Sunday, July 22nd, 1866

To day we are all still in Houston and still at Mrs. Perkins. The little woman [Margaret Hall Stewart nee Sharp] visited church and in the evening went around to see Mrs. Ruthven. I spent the day quite pleasantly. Weather clear & very hot. Ther: 91°.

Sunday, June 17th, 1866

To day Capt. Dawson and family spent the day with us. The Steamers A.S. Ruthven and Col. Stell passed down the [Trinity] river bound for Galveston. I am still suffering with the itch and cough. Weather cloudy and cool for the season with a north wind blowing. Ther : 80°.

Saturday, June 2nd, 1866

To day I am at work at the warehouse. Col. Wrigley, with the hands, let the McKim house down and cut out several doors in order to convert the building into a blacksmith shop. The steamer Ruthven arrived from Galveston bound up the [Trinity] river, and after putting off some freight she left on her voyage. Weather variable and hot with a rain at night. Ther : 88°.
 

Saturday, May 26th, 1866

To day I worked at the warehouse. Hicks & Steve are at work hauling Cotton from the [rail]cars. The steamer Ruthven came down the river with all the crew of the steamer Col. Stell on board, the latter named boat having been seized by the government while up the river. My old friend John B. Zimmerman came down on the Ruthven and I loaned him 25$ gold which he promised to return as he goes back home, or to deposit the same at Galveston to my credit with Messrs. Bolling, Spooner, & Co. The Ruthven left for Galveston loaded with cotton. Capt. Redmond is still here. Weather variable and warm with light showers of rain.

Galveston City Directory, 1866-1867

Friday, May 11th, 1866

To day I am at work at the Warehouse. The steamer Ruthven arrived from Galveston bound up the [Trinity] river. she discharged a little freight. In the evening I drove up town and had my throat carterized or burnt with caustic. Jimmy [James Wrigley Hall] had a fever. the rest of the children are well. Capt. John Redmond is at work painting my house. Weather variable and warm. 

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.

Wednesday, April 25th, 1866

To day I am at work at the warehouse. The steamer Royal Arch, after taking on her cargo, left for Galveston. Ed. Jones went on her and I sent by her 9 bales of Cotton, consigned to Messrs. J.C. & S.R. Smith & Co. to be sold for my a/c. The steamer Ruthven arrived from Galveston heavy loaded for the upper [Trinity] river. after discharging a few Bbls. of flour she proceeded on her voyage. Fawn [Florence Mahala Hall] is still improving. Roberta [Downes Halyard nee Hall] is still sick with the measles. They also broke out on Conney, making three cases down at once. Weather clear and pleasant. 

Sunday, April 15th, 1866

To day I discharged my cook Henry for stealing. In consequence of which the little woman [Margaret Hall Stewart nee Sharp] was compelled to go into the kitchen and do her own housework. The Steamer Ruthven succeeded in opening her way through the raft at the railroad bridge when the hands belonging to said boat cut the East span of the bridge and let the steamer through. The hands of the steamer Indian No. 2 pulled down the west span of the bridge, but the boat did not succeed in getting through. The Steamers Emery and Ruthven left for Galveston. Weather variable & pleasant.

Friday, April 13th, 1866

To day I am still at work at the ware house. The Steamers Shreveport and Ruthven came down the river ladened with cotton and pretty well torn up. In consequence of the raft they were compelled to lay up. The river still continues to rise and I am fearful there will be a general overflow. Weather cloudy and rather cool with a very hard rain.

Sunday, March 25th, 1866

To day I was compelled to work at the warehouse loading the steamer Ruthven which had just arrived from Galveston after shipping 500 Bbls freight she left for the up river. The river is rising plenty. Roberta [Downes Halyard nee Hall] but little improved. I am still suffering with the cough and the itch. Jilks who was killed last night was buried to day. Weather cloudy and cool with rain throughout the night.

Tuesday, March 20th, 1866

To day I am at work at the warehouse. The Steamer Ruthven arrived from Galveston. Capt. Gordon came up & dined with us. My cough is a little better. Hicks is engaged hauling freight. Mrs. Massie is still here sewing for the little woman [Margaret Hall Stewart nee Sharp]. Capt. Redmond is also still here. The Str. Ruthven left for Galveston. Weather clear and cool.

Friday, March 16th, 1866

To day I am at work at the warehouse. Col. Wrigley & family arrived on the cars from Houston. Maj. Bolling still here. Hicks is engaged hauling to the warehouse. The Steamer Ruthven arrived from Galveston and discharged about 200 Bls Corn & left for Galveston again. The Str. Indian No. 2 dropped down to Cole's wood yard. Mrs. Massie is still here. My cough is still improving. Weather clear and cool.

Wednesday, February 21st, 1866

To day I worked at the warehouse. The Str. T.J. Emery opened the draw of the rail road bridge for the first time in 3 years and passed through the bridge on her upward bound voyage. The Steamer Ruthven arrived from Galveston with a small freight on board and left again for Galveston. My cold is no better. Hicks & Albert are at work hauling. Frank [Stewart] no better. The little woman [Margaret Hall Stewart nee Sharp] drove out in the Country and brought Mrs. Massie home with her who commenced sewing for the family. I entered into a contract with Henry a free man of Color to cook for me at 10$ per month gold. Weather variable & cool.

Friday, October 27th, 1865

To day we left the mouth of the river on the Steamer Ruthven leaving the Kate still aground in the canal and ran down to Galveston for which I had to pay $2.75 in specie. We all stopped at the Washington Hotel. Mr. Ballinger handed me $61.50 which he had collected for the warehouse at Liberty. Weather variable & cold with a strong norther blowing all day.

Thursday, October 26th, 1865

To day we left Walnut bluff on the Steamer Kate in route for Galveston and had a pleasant run down to the mouth of the river but vessel got aground in the canal and the steamer Ruthven coming along side of our boat we left the Kate and took passage on the Ruthven for Galveston. we were compelled however to lay at the mouth of the river all night. Weather clear and pleasant until night, when a severe norther came out rendering it very cold.

Thursday, August 24th, 1865

To day the Steamer Ruthven left for Galveston. I spent the forenoon down at the warehouse. I am still severely afflicted with the itch and in consequence of which it is with great difficulty I can get about at all. Weather cloudy and warm. Ther: 88°.

Wednesday, August 23rd, 1865

To day I walked up town to try a negro boy, who broke into the store of Mr. Skinner, but the parties not being able to identify the negro under arrest as the one who committed the offence, I discharged the negro. In the evening Mr. Trowell, Perkins & Cameron came over to my house and amused themselves playing whist. The Steamer Ruthven arrived from Galveston, and is now engaged taking on board lumber for the U.S. Government. Weather clear and hot. Ther: 94°.

Friday, July 21st, 1865

To day I am still engaged in pulling fodder. I rode down to the river to see the Str. Ruthven leave for Galveston. The Steamer Mary Hill came up from Galveston. Jimmy is still sick, but improving slowly. Conny was taken with fever. Weather variable and hot. Ther: 92°.

Thursday, July 20th, 1865

To day I am at work pulling fodder. The Steamer Ruthven is still here, waiting her cargo. Jimmy is still sick, but improving a little. Weather variable and hot. Ther: 90°.

Wednesday, July 19th, 1865

To day I pulled about 20 bundles of fodder. I let Jemima go down the river on the Steamer Lone Star to see her Mother. Jimmy is still sick. The Steamer Ruthven arrived from Galveston. Weather variable and hot with a rain at night. Ther: 90°.