Monday, February 20th, 1865

To day I rode my horse Rob in company with James Roberts to Crockett and back and while there I paid Mr. Douglass the assessor & Collector my state & County taxes, which amounted to $235. Hicks done nothing in consequence of the mill machinery getting out of running order. Weather cloudy and cold with a rain at night.

Tuesday, October 4th, 1864

To day the boys are still at work hauling seed cotton from Mrs. Beazley's and made two more loads. I again rode up to the war tax assr. to correct my inventory. Mr. K. Murchison came by and from him I purchased 62 pounds of wool for which I am to pay him 310 lbs of flour. Father [Joshua James Hall] came up & remained for dinner. Three soldiers stopped for supper and 2 others came & staid for the night. Hicks ground 6 bushels of corn. Weather clear & cold with a frost at night being the earliest frost I ever remember to have seen during my residence in Texas.

Monday, October 3rd, 1864

To day the boys are at work hauling seed cotton from Mrs. Beazley's and made two loads. I made Burt [Roberta Downes Halyard nee Hall] a bridle & then rode up to the War tax Assessor & rendered a list of my property. The little woman [Margaret Hall Stewart nee Sharp] & children came home in the evening from Mother's [Mahala Sharp Hall nee Roberts] and Burt came up with her. Hicks ground 9½ bushels of corn. Mr. Ezell who stopped with me last night left early in the morning. Weather changeable & rather cool.

Thursday, September 24th, 1863

To day the boys finished putting up what logs they had hauled for the corn crib. Hicks made a temporary bed for my wagon to haul corn in from the field. Bill commenced pulling corn down. John spent the whole day in hunting his oxen. Sam Sharp [Samuel Houston Sharp] rode up to see Mr. Heflin & render a list of his taxable property. The mill done no grinding. I commenced putting the floor in the corn crib. weather clear & very hot.

Wednesday, September 23rd, 1863

To day the boys are still at work putting up the walls of the corn crib. Mr. T.R. Dailey delivered 2407 lbs of lint cotton which was more than I had contracted with him for. I paid him $49 for the over plus. Billy Stewart left after dinner for Crockett. I loaned him one bushel of barley before his departure and ground it in barley flour for him. I also ground 9 bushels of corn. I rode up to see Mr. Heflin the war tax Assessor and rendered him a list of my taxable property. weather clear & hot.

Saturday, November 22nd, 1862

To day I went up town and assisted the ladies in erecting a stage upon which to represent some tableaux which exhibition is for the benefit of the suffering soldiers in our army in the way of purchasing clothing, shoes etc. The County Court passed upon and allowed the account of Sam H. Sharp as assessor & collector and discharged him from further liability upon his official bond as such. weather clear and pleasant with considerable frost at night.

Monday, August 18th, 1862

To day I am busy assisting Sam H. Sharp* in making out his rolls as Assessor & Collector of Liberty County. The steamer Ruthven left for Galveston. The boys are at work in the swamp getting out cypress pughes. Bill is engaged in hauling them home. weather clear & hot. Ther: 95°. [*Sam is a 2nd great-grandpa of the Keeper of this blog.]

Tuesday, August 12th, 1862

To day I am very busy writing in the War tax Collector's office. Sam Sharp still engaged in making out his rolls as Assessor & Collector. Charley Lund came home on the cars having left his wife at Sour Lake. Bill is still at work on the gates and finished the large wagon one. The other boys are at work in the swamp getting out pughes. weather changeable with occasional showers of rain. Ther. standing at 95°.

Saturday, August 9th, 1862

To day I am busy writing in the war tax collector's office making out rolls. Sam Sharp is at work making out his rolls as Assessor & Collector. Bill busy making gates for the house yard. weather clear & hot. Ther. 94°.

Thursday, August 7th, 1862

To day I am busy writing in the office of the war tax collector, making out rolls, certificates etc. Sam Sharp commenced making out his rolls as Assessor & Collector for Liberty County. Boys still at work on the fence. weather changeable & hot. Ther: 95°.

Monday, July 21st, 1862

To day I am engaged in the Provost Marshal's office. Sam Sharp attending to his duties as Assessor & Collector. Bill finished the garden fence at last, and in the course of human events may get the entire fence completed. J.H. Smith familiarly known as old deaf was taken sick on yesterday and died to day at 40 minutes after 3 o'clock P.M. Sam Sharp and I set up with his remains part of the night & Charley Lund the rest of the night. weather clear & very oppressive. Ther: 98°.

Friday, June 20th, 1862

To day Sam H Sharp having received his commission as assessor & Collector of Liberty County, I am busily engaged in arranging his tax books in order to facilitate him in his collections. Boys at work on the fence. I am getting on pretty well as a batchelor. weather clear & hot. Ther: 94°.