Tuesday, June 9th, 1863

To day we left Sumpter and drove 42 miles home. my horse very much fatigued and nearly given out. I was sick throughout the entire day and only kept up by the excitement of finding my family all well. I found the little woman [Margaret Hall nee Sharp] and children all up as well as Sam [Samuel Houston Sharp]. Pet [Florence Mahala Hall] had been sick during my absence. Expenses while in Crockett 5$. I learned from Sam that the mill had ground 176½ bushels of corn during my absence from home. weather changeable & very hot. Ther: 98°.

Monday, June 8th, 1863

To day we left Livingston and drove 24 miles to Sumpter where we stopped for the night at Mr. Teagarden's hotel. this distance I drove suffering very severe pain and cramp in my bowels. we met 26 wagons in one train all loaded with cotton. they were from Louisiana and bound for Brownsville for army supplies. Expenses of the day 2$. weather clear & hot. Ther: 88°.

Tuesday, May 26th, 1863

To day we left Daniel Dailey's and took up our line of march. after driving 29 miles and passing through the town of Sumpter we arrived at Mr. Alderman's where we stopped for the night, and there learned that my wagons had passed about 10 o'clock A.M. I also learned that Dr. Stanwood & wife of Liberty had stopped there the night before on their way up to Crockett, we however did not meet them on the road and must have passed each other at Sumpter. we found the roads very heavy & considerably washed up making the travel exceedingly fatiguing. expenses of the day 4$. weather clear and very hot.

Tuesday, October 14th, 1862

To day we left our camp at white rock and drove 29 miles and camped at Marsh's, having passed through the town of Sumpter, where I found the District Court in session. I also met Geo. F. Moore with whom I had a full understanding in relation to some lands held in common between us. weather clear & very cool.

Thursday, August 8th, 1861

To day Redman & myself left Sumpter and arrived in Crockett about 4 O'Clock where I parted company with him. I then started for the Mill & met Father [Joshua] on the road. after riding 43 miles I arrived at the mills & found John Harwell my miller sick with chills & fever. I then rode down to Mothers [Mahala] where I found the Little woman [Margaret] & my pet Baby [Florence] well & glad to see me. Father remaining in Crockett for the night. The balance of Mother's family I found sick. weather changeable & very hot.

Wednesday, August 7th, 1861

This morning I purchased 2 deer skins @ $1.25 each and left Carr's in Company with Capt. John Redman. we rode 41 miles and arrived at Sumpter, stopping for the night with O. Teagarden. during the journey Capt. Redman became very sick and was confined on the road side with several fits, which detained me on my journey very much being compelled to waite upon and attend him. weather changeable with light showers of rain. Expenses of day $4.50. 

Saturday, July 6th, 1861

To day we left Sumpter and drove 24 miles over a bad road and arrived at Livingston, where we stoped at Bishop's Hotel. Here we found a new artillery company just organizing under Capt. Turner. expenses $3.50. weather changeable & warm.

Friday, July 5th, 1861

To day we left Crockett and drove to Dan Dailey's for dinner, and in the evening we drove to Sumpter and stoped with Teagarden for the night having driven 32 miles. expenses $3.50. weather changeable & warm.

Saturday, June 29th, 1861

To day we all left Sumpter and traveled 17 miles and stoped at Dailey's for the night. Hawk recovering from his sickness. I found Dailey at home and spent a very pleasant night. expenses 60 cts. weather clear & warm.

Friday, June 28th, 1861

To day we left Livingston and drove 24 miles to Sumpter where we stoped for the night at the Eureka Hotel. In consequence of the sickness of my horse I was compelled to leave Frank Stewart in Livingston, the horse getting better however Frank arrived in Sumpter about 9 O'clk P.M. expenses $5.60. weather clear & warm.

Wednesday, December 19th, 1860

To day I left Sumpter and after travelling 36 miles over a very bad & muddy road I arrived at Drew's cross road, where I haulted for the night. pretty well fatigued from the ride. expenses of the day $1.90. weather clear & warm for the time of the year.

Tuesday, December 18th, 1860

To day I left Dailey's and arrived in Sumpter about 11 o'clock and while there received from Messrs. Ballinger & Robb $338. less 10% on a/c of the Adams note. In consequence of a very hard rain I was compelled to remain in Sumpter all night. expenses of the day $3.60. having ridden only 17 miles. weather cloudy rainy and disagreeably cold.

Monday, October 1st, 1860

To day we left Collito and rode through a hard rain the entire day passing through Sumpter and stopping at Dailey's making the drive 29 miles. current expenses of the day $3.50.

Saturday, September 8th, 1860

To day we left Sumpter and after traveling over a very bad and muddy road for 24 miles we arrived at Livingston & stoped at Andress Hotel. expenses of the day $4.50. weather clear & very warm.



Livingston, Texas Hotels. The first hotels in the county were located at Swartwout and Drew's Landing, and the Andress Hotel in Livingston had the distinction of being the third. It was established around 1848, and was a combination restaurant, saloon, grocery store, livery stable, bank, post office, stage station, and frequently the only office for the town's businessmen. James Andress built his hotel south of the present courthouse, where Pedigo's Furniture Store is now located. It was a center of bustling activity for many years, and Sam Houston attended dances there. The hotel records for the years 1851-1856 are available today.

Andress Inn customers, August 1851: Wm. Fields, Charley Cleveland, Arthur P. Garner, Wm. Agee, John Perrins, John P. Kale, Samuel Rowe, K.B. DeWalt, James H. McCardell, M. Darby, J. W. Knight, Oliver Garner, D.D. Moore, Robert Williamson, James Hickman, John H. Jones, John Victory, Wm. L. Gates. J. L. Neyland, Wiley I. Peace, John English, Wiley Harper, Alex Weathers, W. H. Gee, G. W. Nelson, W. L. Knight, Elby Curtis, J. M. Williams, John Culp, Jackson Long, Enoch Jones, Jack Jones, E. T. Wingate, Isaac Williams, W. H. Carter, James Butler, E. A. Burrell, Col. Buckner.

The story of the old Keys Hotel as told by Mrs. W. T. Epperson (from POLK COUNTY ENTERPRISE, October 13, 1938) "It was in the year of 1860 when I was a child of four years, we arrived at the Andress' Inn by way of stage coach. The Inn, situated on the south side of the present courthouse of Polk County, was the only hostelry in town.

"It consisted of two large rooms and a hall downstairs, two rooms upstairs, and a kitchen out in the back yard. Here the meals were prepared on A huge fireplace. The large dinner bell that could be heard all over the town, is now owned by the Masonic Lodge of Livingston.

"The bedsteads for the guests were hand carved and laced together with ropes that served as springs. Sills of the Inn were hand hewed logs about 12 x 12. As the county prospered, a new courthouse was built and the old courthouse of one large room was purchased by Mr. Andress. This he attached to the Inn and used it as a dining room. In this room square dances were enjoyed.

"The passing of Mr. and Mrs. Andress left the Inn to their only heir and daughter, Mrs. H. C. Keys, who as proprietress, added several rooms and discarded the kitchen in the yard for a "modern" attached kitchen with a cook stove.

"The name of the house was then known as the Keys Hotel. In later years, Mrs. Epperson, granddaughter-in-law of Mrs. Keys, took charge of the hotel and remained its proprietress until 1907, when the property was sold for building purposes."

Friday, September 7th, 1860

To day we left Crockett with George F. Numson in Company and arrived at Sumpter at 7 P.M. & stoped at the Eureka Hotel. expenses 4$ weather cloudy & drizzling rain.

Monday, August 13th, 1860

After travelling all night in the stage, I arrived at Colleto for breakfast, to Sumpter for dinner & to Crockett for supper. expenses of the day $2. weather clear & pleasant.



On this date . . . the 13th day of August . . . in the year 1822 . . . J.M. Hall's good friend, Colonel James Wrigley, is born in New York . . . wonder if Hall remembered / knew to tell him Happy Birthday when he saw him!

Wednesday, July 4th, 1860

After travelling all night we arrived at Daniel Dailey's for breakfast. Then to Sumpter for dinner. Then to Livingston for supper, and there remained all night. The trip of this day was very unpleasant being crowded in a small coach only large enough for 6 passengers, but containing 14, inside & out, making it not only unpleasant but disagreeable. expenses of this day $2.50. weather cloudy with occasional showers of rain.



The New York Times. July 4, 1860. OUR NATIONAL ANNIVERSARY -- City celebration of the Fourth Arrangements for the Military and Civic Display,Regatta, Fireworks, Excursions, &c.

Thursday, April 26th, 1860

Today I left Sumpter in company with Daniel Dailey and Guy Stokes and came as far as Dailey's residence where I was overtaken by Sam* Sharp and remained all night. The remains of M. H. Bracken were interred in their last resting place. at home still at work in the cotton. weather clear & warm.

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

Wednesday, April 25th, 1860

Still in Sumpter. To day the jury in my case came into Court with a verdict of "not guilty" thus setting me free again. on the occasion I treated ? to all the champagne wine that the town of Sumpter did afford. And for the balance of the day and night myself & friends got into as comfortable a little "tight" as it ever befell man's lot to encounter with every thing passing off to the entire satisfaction of all concerned. The remains of Madison Hall Bracken started for Crockett in the control of his father, to be interred in the grave yard at Crockett. at home hands still in the cotton. weather clear & rather cool.

Tuesday, April 24th, 1860

Still in Sumpter. In my case the witnesses all testified and arguments closed about 9 o'clock P.M. when the court proceeded to charge the jury and who retired to consider their verdict about 10 o'clock P.M. To day Madison Hall Bracken, a young man whom I had raised and educated, departed this life, in the 19 year of his age. at home still at work in the cotton. weather clear but cool.