the ensuing year after which I returned home and drove in the buggy to the Rail Road depot with the little woman [Margaret Hall Stewart nee Sharp], Roberta [Downes Halyard nee Hall], Florence [Hall], Jimmy [James Wrigley Hall] and negro woman Louisa and all their baggage, when we all left on the [rail]cars for Houston. Mrs. Buckley also went along with us. we arrived in Houston about 4 O'clk and put up with Mrs. Perkins. Expenses of the day 20$ specie. Weather changeable and hot with occasional showers of rain. Ther : 90°

Monday, July 2nd, 1866

To day I am very busy at the Ware house unloading and loading the Royal Arch and several wagons. Roberta [Downes Halyard nee Hall] is much better. Jimmy [James Wrigley Hall] & Pet [Florence Mahala Hall] had another fever. Hicks is engaged hauling freight & lumber from the flat boats. Weather variable and cool with a hard rain. Ther : 80°.

Sunday, July 1st, 1866

To day I remained at home writing up this journal. Roberta [Downes Halyard nee Hall], Jimmy [James Wrigley Hall] and Pet [Florence Mahala Hall] are all sick with fevers. Fanny having missed the fever. The Str. Royal Arch arrived from Galveston. Weather variable and warm. Ther : 82°

Saturday, June 30th, 1866

To day I am at work at the warehouse. Roberta [Downes Halyard nee Hall], Jimmy [James Wrigley Hall], Fanny and Pet [Florence Mahala Hall] are all sick with fevers. Mr. Gordon, Mr. Angell and Grand Ma Gayle all left on the cars for Houston. Col. Wrigley with the hands commenced to build a shop for wagon work. Weather clear and warm. Ther : 82°. Thus I close my notes for the month of June.

Friday, June 29th, 1866

To day I am at work are the warehouse. Roberta [Downes Halyard nee Hall], Jimmy [James Wrigley Hall] and Fanny all had another fever. Mr. Angell is still with me. Col. Wrigley with the hands finished the salt shed. Weather clear and warm. Ther : 82°.

Thursday, June 28th, 1866

To day I am much better after a night's sweet repose and am now ready and able to enter upon my business matters. Col. Wrigley with the hands are at work on the salt shed. Mr. Angell is still with me. Roberta [Downes Halyard nee Hall], Jimmy [James Wrigley Hall] and Fanny are all sick with fever. Weather clear & warm. Ther: 80°.

Wednesday, June 27th, 1866

To day I done but little work. I am however loafing around generally for want of sleep and rest from my dissipation last night. Mr. Angell is still with me. Hicks is at work on the salt shed. Roberta [Downes Halyard nee Hall] & Jimmy [James Wrigley Hall] both had fever. Weather variable and hot with a shower of rain in the evening. Ther : 92°.

Monday, June 25th, 1866

To day I worked at the warehouse until dinner, loading and making out freight bills for the Str. Royal Arch, in order that she may leave for Galveston, which she done in the evening. I drove up town and attended the election for State and County officers. I also attended a session of the City council. I am still suffering with Cough and the itch. Roberta [Downes Halyard nee Hall] had a fever, which lasted nearly all day. Weather clear and hot. Ther : 90°.

Thursday, May 17th, 1866

The forenoon of day I spent at the warehouse. The evening I spent at home glazing the sash door. The little woman [Margaret Hall Stewart nee Sharp] & Roberta [Downes Halyard nee Hall] walked up town. Capt. John W. Redmond is still at work painting the house. I am quite sick. Weather clear and pleasant.

Wednesday, May 9th, 1866

To day I am still at work at the warehouse. The steamer Royal Arch left for Galveston. I am again attacked with the sore throat. The itch is still severe and between the two I am suffering greatly. Ed. Jones arrived home from West Liberty. The children are all well except Roberta [Downes Halyard nee Hall], who still suffers from her nervous affection. Weather cloudy with rain nearly all day and night and very cold for the season.

Saturday, May 5th, 1866

To day I am at work at the warehouse. Col. Wrigley, Mrs. Gayle and Ida all left on the cars for Houston. Capt. John W. Redmond commenced to paint my house. The Str. Ruthven came down the [Trinity] river, and after repairing her wheel left for Galveston. Jimmy [James Wrigley Hall], Josephine [Martha Hall] & Conney are still recovering from the measles. Roberta [Downes Halyard nee Hall] & Florence [Mahala Hall] are now well. I am suffering with the itch. Weather cloudy and warm.

Thursday, May 3rd, 1866

To day I am engaged at work at the warehouse. Jimmy [James Wrigley Hall] and Josephine [Martha Hall] recovering from the measles. Roberta [Downes Halyard nee Hall] & Florence [Mahala Hall] are about well. The Steamer Col. Stell came down the [Trinity] river with 300 bales of Cotton on board and reports the river falling. she proceeded on her voyage to Galveston. The Steamer Kate arrived from Galveston with some freight on board which we stored except one load, which Col. Wrigley attempted to haul to town, but his horses became frightened and run off with the wagon doing considerable damage to the wagon, breaking up the harness and damaging the load of flour. Capt. John W. Redmond is still with me. Weather variable and warm.

 

Tuesday, May 1st, 1866

To day I am at work at the warehouse. The Str. Royal Arch left for Galveston with Maj. Bolling on board and to whom I loaned 2 wagon sheets for the purpose of making an awning. The articles purchased by Ed. Jones for me, viz: The clothing & harness, cost me $113 specie. Col. Wrigley is still sick. Jimmy [James Wrigley Hall], Joe and Conney are still sick with measles. Florence [Mahala Hall] and Roberta [Downes Halyard nee Hall] are recovering a little. The little woman [Margaret Hall Stewart nee Sharp] hired a negro woman by the name of Winney to do her cooking & house work generally for which I am to pay her 10$ per month. Mrs. Stanwood spent the evening with us. Capt. John W. Redmond arrived from Sour Lake and stopped with me. he rode down to Frank Redmonds & spent the night. Weather variable and pleasant.

Monday, April 30th, 1866

To day I am at work at the warehouse. The Steamer Royal Arch is loading with cotton. I had a full settlement with Maj. Bolling and paid in full up to date. I received some few groceries, harness &c. by the Royal Arch. Jimmy [James Wrigley Hall], Joe & Conney are still sick with measles. Florence [Mahala Hall] and Roberta [Downes Halyard nee Hall] are recovering very fast. I am sorely afflicted with the itch, which has broken out on me again. Col. Wrigley and Ed. Jones arrived from Houston on the train. The former quite sick. The latter brought me three suits of summer clothing. Weather clear & warm. Thus I close my notes for the month of April. 

Sunday, April 29th, 1866

To day I remained at home writing up this journal. Jimmy [James Wrigley Hall], Joe & Conney still have the measles. Fawn [Florence Mahala Hall] & Burta [Roberta Downes Halyard nee Hall] are better. the little woman [Margaret Hall Stewart nee Sharp] is still without help. Weather clear and warm.