Saturday, September 8th, 1866

To day I am at work at the warehouse. In the evening I drove up town in my buggy with my horse Charley working in order to try him. The boys finished chopping white oak blocks. Hicks went to [still?] and upon his return he had a hard chill & fever. Capt. Redman left on his pony and rode out in the Country and remained all night. Dr. Tarleton and wife are still here. Weather cloudy and hot with occasional showers of rain and a severe storm at night attended with a flood of rain.

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 3rd, 1866

To day I am at work at the store house. The boys are at work around the house. Negro woman Rose came over and set in to work for the little woman [Margaret Hall Stewart nee Sharp], relieving her from cooking. Rose is the woman furnished by Albert under his control. Col. Wrigley commenced opperations on the cotton shed. At dark Ed. Jones arrived home from his up Country trip [to Houston County], bringing me some letters from my relatives. Weather clear & cold with another freeze & frost at night.

Tuesday, January 2nd, 1866

To day I am at work at the store house. The boys are at work around the house. Hicks hauled one load of wood for Mrs. Beale* [Elizabeth Lemaire Beale nee Waring]. I made Hicks a present of 10$. Weather clear & cold, with a hard freeze and frost at night, being the coldest night of the winter so far.

Galveston Flakes Daily Bulletin

January 2, 1866

Galveston Flakes Daily Bulletin

January 2, 1866

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

Tuesday, September 26th, 1865

To day the boys are still at work getting ready for their up Country trip [to Houston County]. I repaired the back of the fire place in the little woman's [Margaret Hall Stewart nee Sharp] room and making it comfortable for the winter season. Weather cloudy and hot with occasional showers of rain.

Saturday, July 1st, 1865

To day Charles Leaverton, Frank Stewart and I drove up to town in the buggy and while there I purchased for Roberta [Roberta Downes Halyard nee Hall] one pair of shoes, for which I paid $2.⁵⁰. The boys are engaged hauling wood. Weather clear & hot. Ther: 90°.

Friday, June 30th, 1865

To day I left Houston in company with Charles Leaverton on the cars bound for Liberty which place we reached in safety and I found all my family well. The boys are anxious however to start up the Country. Weather variable & hot. Ther: 86°. Thus closes my notes for the month of June.

Saturday, March 25th, 1865

To day the boys took up the mill stones & re-bushed the mill after which Hicks ground 30 bushels of corn. Nellie's little mare, Pidgeon folded a female coalt. Nellie* [Mary Alexandrien Sharp nee Lemaire] still down at Mother's [Mahala* Sharp Hall nee Roberts]. Josephine [Josephine Martha Hall] had fever. Weather variable & cool with a hard rain at night.

*This Nellie is a 2nd great-grandma to the Keeper of this family history blog. Mahala is a 3rd great-grandma, and is Nellie's mother-in-law. Mahala is also the mother-in-law as well as the step-mother of JMH.

Wednesday, March 15th, 1865

To day the boys are at work in the mill. Hicks ground 16 bushels of corn. Father [Joshua James Hall] came up in the evening but did not remain long. Nellie* [Mary Alexandrien Sharp nee Lemaire] is at work weaving. Weather cloudy & cold with occasional showers of hail & rain & a frost at night.

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

Friday, March 10th, 1865

To day the boys are engaged washing some wheat and in hauling wood. Sam* [Samuel Houston Sharp] & Nellie* [Mary Alexandrien Sharp nee Lemaire] rode down to Mother's [Mahala* Sharp Hall nee Roberts] & spent the day. Mr. T.R. Dailey & I rode around to war widows and settled with them the amount donated by the County Court. I paid Mr. Dailey $246$ in new issue in full payment of the amount I borrowed from him on the 20th of December last. Hicks ground 2 bushels of wheat & 12 bushels of corn. Weather clear & cold with a frost & freeze at night.

*This Sam and Nellie are 2nd great-grandparents to the Keeper of this family history blog. Mahala is a 3rd great-grandma, and is Sam's mother, as well as the step-mother AND the mother-in-law of JMH.

Thursday, February 23rd, 1865

To day John is engaged in hauling fire wood, I loaned Col. Smith's boy 2 yoke of oxen to haul a load of corn to the war widows. Hicks ground 18 bushels of corn. Weather cloudy & cold with a rain at night. The Elkhart is still very high. Father [Joshua James Hall] & Mother [Mahala* Sharp Hall nee Roberts] came up & spent the evening.

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

Wednesday, February 22nd, 1865

To day John is engaged hauling fire wood. The little woman [Margaret Hall Stewart nee Roberts] is engaged in gardening. I sent to Billy Stewart by his boy Harry 80 lbs of flour which makes 140 lbs that he now owes me for. I this day attained the 46th anniversary of my birth day. Hicks ground 20 bushels of corn and 8 bushels of wheat. weather cloudy & warm with a rain throughout the day and night. The Elkhart creek is looming high.

Saturday, February 11th, 1865

To day early in the morning I went out to the Pidgeon roost, having found it the evening before, and succeeded in killing 30 of them. The boys are still at work on the mill levee and got it repaired sufficiently to raise a small head of water, when Hicks ground 12 bushels of corn. I washed and put out to dry 8 bushels of wheat, and then made myself a good bridle. Weather clear and cold.

Monday, February 6th, 1865

To day my boy Bill came up from the boat yard on a visit. The mill levee gave way in part and required the labor of all hands to save it. Weather cloudy and cold. Billy Stewart returned to Crockett.

Wednesday, February 1st, 1865

To day Mr. John Burrows & E.P. Baugh the guard who have been for some time stationed at the mill were relieved and Thomas Hill & Edward Graham were mounted in their place. The boys done nothing in consequence of the rain. It still continues to rain and the Elkhart creek is looming high. I am fearful the mill levee will not be able to stand the pressure now against it. Weather warm.

Tuesday, January 31st, 1865

To day James Roberts left for camp. Mr. Cameron from Jasper County came to see Fanny. it appears that he has possession of Fanny's brother, and in my judgment is a very shabby fellow. The boys done nothing in consequence of the rain. It rained all day and all night. The weather was very cold. Thus I close my notes for the month of January.

Monday, January 30th, 1865

To day the boys done nothing in consequence of the rain. in fact it rained all day and night. James Roberts came up and stopped with us for the night. Weather rather cold.

Wednesday, January 25th, 1865

To day the boys are at work in the lower field. I rode my horse Rob to Crockett and stopped with Billy Stewart. Hicks ground 10 bushels of corn. Weather changeable and cold, with a freeze at night.

Tuesday, January 24th, 1865

To day the boys are at work hauling fire wood. James C. Roberts & Lieut. Barlow came up from the camp and spent the day with us. Hicks ground 5 bushels of wheat. Charley Hall spent the day with us. Weather clear and cold with a hard frost and freeze at night.

Monday, January 23rd, 1865

To day the boys are at work in the lower field. J.C. Roberts & Lieut. Barlow left for Camp. Hicks ground 10 bushels of wheat & 12 bushels of corn. Five soldiers stopped for the night who are very shabby fellows to say the least of it. Weather clear & cold, with a hard freeze at night.