Wednesday, March 14th, 1866

To day we left the mouth of the [Trinity] river and run up to Liberty, at which place we arrived about sun down. I found all my folks well except Roberta [Downes Halyard nee Hall], who is about the same as I left her. I learned from the little woman [Margaret Hall Stewart nee Sharp] that Frank Stewart had left on the stage in route for Crockett on Thursday last. Mrs. Massie is still here and has been during my absence. Maj. Bolling came up with me from Galveston on a visit but found Col. Wrigley and family absent on a visit to Houston. Weather cloudy & cold with showers of rain throughout the entire day.

Sunday, March 4th, 1866

To day I left Liberty on the Str. Indian No. 2 in route for Galveston. We run down to the lower landing and took on board there 100 head of Cattle, and then proceeded on our voyage. I left at my house in addition to my own family, Frank Stewart, who is still improving a little, and Capt. John W. Redmond, also Mrs. Massie, who is still sewing for the little woman [Margaret Hall Stewart nee Sharp]. We run down to the mouth of the [Trinity] river and came to an anchor until morning. My cough no better. Weather clear & cold with a stiff norther.

Saturday, March 3rd, 1866

To day I am at work at the warehouse, my Cough however is no better. The little woman [Margaret Hall Stewart nee Sharp] still has sore eyes. Capt. John W. Redmond arrived on the Str. Indian and is now with me. Frank Stewart failed to get off in the stage and is still at my house. Roberta [Downes Halyard nee Hall] & the children are all sick with colds. I am preparing to visit Galveston for Medical aid. Hicks is at work hauling with the little wagon. Mrs. Massie is still here. Weather clear and pleasant.

Friday, March 2nd, 1866

To day I am confined at home with my Cough which is growing worse. Hicks is at work in the orchard preparing it for planting. Frank Stewart still improving a little and still determined to leave for Crockett. The little woman [Margaret Hall Stewart nee Sharp] and children still have sore eyes. Col. Wrigley finished the school house & is now ready for business opperations. Mrs. Massie is still here. At night the steamer Indian No. 2 arrived from Galveston. Weather clear & pleasant.

Thursday, March 1st, 1866

To day I worked at the warehouse. My cough is no better. Frank Stewart being a little better has concluded to leave on the Stage for Crockett. Mrs. Massie still here. The little woman [Margaret Hall Stewart nee Sharp] and children are still afflicted with sore eyes. I paid off and discharged one of my freedmen Albert. Hicks is still at work in the garden. Weather clear and pleasant.

Wednesday, February 28th, 1866

To day I remained at home suffering severely with my Cough and cold. Hicks and Albert are working in the garden. Mrs. Massie is still here. The little woman [Margaret Hall Stewart nee Sharp] & children are afflicted with sore eyes. Frank [Stewart] is some little improved. Weather clear & pleasant. Thus closes the notes for the month of February.

Tuesday, February 27th, 1866

To day I finished papering the school house for Col. Wrigley. I drove up town and settled in full with Mr. Baldwin & Dr. Rives. Hicks & Albert are working in the garden. My cough & cold are no better. The little woman [Margaret Hall Stewart nee Sharp] still afflicted with sore eyes. Frank [Stewart] still confined to his bed. I purchased from the Str. Col. Stell which is still here one Barrel of irish potatoes for which I paid 5$ specie. Weather clear & pleasant. Mrs. Massie still here.

Monday, February 26th, 1866

To day I commenced papering the schoolhouse for Col. Wrigley and the one upon which he has been working. I am but little if any better of my cough and cold. Frank [Stewart] is still confined to his bed. Mrs. Massie is still here. Berta [Roberta Downes Halyard nee Hall] & Fanny spent the night at Mrs. Beale's* [Elizabeth Lemaire Beale nee Waring]. The little woman [Margaret Hall Stewart nee Hall] is still suffering with sore eyes. Weather clear and pleasant.

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

Sunday, February 25th, 1866

To day I am confined to my room. Hicks and Albert are engaged in setting out peach trees. Frank [Stewart] is still confined to his bed. The little woman [Margaret Hall Stewart nee Sharp] & children are still suffering with sore eyes. Mrs. Massie still here. The Str. Col. Stell still lying at the landing and the Str. Indian No. 2 still lying at the wood yard. Weather clear and pleasant.

Saturday, February 24th, 1866

The forenoon of to day I worked at the warehouse and the evening I spent at home. I got from Col. Wrigley 100 peach trees and 2 bales of hay. The steamer Col. Stell arrived from Galveston bound up the river. The Steamer Indian No. 2 took on some freight and dropped down the river to the wood yard. Frank [Stewart] is still confined to his room. The little woman [Margaret Hall Stewart nee Sharp] & children are still suffering with sore eyes. At night I sent for Dr. Shelby to visit me professionally. He came and administered some medicine for my Cough which is no better. Mrs. Massie is still here. Negro Henry's wife came over for him on the ? in order to be near her husband. Weather clear & cold.

Friday, February 23rd, 1866

To day I worked at the warehouse. My Cough & cold is no better. The little woman [Margaret Hall Stewart nee Sharp] is afflicted with sore eyes as well as all the children. Frank [Stewart] is no better. Mrs. Massie still here sewing. At night the steamer Indian No. 2 arrived from Galveston with Col. Wrigley on board. Weather changeable and cold with a rain at night.

Thursday, February 22nd, 1866

All the forenoon I worked at the warehouse and the evening I spent at home. My cough and cold being no better and under which I am rapidly faiing. Be it remembered that I attained the 47th anniversary of my birth day, and I had a magnificent birth day dinner and cake, gotten up in my cook stove? in happy style & with rich profusion. Mrs. Massie is still here sewing for the family. Frank [Stewart] still sick. The children's eyes are still sore. Weather variable and cold with occasional showers of rain.

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.

Tuesday, February 20th, 1866

To day I am at work at the warehouse. The Steamer Indian No. 2 came up from the wood yard and then took on her freight after which she left for Galveston with Col. Wrigley and Capt. John K. Redmond on board. The Steamer T.J. Emery arrived from Galveston bound up the river. My cold no better. Frank [Stewart] still confined to his room. The little woman [Margaret* Hall Stewart nee Sharp] is still cooking. The children are all still afflicted with sore eyes. Weather clear & cool with a frost at night.

*This Margaret is the 2nd wife (as well as the step-sister) of JMH, and is a 2nd great-grand-aunt to the Keeper of this family history blog.

Monday, February 19th, 1866

To day I assisted in discharging the Steamer Indian No. 2. She then dropped down the river to the wood yard. In the evening I drove up town and attended the meeting of the City Council. Capt. John Redmond is still here. Frank [Stewart] is no better. The children are still afflicted with sore eyes. My Cough no better. Weather cloudy & cold with a frost at night.

Saturday, February 17th, 1866

To day I spent the forenoon at the Warehouse and the evening at home. The little woman [Margaret Hall Stewart nee Sharp] is now doing her own cooking. I am still suffering with the cough and cold which does not improve any. Capt. John Redmond still here. Frank Stewart is still confined to his room. Burta [Roberta Downes Halyard nee Hall] is still sick. Weather cloudy & cold with occasional showers of rain.

Friday, February 16th, 1866

To day I am confined to my room at home with the cough and cold which is daily growing worse. Frank [Stewart] still confined to his room. Capt. Redmond still here. All the children are still suffering with sore eyes & colds. I discharged the negro woman Rose, who has been cooking for me, since the 1st of January last, and whom I found to be a lying, deceitful & mean specimen of negro humanity, not worth the salt that she uses in her bread. Weather Cloudy and cold with a strong north wind blowing & a freeze at night.

Thursday, February 15th, 1866

The forenoon of to day I worked at the warehouse and the evening I spent at home. I am still suffering with my cough and cold. Capt. John W. Redmond arrived in the cars from Sour Lake and stopped at my house. Frank [Stewart] is still confined to his room. Hicks worked in the garden. Albert worked for Mrs. Beale* [Elizabeth Lemaire Beale nee Waring]. The children are still afflicted with the sore eyes. Weather variable and cold, with strong norther blowing and hard freeze at night.

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

Wednesday, February 14th, 1866

To day I worked at the warehouse posting books &c. Mr. Morrison left for home. Frank [Stewart] still confined to his room. Berta [Roberta Downes Halyard nee Hall] no better. All the children still suffering with sore eyes. My cold & cough no better. Weather clear and cold with a keen norther blowing and a hard frost at night.

Tuesday, February 13th, 1866

To day I worked a little down at the Warehouse. Mr. Morrison & Taylor came down and let Col. Wrigley settled in full with them. Frank [Stewart] is still confined to his room and very sick. Roberta [Downes Halyard nee Hall] is better. I am still suffering with my afflictions. all the children are suffering with sore eyes. Hicks work in the garden. Albert worked all day for Mrs. Beale* [Elizabeth Lemaire Beale nee Waring] plowing. Weather variable & cool.

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