Friday, December 11th, 1863

To day the boys finished putting up 3 stalls in the stable and got them partially covered in. John is at work hauling wood. Sam [Samuel Houston Sharp] is at work mending a fiddle for Martin. I ground 10 bushels of corn. Capt. Peacock arrived from Parker's bluff on his way to the City of Houston. He remained all night with me. Weather cloudy & rather cool.

Sunday, March 8th, 1863

To day the boys went to the bluff [Hall's Bluff on the banks of the Trinity River] after my gun stand & centre table and returned with them all safe. Hicks went out in search of my horse Gladiator, but returned at night without finding him. I am busy arranging my desk and papers. Capt. Rose came in the evening and remained all night with me. weather cloudy & cold.

Tuesday, September 3rd, 1861

To day the little woman and I with the children went in the buggy to the bluff and spent the day with Capt. Stubblefield & wife. we returned to Father's in the evening. weather clear & hot.

Friday, August 30th, 1861

To day Billy Stewart returned to Crockett. Mr. Leaverton came down and he & Father went to the bluff. I am still quite sick. weather clear & exceedingly hot.

Thursday, August 29th, 1861

To day I feel a little better and went fishing with Billy Stewart but in consequence of my becoming quite sick was compelled to return to the house. In the evening Father & Billy Stewart went to the bluff but they returned at night. weather clear & hot.

Wednesday, July 3rd, 1861

To day Father, Charley Hall & myself went to Hall's bluff where I Collected of Capt. Stubblefield the sum of $25 on a/c. weather clear & warm.

Tuesday, July 2nd, 1861

To day William Leaverton came down, and we went in Company together, to Hall's bluff [on the banks of the Trinity River]. after transacting some business we returned in the evening. There was a large Comit visible at night situated in the N.W. weather changeable & warm.

Friday, May 10th, 1861

To day the steamer Lone Star passed up the river bound for Hall's bluff with a good load on board, T.W. Reed and several others of my acquaintance being on board homeward bound. The river is falling. weather clear and pleasant.

Monday, May 6th, 1861

To day the steamer Lone Star passed down the river with a very light freight. T.W. Reed of Halls Bluff called to see me. from him I learn that my relatives up the country [in Houston County] are well. The river is now rising. weather changable & warm.

Sunday, December 9th, 1860

To day I went to Halls Bluff & took Bill with me. Darby, Martin, Albert, Masoline, Joe & Leaverton's George worked on the levy. Weather rainy & warm.

Sunday, November 25th, 1860

To day I went to Hall's bluff in company with Mr. LUND & saw him safely across the river. I stoped and took dinner at Mothers. weather cloudy & cool with occasional showers of rain. Toby came home with me.

Friday, June 8th, 1860

To day I went to Hall's Bluff for a keg of printers ink and sent it to town to Hepperla. I went to see Sam Sharp, who is still improving. I also sent Melinda to the place. The hands still at work in the cotton. weather changable & warm.

The Crockett Argus was established in 1860 by J. M. Hall and J. C. Hepperla and for a time edited by Preston Hay, one of the most finished writers ever in the State; truly was Hay a genial, whole-souled gentleman. After Hall committed a homicide at Crockett he left the paper. Hepperla was killed during the War. The Argus was published only in 1860 and 1861. . . . from History of the Texas Press Association by Ferdinand B Baillio.

Monday, May 7th, 1860

To day I went to the bluff for my groceries & hauled 11 bales cotton, and while there? the steamer Lucy Gwin passed up. The river still rising. hands still in the cotton. weather clear.

Saturday, May 5th, 1860

To day I went to Crockett by the way of the bluff in company with Stewart & Hay, and while at the bluff the Steamer Mary Hill passed down. The river is high & still rising[?]. The steamer J.H. Bell came up with my groceries. The hands still in the cotton. weather clear & pleasant.

Monday, February 27th, 1860

To day the steam boat Queen passed Hall's bluff, bound up & the Steamer Lone Star passed down. Paid TANNER $2.25 for his labor last week. I did not work on the fence to day. Weather warm & cloudy with prospects for rain.

Sunday, February 26th, 1860

To day I went to Hall's bluff and found the river rising fast and one Steamer the Lone Star passed up yesterday. Bill & Darby split rails to day Bill got 202 & Darby 100. Weather warm & pleasant.

Monday, February 20th, 1860

To day I went to Hall's bluff and received the articles purchased at the sale of HERNDON'S est. and from there to Crockett. I visited Mabie's circus & Menagine [sic, i.e., menagerie], at night. I purchased in town for the little woman [Margaret Hall Stewart nee Sharp] a magic watch from J. R. SIMPSON for $175. The weather was cold with a heavy rain & hail at night.

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• To the delight of children of all ages, Mollie Bailey brought her circus, a Texas institution for four fun-filled decades, to Conroe on Feb. 10, 1913. . . . “A Texas Show for Texas People” followed the trail blazed by pioneer predecessors like John Robinson’s “Great Southern Show,” which thrilled citizens of the recently annexed Republic in 1850. “Mabie’s Circus and Menagerie” amazed audiences eight years later with a trio of elephants, including an enormous bull that nearly plunged to his death after breaking through a bridge outside Waco. . . . This Week in Texas History by Bartee Haile
• Within Kansas territory people approached the Fourth of July, 1859, with gratitude and with hope. . . . Mabie's circus of "fine living specimens of wild animals" and clever clowns gave three exhibitions at a pavilion. "Our country cousins were in in immense numbers, and the elephants, the tall woman, the fat man, the serpents, and the monkeys were almost stared out of countenance. The circus had a fat day, and the men who had the gold watch and trinket raffles had a rich harvest of halves and quarters." . . . The Fourth of July in Early Kansas 1858-1861 by Cora Dolbee

Sunday, February 19th, 1860

To day sent the cart to the bluff for the articles purchased at sale of HERNDON'S est. considerable error in the bill, and several articles missing. Darby split rails, & made 110. weather warm & clear.

Saturday, February 18th, 1860

To day I went to HALL'S bluff, and purchased a few articles at HERNDON'S sale. The river down & one flat boat from PARKER'S bluff laying there with 307 bales of cotton. Sent Albert to the mill for wheat bran but was disappointed on getting it. still at work in the clearing burning brush. weather to day warm but cloudy and cold with heavy frost at night.

Wednesday, February 15th, 1860

To day I again went to the bluff and purchased a few articles at the sale. The river fell about 3 inches. 4 flat boats passed down well loaded with cotton. at home still at work clearing. weather fair and warm.