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.

Tuesday, August 21st, 1866

To day I am still in Galveston. I deposited with Messrs. J.C. & S.R. Smith & Co. the sum of 3000$ in gold, subject to the order of myself or Col. James Wrigley. In the evening I left Galveston on the Steamer Era No. 3 bound for Liberty, having left Col. Wrigley in Galveston. I had a pleasant trip across the bay & up Buffalo bayou, and met many old acquaintances on board of the Steamer. Weather variable & hot. Ther: 84°.

Friday, August 17th, 1866

To day I worked at the warehouse. Col. Wrigley and family arrived on the cars from Houston. Capt. John W. Redman is still with me. I received by the cars my horse Charley which I purchased when I was last in Galveston and for which I paid 250$ besides the stall and expense bills which amounted to $31.50. Weather cloudy & hot with a hard rain in the evening. Ther: 90°.

Thursday, July 19th, 1866

I spent nearly the whole of to day at the warehouse. Capt. Dawson came up and took dinner with me. I paid Dr. Coleman his medical bill for his attention to my sweet little babe [Josephine Martha Hall]. Mrs. Beale* [Elizabeth Lemaire Beale nee Waring] and Mrs. Buckley spent the day with the little woman [Margaret Hall Stewart nee Sharp]. Weather variable and hot, with a shower of rain in the evening. Ther: 89°

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

 

Sunday, May 13th, 1866

To day I remained at home writing up this journal. I had my barrel of ale hauled up home. Mrs. Stanwood came over & left with me a number of a/c's for collection. I am still suffering with the itch & sore throat. Weather variable & cool with a hard rain and storm at night. 

Thursday, May 10th, 1866

To day I am at work at the warehouse posting books. My throat grows worse & I can hardly swallow or articulate. My sores are but little if any better. The children I believe have entirely recovered except Jimmy [James Wrigley Hall] who is covered with sores. Capt. John W. Redmond is engaged painting the house. Weather variable & rather cool. 

Tuesday, May 8th, 1866

To day I am busy at the warehouse loading the steamer Royal Arch. Ed. Jones left on the cars for West Liberty. Capt. John Redmond is still at work painting my house. The children are all recovering. I am still afflicted with the itch. I paid P. ? $12.20 on a/c of beef. Weather cloudy & cold with a hard rain all the evening.

Monday, April 30th, 1866

To day I am at work at the warehouse. The Steamer Royal Arch is loading with cotton. I had a full settlement with Maj. Bolling and paid in full up to date. I received some few groceries, harness &c. by the Royal Arch. Jimmy [James Wrigley Hall], Joe & Conney are still sick with measles. Florence [Mahala Hall] and Roberta [Downes Halyard nee Hall] are recovering very fast. I am sorely afflicted with the itch, which has broken out on me again. Col. Wrigley and Ed. Jones arrived from Houston on the train. The former quite sick. The latter brought me three suits of summer clothing. Weather clear & warm. Thus I close my notes for the month of April. 

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. 

Thursday, March 29th, 1866

To day Ed. Jones left on a collection tour up the Country [to Houston County]. John Carr arrived from Smithfield on a flat boat with 83 Bales of Cotton on board. I am at work at the warehouse. My Cough is rather worse than it has been for some time back. Capt. B.L. Taylor came down and I advanced him 150$ on 2 bales of Cotton. Weather variable and cool.

Saturday, March 24th, 1866

To day I am at work at the warehouse. The Steamer Emory arrived from the up river with 200 Bales of Cotton on board and proceeded on her voyage to Galveston. I rode up town and remained there until dinner. Mrs. Massie left for home after working for the little woman [Margaret Hall Stewart nee Sharp] 33 days and for which I paid her in full. Mrs. Baldwin came down and spent the day. Capt. John Redmond left for Houston. At night a man by the name of Jilks was Killed in town by a man named Gibson. Weather clear and pleasant.

Tuesday, March 13th, 1866

To day after settling my board bill to the Washington Hotel amounting to 8$ My medical bill 75$ and the various other bills which I had contracted amounting in all to 500$ in gold I left Galveston on the steamer Indian No. 2 in route for Liberty. We run across the bay and anchored at the mouth of the [Trinity] river for the night. My cough is much improved. Weather cloudy and cool with rain occasionally.

Sunday, March 11th, 1866

To day I am still in Galveston and after paying my bill at the Crawford house 24$ for 6 days very indifferent board, I moved my quarters to the Washington Hotel where I found much better accommodations for the same price of board. Dr. Stanwood & I drove out to the beach & spent a pleasant afternoon. My cough is now much improved. Weather clear and pleasant.

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.

Friday, February 9th, 1866

To day I worked a little at the Warehouse, and then drove up town, while there I paid Mr. Bristley every dollar I owed him, amounting to 26.50$ also all the little woman [Margaret Hall Stewart nee Sharp] owed him. Hicks & Albert are engaged getting wood. Mr. Holly repaired my wagon. Mrs. Beale* [Elizabeth Lemaire Beale nee Waring] paid me 10$ for Keeping her horse, since the 16th of December last to the present time she having sold said horse to Mr. Baldwin. Frank Stewart still very sick. My cough and cold no better. Weather cloudy cool and unpleasant.

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

Monday, February 5th, 1866

To day the Steamers Indian No. 2 and Col. Stell came up to the landing from Walnut bluff and commenced discharging their freight. I walked down to the Warehouse and made out the bills of ladings for 52 bales of Cotton, although I am quite feeble and suffering severely with a Cough and sore throat. Frank [Stewart] and Burt [Roberta Downes Halyard nee Hall] are still very sick. Fannie is beter. Weather cloudy and cold with rain throughout the entire day. 

Thursday, January 25th, 1866

To day the boys went out and got some Mulberry trees and set them out around the house yard. I drove up town in the buggy with the little woman [Margaret Hall Stewart nee Sharp] and while there purchased some articles for which I paid 12$ specie. Pet [Florence Mahala Hall] is some better. Frank [Stewart] & Burt [Roberta Downes Halyard nee Hall] are still sick. Jimmy [James Wrigley Hall] had a chill & fever. I loaned Frank Stewart two dollars and fifty cents. Lelia left on the Cars for Houston in Company with Mrs. Perkins. Weather clear and pleasant but cold at night with a frost.

Wednesday, January 24th, 1866

To day I am very busy loading the steamer Sunflower. I drove up town to meet the cars and mail some letters. The little woman [Margaret Hall Stewart nee Sharp] went up with me. I had a full settlement with Capt. Chandler in relation to his Consignments. The steamer Sunflower then left for Galveston. Hicks and Albert went out with the little woman and got me some Mulberry trees to set out in the house yard for shade trees. Weather clear and cold with a hard frost at night. 

Thursday, January 18th, 1866

To day I drove up town in the buggy after a few articles for the little woman [Margaret* Hall Stewart nee Sharp] and while there collected the freight bills for the Steamer Kate, which said boat I learned was burnt up on Red fish bar on her downward trip with 85 bales of Cotton. Frank Stewart & Roberta [Downes Halyard nee Hall] are still sick and do not improve any. I sent over to Houston for some iron bars to brace the Cotton shed. Weather changeable & warm.

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