1866 :: Death of James Madison Hall

One hundred fifty years ago today . . . "I shall have shuffled off this mortal soil and been reaped to the bosom of my ancestors."

It was the 12th day of September . . . in the year was 1866 . . . and according to the information recorded on a military tombstone in the Liberty City Cemetery, this was the final day on this earth for James Madison Hall aka the author of this Journal . . .


A handwritten note on the last page of my copy of the Journal indicates that the "Liberty Gazette says J M Hall died of Cholera Sept 1866" . . . another source says he survived until November of 1866 . . . and yet another handwritten note on the last page of the Journal indicates that he did not die until September of 1867 . . .

Research will be on-going . . . with periodic postings and updates as information is revealed and compiled . . .

James Madison Hall was fond of posting a closing statement at the end of every month of the year as well as at the end of every calendar year . . . since we do not (yet) have access to his final thoughts, we will now go back to his closing notes for the month of December 1864 . . .

Thus I close my jottings for the month of December and for the year 1864 which has just passed & gone and now numbered with the things that were. Whether the Almighty will spare me to chronicle the daily events of the incoming year is more than poor mortal man can foresee or know but trusting in his goodness I shall enter upon the pleasing task which is meaningful as a book of reference and may hereafter be profitable to those who have an interest in my affairs after I shall have shuffled off this mortal soil and been reaped to the bosom of my ancestors.

Monday, September 10th, 1866

To day I remained at the warehouse during the forenoon. In the evening I drove up town and while there settled in full with J.D. Skinner up to this date. I also purchased a few articles for the little woman [Margaret Hall Stewart nee Sharp]. Capt. Redman returned from his visit to the Country in a state of intoxication, and was rather quarrelsome & abusive. Hicks & Ned are at work getting fire wood. Weather cloudy and hot with occasional showers of rain.

Sunday, September 9th, 1866

To day I remained at home reading. Capt. Redman is still absent on his visit. Dr. Tarleton & family are still here. Weather cloudy and hot with occasional showers of rain throughout the entire day.

Saturday, September 8th, 1866

To day I am at work at the warehouse. In the evening I drove up town in my buggy with my horse Charley working in order to try him. The boys finished chopping white oak blocks. Hicks went to [still?] and upon his return he had a hard chill & fever. Capt. Redman left on his pony and rode out in the Country and remained all night. Dr. Tarleton and wife are still here. Weather cloudy and hot with occasional showers of rain and a severe storm at night attended with a flood of rain.

Friday, September 7th, 1866

To day I am at work at the warehouse. Hicks is engaged hauling rails for Capt. Dawson & worked for him all day. Capt. Redman is still with me also Dr. Tarleton & wife who make haste very slowly to leave. Weather cloudy and hot with occasional showers of rain throughout the day and hard rain at night.

Thursday, September 6th, 1866

To day I am at work at the warehouse. Ed. Jones left on the cars for Houston in order to procure some painting materials for Col. Wrigley's house. Hicks is at work hauling fire wood. Dr. Tarleton & wife are now making preparations to leave my house & may God speed them. Capt. John W. Redman is still with me. Weather cloudy and hot with occasional showers of rain.

Wednesday, September 5th, 1866

To day I am at work at the warehouse. Billy Sowell is at work painting the chimneys to my house. Capt. Redman is still with me. Mr. Beard made a tongue for Jimmy's [James Wrigley Hall] little buggy. Hicks is engaged hauling wood. My relations with my boarder Mrs. Tarleton are still quite unpleasant. Weather variable and hot.

Tuesday, September 4th, 1866

To day I am at work at the warehouse. Billy Sowell is still at work painting my house. Fanny had a chill & fever. Capt. John W. Redman is still with me. I am sorry to record that I was compelled to have a slight altercation with my boarder, Mrs. Tarleton, in order to protect my children from insult and abuse, all of which was very unpleasant to me & which I am determined to obviate by requiring her to seek other quarters. Weather cloudy and hot with a storm attended with rain in the evening.

Sunday, September 2nd, 1866

To day I remained at home writing up this note book. Jimmy [James Wrigley Hall] had a chill and fever. Capt. John W. Redman is still with me. Capt. Dawson and wife came up and spent the day with the little woman [Margaret Hall Stewart nee Sharp]. Weather clear and hot.

Saturday, September 1st, 1866

To day I am at work at the warehouse. Ned Smith worked part of the day assisting Hicks to pull the corn out of the little patch. Capt. Redman is still with me & is still quite sick. Jimmy [James Wrigley Hall] missed the fever. The little woman [Margaret Hall Stewart nee Sharp] drove up town and purchased a few articles. Dr. Tarleton & family are still with me. Weather clear and hot.

Saturday, September 30th, 1865

To day I drove over to negroville and up town in order to hire a servant but signally failed. The little woman [Margaret Hall Stewart nee Sharp] is still performing her own house hold work. Mr. & Mrs. ?, Mrs. Wrigley, and Mr. Haggard came over and spent the evening playing whist. Weather variable and cool. Thus I close my notes of current events immediately around me, for the month of September.

Friday, September 29th, 1865

To day my freedwoman Jemima and old Elsey left me, in route for Galveston, thus leaving me without a servant and forcing the little woman [Margaret Hall Stewart nee Sharp] into the kitchen to perform her own household work. I assisted around the house generally. I received a pair of shoes which Charles Lund purchased for me in New Orleans for which he paid $3⁵⁰ and which amt. I still owe him. James Wrigley and Mrs. Perkins arrived on the train from Houston. Weather changeable and warm with occasional [showers] of rain.

Thursday, September 28th, 1865

To day I tacked the carpet down in the little room. At night I attended a party given by the young men of Liberty at the residence of Col. Frank Hardin. I passed a very pleasant evening among the guys, all passed off as merry as a "marriage bell" and to the entire satisfaction of all concerned. Weather variable and cool with occasional showers of rain.

Wednesday, September 27th, 1865

To day Hicks & John left with one wagon and four yoke of oxen in route for my mills [in Houston County]. Mr. Haggard arrived from Houston on the construction train but he failed to procure me another bowie knife in lieu of the one he lost so I presume I shall be without my knife. I am engaged working around the house and put the carpet down on the parlor floor. weather variable and cool with occasional showers of rain.

Tuesday, September 26th, 1865

To day the boys are still at work getting ready for their up Country trip [to Houston County]. I repaired the back of the fire place in the little woman's [Margaret Hall Stewart nee Sharp] room and making it comfortable for the winter season. Weather cloudy and hot with occasional showers of rain.

Monday, September 25th, 1865

To day Hicks and John are at work repairing their wagons and getting ready for a trip up to the mills [Houston County]. The little woman [Margaret Hall Stewart nee Sharp] drove up town and purchased a few articles to send up to her Mother [Mahala Sharp Hall nee Roberts] by the wagons. Weather cloudy & warm with occasional showers of rain.

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.

Saturday, September 23rd, 1865

To day the steamer Mary Hill arrived at Walnut bluff from Galveston with 300 sacks of salt on board, which were consigned to James Wrigley. I drove down there and got my freedman John from off of her. He having run away the trip before, and left here on said boat. He promised me upon his arrival home to faithfully remain out the time for which he entered into a special contract. The Steamer Mary Hill left for Galveston. In the evening I drove up town in company with James Wrigley and we were both regularly registered as voters of the County & State. My wagon driven by Hicks is engaged in hauling salt from Walnut bluff to the warehouse, and hauled 72 sacks at 10? per sack. Capt. John Redman left my house for parts unknown. Weather cloudy & hot with a very hard rain late in the evening.

Friday, September 22nd, 1865

To day I finished papering the hall. Capt. John Redman is still with me. Weather cloudy & hot with occasional showers of rain throughout the day.

Thursday, September 21st, 1865

To day I commenced papering the hall, assisted by Capt. John Redman, who is still with me. Weather cloudy & cool with showers of rain throughout the day, and a hard rain at night.