Friday, March 9th, 1866

To day I am still at the Crawford house in Galveston. I got all my purchases ready to ship by first steamer to Liberty. L.E. Downes is at work purchasing for the Crockett market and I wrote by him to Sam* H. Sharp in relation to my up Country [Houston County] business. Dr. Stanwood & I drove out on the beach and spent a pleasant afternoon. Weather clear and pleasant.

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

Monday, July 3rd, 1865

To day the trains came over from Houston, and brought my bagging & rope, also a barrel of sugar. I had the wagons loaded up, and after dinner, they left en route for the mills [Houston County]. Frank Stewart & Charles Leaverton going along in charge of them. I purchased from Charley Lund 100 lbs of bacon at 10¢ per lb. I borrowed from Charles Leaverton 25$ and gave him a draft for the amount on Sam H. Sharp [Samuel Houston Sharp]. Weather clear & hot. Ther: 90°.

Monday, January 18th, 1864

To day the boys are at work on the stables. Sam* [Samuel Houston Sharp] rode my horse Ratler to Crockett and was conscripted and put into the army of the Confederacy Sans Serimonia. I let Sam have 100$ before he left for Crockett. Mother [Mahala* Sharp Hall nee Roberts] and the children [Roberta and Toby] left for home. In the evening Mr. Thomas Sharp arrived from the wheat region with two loads of wheat which he left at the mill. He and Mr. Anderson remained with me for the night. I ground 51 bushels of corn. Weather changeable and cold, with a hard freeze at night.

*This Sam is a 2nd great-grandpa to the Keeper of this family history blog. Mahala is his mother, and is step-mother as well as mother-in-law to JMH.

Thursday, December 31st, 1863

This morning the ground was covered over two inches deep with snow. Father [Joshua James Hall], Mother [Mahala* Sharp Hall nee Roberts] and Mr. Thomas Sharp all left, the two former for home and the latter for the wheat region. Sam* [Samuel Houston Sharp] & I ground 6 bushels of corn & 10 bushels of wheat. In the evening the boys commenced work after their Christmas holliday. 

Weather clear and bitter cold, the mill pond being frozen entirely over one inch thick and it continued to freeze all day even in the sun shine. At night it froze all the little woman's eggs in my room although I kept a large fire in it throughout the entire night. It is decidedly the coldest spell of weather that I have ever experienced in the State of Texas, after a residence of 28 years. 

Thus closes my notes for the month of December and also for the year 1863 just passed and 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 I know but trusting in Him, I shall enter upon the pleasing task, which is useful as a reference and may be profitable to those who have an interest in me.

*This Mahala is a 3rd great-grandma to the Keeper of this family history blog. Sam is her son.

Wednesday, December 30th, 1863

To day Father [Joshua James Hall], Mother [Mahala* Sharp Hall nee Roberts], Nellie* [Mary Alexandrien Sharp nee Lemaire] and Hicks all returned from their visit to Crockett, thoroughly soaked to the skin with rain. Mr. Thomas Sharp also came to the mill with 84 bushels of wheat he too was soaked both internally and externally. they all remained with me for the night. I ground 2 bushels of corn and 7 bushels of wheat. Weather cloudy and rainy until night when it turned bitter cold. a hail and snow storm passed over leaving the ground covered with a coat of snow two inches deep, the surface of which was hardly frozen over.

*This Mahala is a 3rd great-grandma to the Keeper of this family history blog. Nellie is a 2nd great-grandma, and is Mahala's daughter-in-law.

Thursday, March 26th, 1863

To day the boys are still at work fixing the fence around the lower field. Sam* [Samuel Houston Sharp] went out hunting cows & calves but without any success. Margaret Hall [his daughter from 1st marriage] returned from her visit to Mrs. Leaverton's. I ground 26 bushels of corn and assisted the little woman [Margaret Hall Stewart nee Sharp] to work in the garden in planting squash & lima beans. weather changeable & rather cool for the season of the year.

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

Saturday, February 28th, 1863

To day the boys are at work in putting up the cow pen & in hauling rails. I assisted the little woman [Margaret Hall Stewart nee Sharp] in gardening. Sam* [Samuel Houston Sharp] ground 16 bushels of corn. weather changeable & cold with a hard north wind blowing which abated in the evening. at night there was a hard frost. Thus closes my chronicle notes for the month of February now gone and passed.

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

Thursday, February 26th, 1863

To day the boys are splitting and hauling rails. I went down to the old place & took down the little smoke house and thence down to Mother's [Mahala* Sharp Hall nee Roberts] for dinner. Frank Stewart killed two turkeys & sent one up by the wagon to the little woman [Margaret Hall Stewart nee Sharp]. Sam* [Samuel Houston Sharp] ground 12 bushels of corn. weather clear & rather cool.

*This Mahala is a 3rd great-grandma to the Keeper of this family history blog. Sam is her son, and is a 2nd great-grandpa. Mahala is the step-mother as well as mother-in-law to JMH. Sam is a step-brother as well as brother-in-law to JMH.

Wednesday, February 25th, 1863

To day the boys are at work in putting up a horse lot fence. I made a brooch holder for the little woman [Margaret Hall Stewart nee Sharp]. Sam* [Samuel Houston Sharp] ground 21½ bushels of corn. The little woman planted raddish seed in the garden. weather cloudy with misting rain occasionally. At night it rained hard throughout the entire night, covering the face of the earth with water. it was a cold & disagreeable rain.

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

Saturday, February 21st, 1863

To day the boys are still at work splitting rails. Hicks finished the axle tree and started the big wagon to running again. Frank Stewart came up to see us and went to Mrs. Keen's for the little woman [Margaret Hall Stewart nee Sharp] to get her a couple of turkeys which he brought home to her. I am still at work on my reel. Sam* Sharp ground 32 bushels of corn. The little woman & Fawn [Florence Mahala Hall] went down to see Mother [Mahala* Lee Sharp Hall nee Roberts] and returned in the evening. weather clear but rather cool.

This Sam is a 2nd great-grandma to the Keeper of this family history blog. Mahala is his mother, as well as the mother of the little woman.

Friday, February 20th, 1863

To day the boys are still at work splitting and hauling rails. Hicks is still at work on the axle tree for the wagon. I am engaged in making a reel for the little woman [Margaret Hall Stewart nee Sharp]. Sam* Sharp ground 33½ bushels of corn. weather changeable and cool with a hard rain at night.

*This Sam is a 2nd great-grandpa to the Keeper of this family history blog. He is also the brother-in-law as well as the step-brother of JMH.

Wednesday, February 18th, 1863

To day the boys are at work splitting rails except Hicks who is helping me to put up the inner string of the garden fence. Sam* [Samuel Houston Sharp] made a gate for the garden and also ground 2 bushels of corn. weather changeable and pleasant after so much rain.

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

Tuesday, February 10th, 1863

To day Hicks is still at work on the house fence. The other boys are splitting and hauling rails. Sam* [Samuel Houston Sharp] made a first rate wagon gate for the house yard. I ground 13 bushels of corn and wrote to F. Hitchcock in relation to cotton. In the evening the little woman [Margaret Hall Stewart nee Sharp] & children with myself drove down to Mothers [Mahala* Lee Sharp Hall nee Roberts] in the buggy after some garden seed and shrubbery. Fawn [Florence Mahala Hall] is still improving. weather changeable with occasional showers of rain and rather warm for the season of the year.

*This Sam is a 2nd great-grandpa to the Keeper of this family history blog. Mahala is his mother, and is the step-mother as well as the mother-in-law of JMH.

Monday, February 9th, 1863

To day Hicks is still at work on the house fence. The other boys are out in the woods splitting rails. The little woman [Margaret Hall Stewart nee Sharp] commenced gardening in the new garden having planted some english peas. Sam* [Samuel Houston Sharp] finished & hung the gate to the house fence. I ground 8½ bushels of corn. Fawn [Florence Mahala Hall] is still sick but improving rapidly. Mother [Mahala* Lee Sharp Hall nee Roberts] & Roberta [Hall] left for home. weather cloudy & warm with occasional showers of rain & very disagreeable so much so as to almost prevent any business from being done.

*This Sam is a 2nd great-grandpa to the Keeper of this family history blog. Mahala is his mother, and is the mother-in-law as well as the step-mother to JMH.

Thursday, February 5th, 1863

To day the boys are splitting rails out in the woods. Hicks is still at work on the house fence. Sam* [Samuel Houston Sharp] went to the shop for a balance iron for the mill but did not succeed in obtaining one. In the evening he went down to Mothers [Mahala* Sharp Hall nee Roberts] with the loom & put it up in running order for her. I fixed the mill and ground 18 bushels of corn. At night my pet baby Fawn [Florence Mahala Hall] was taken very sick which kept me up nearly all night. weather cloudy and cold as the devil with a hard freeze and plenty of ice.

*This Sam is a 2nd great-grandpa to the Keeper of this family history blog. Mahala is his mother, and is the step-mother as well as the mother-in-law of JMH.

Wednesday, February 4th, 1863

To day the boys are hauling fire wood. Sam* [Samuel Houston Sharp] made a clothes horse. I ground 19 bushels of corn when the balance iron of the mill got out of fix preventing me from grinding any more for the present. weather cloudy with occasional hard showers of rain and as cold as the devil with a hard freeze at night, the ice forming full ½ inch thick in all the vessels that had water in them, making it a winter's night indeed.

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

Tuesday, February 3rd, 1863

To day Sam* Sharp rode my horse Rob to Crockett and back in order to collect some money from Capt. Odell but he failed in his mission. he however purchased me a good iron wedge. I had the garden plowed up for the little woman [Margaret Hall Stewart nee Sharp] to commence her gardening. Hicks at work on the house fence. I ground 5½ bushels of corn. weather cloudy, cold, dark and gloomy with strong indications of rain.

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

Sunday, February 1st, 1863

To day I am engaged in writing up this journal. Father [Joshua James Hall], Mother [Mahala* Lee Sharp Hall nee Roberts and Mrs. Bird all came up to the house to see Nellie* [Mary Alexandrien Sharp nee Lemaire] and the little Major [James Hall Sharp] who are doing very well. Father & Mrs. Bird left early. Mother remained until late in the evening and then went home. Roberta [Hall] is still here. weather clear and rather cool.

*Nellie is a 2nd great-grandma to the Keeper of this family history blog. Mahala is her mother-in-law, and is also the step-mother as well as mother-in-law of JMH.

Saturday, January 31st, 1863

To day Sam* Sharp drove my horse (Gladiator) & buggy to Crockett and back and while there he sold my old homestead in Crockett to Wm. F. Johnston for the sum of $2000. cash. The boys are still at work on the garden fence. I ground 36½ bushels of corn. weather clear & pleasant but with some indications of rain. Thus I close the jottings for the month of January.

*This Sam is a 2nd great-grandpa to the Keeper of this family history blog. He is also the step-brother as well as the brother-in-law of JMH.

Wednesday, January 28th, 1863

To day Sam* Sharp rode my horse Ratler to Crockett and back. The boys are still at work on the garden fence. I ground 18½ bushels of corn. Mother [Mahala* Lee Sharp Hall nee Roberts] & the children are still here. Nellie* [Mary Alexandrien Sharp nee Lemaire] and the Major [James Hall Sharp] are doing very well. weather clear & cold 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.