Saturday, July 7th, 1866

To day I am at work at the warehouse. Col. Wrigley arrived on the cars from Beaumont and left again on the cars for Houston. Hicks is at work making an axletree for the little wagon. Weather variable & hot with a shower of rain. Ther. 88°.

Thursday, November 24th, 1864

To day the boys are at work splitting rails. I am still confined with the sore mouth. Hicks is engaged making an axle tree for my little wagon. Burt [Roberta Downes Halyard nee Hall] is still here. Col. Miller camped at the mills for the night, on his way to the wheat region. Weather cloudy and cold, with a rain at night.

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.

Thursday, February 19th, 1863

To day the boys are still splitting rails. Hicks is at work making an axle-tree for the wagon. I finished the garden fence all complete and ground 38 bushels of corn. The water is drying up a little from the face of the earth. The Elk Hart is falling a little and I now think the mill levee is safe against this last freshet. Sam* Sharp rode Rob to Crockett after Massaline who was there in jail and while in Crockett Sam sold the boy Massoline to Mr. Arrington for the sum of $1500. weather clear and a little cool.

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

Tuesday, February 17th, 1863

To day the boys are busy at work in carrying sand to stop a rend in the mill dam. The water is fearfully high in the Elk Hart and the Mill dam is just on the wiggle. the water however is falling a little and probably the mill dam may stand the presure. In the evening the boys went after a load of wood and bogged down and in their effort to get the wagon out of the bog broke an axle tree, thus giving more trouble. Be it known and remembered that Sam* Sharp took a strole out in the woods with his gun and while out succeeded in killing a fine Deer, the steaks of which when nicely broiled was not hard to take. The whole face of the low lands is still covered with water. weather cloudy & cool with misting rain throughout the day.  

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

Saturday, July 5th, 1862

To day I remained at the river, and went to see Mr. John Brodhead dive in his diving suit in order to try and raise the Steamer Alice, which has been sunk in the river over one year. Bill is still busy in making an axle tree for my little wagon. The other boys are engaged in resetting potatoe slips. Charley Lund still at work on the books, and Sam engaged in assessing & collecting. weather changeable with hard showers of rain throughout the entire day. Ther. 94°.

Friday, July 4th, 1862

To day I am busy in the office. Charley Lund commenced to post up our commercial books. Bill is engaged in making an axle tree for my little wagon, which was broken down on yesterday. Jack McKim is busy with his wagon in hauling the lumber from the cars to the wharf under my contract. The Steamer Ruthven arrived from and departed for Galveston having brought no freight. weather cloudy with occasional showers & a pretty good rain at night. Ther: 98°.