Tuesday, February 2nd, 1864

To day Hicks returned from Crockett with Mrs. Beale* [Elizabeth Lemaire Beale nee Waring] instead of yesterday as noted, he also brought out my gutta percha band which Capt. Peacock had purchased for me. Bill hung up the pork I had salted down. Mr. Keen is still at work on the mill irons. Weather clear & cold, with a frost at night.

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

Friday, January 29th, 1864

To day the boys are still at work in the bottom field. Hicks still at work covering in the cribs. I ground 18 bushels of corn. Mother [Mahala* Sharp Hall nee Roberts], Father [Joshua James Hall], Mrs. Brooks (whose school has just terminated) and the children, came up to see the little woman [Margaret Hall Stewart nee Sharp]. In the evening Capt. Peacock and Mr. Fitzsimmons arrived from Liberty on their way to Magnolia. they stopped for the night. The Capt. purchased for me the articles I sent for by him. he gave for a second hand gutta percha band 12$ per foot. just think of it when in good times or before the war it could have been purchased new for 50 cents per foot. Weather changeable & warm with strong indications of rain.

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

Monday, January 11th, 1864

To day the boys are at work killing and cleaning the hogs that Sam* [Samuel Houston Sharp] found and drove up yesterday. The six weighed 801 pounds. Sam also killed one of the old mans [Joshua James Hall] hogs which weighed 184 lbs. I ground 33½ bushels of corn. Capt. Peacock left in route for Houston and by him I sent 20$ in gold to purchase for me a gutta percha band for the flour mill. Weather cloudy and misting, but it is now moderating very fast.

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

Monday, August 12th, 1861

To day I went up to the mills and assisted Mr. Harwell in fixing on the new bands. we put the Gutta Percha band on the grist and the leather band on the wheat Mill after which I returned to Father's. weather clear & hot.