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.

Wednesday, September 5th, 1866

To day I am at work at the warehouse. Billy Sowell is at work painting the chimneys to my house. Capt. Redman is still with me. Mr. Beard made a tongue for Jimmy's [James Wrigley Hall] little buggy. Hicks is engaged hauling wood. My relations with my boarder Mrs. Tarleton are still quite unpleasant. Weather variable and hot.

Wednesday, August 29th, 1866

To day I am at work at the warehouse. Jimmy [James Wrigley Hall] broke the tongue of his buggy. Mrs. John Wrigley arrived on the cars from Houston and reported that Col. Wrigley, Lelia & John left Galveston on Saturday the 26th inst. in route for New York. Capt. John W. Redman is still with me also Dr. Tarleton & family. Hicks made one load in the woods after white oak blocks. Roberta [Downes Halyard nee Hall] had a chill and fever. Weather variable and hot. Ther: 84°.

Tuesday, August 28th, 1866

To day I am at work at the warehouse. Capt. John W. Redman is still with me. Hicks is at work sewing and brushing in turnip seed. Ned Smith assisted Capt. Dawson in the black smith shop to mend the tonge of Jimmy's [James Wrigley Hall] little buggy which was broken. I paid Ned Smith on a/c $1.50. Mr. & Mrs. Tarleton are still boarding with me and upon the whole are the most disagreeable couple that I ever had any transactions with. Weather cloudy and hot with a strong north wind blowing. Ther: 80°.

Monday, August 27th, 1866

To day I am at work at the warehouse. Capt. John W. Redman is still with me. Ned Smith is still sick and done no work. I received by the cars my son Jimmy's [James Wrigley Hall] little buggy which I purchased when in Houston last and for which I paid $22.50 in gold. Weather cloudy and hot with occasional showers of rain. Ther: 84°.

Wednesday, July 18th, 1866

To day I drove up town in my buggy and while the[re] paid the funeral expenses of my sweet little angel Josephine Martha, which amounted to 55$ in gold. I then drove to the warehouse but did not remain long, being in no condition to attend to business. My little woman [Margaret Hall Stewart nee Sharp] is still suffering great agony for our sad bereavement. Edward Jones arrived on the [rail]cars from Houston and brough[t] me a large piece of ice, which is quite refreshing this hot weather. Mrs. Buckley came over and spent the evening with the little woman giving her all the Consolation in her power. Weather variable and hot. Ther: 90°.

Thursday, July 5th, 1866

To day I am at work at the warehouse. Florence [Hall] still has fever. Col. Wrigley and hands are still at work on the wood shop. Hicks still hauling lumber from the flat boats. At night I loaned my horse and buggy to Ed. Jones to attend a wedding up town between Mr. Thompson & Miss Beacher. Weather cloudy & hot with occasional showers of rain. Ther : 88°.

Friday, June 15th, 1866

To day I worked at the warehouse. Ed. Jones arrived from Houston on the Cars, bringing an umbrella & some other things for me. I sent my buggy down to the shop for some repairs. I am still suffering with my cough. Hicks is engaged hauling. Weather Cloudy & hot with a hard gale at night. Ther : 89°

Monday, May 28th, 1866

To day I worked at the warehouse. The steamer Royal Arch arrived from Galveston and by her I got my buggy cushions and 5 Gals. Kerosene oil. Capt. John Redmond is still with me. Jimmy [James Wrigley Hall] & I are still afflicted with itch. Weather variable and warm. a norther came out at night rendering it quite cold.

Monday, April 9th, 1866

To day I am busy at the warehouse storing hides. I drove up town in the buggy in company with Col. Wrigley. The little woman [Margaret Hall Stewart nee Sharp] drove the negro woman Fanny off who has been living with us for some time for her thieving propensity. Weather clear and cool.

Monday, March 26th, 1866

To day I drove up town in my buggy and while there I opened a special Mayor's Court for the purpose of trying Mr. J. Baillie and a negro man for an affray. Capt. John W. Redmond came back and put up with me. Hicks is at work in the garden. Weather cloudy and cool with occasional showers of rain throughout the day.

Saturday, March 17th, 1866

To day I am at work at the warehouse. I loaned my horse and buggy to Mrs. Trowell to drive to Walnut bluff in order to take passage on the Str. Indian No. 2 which boat left Cole's wood yard for Galveston. Roberta [Downes Halyard nee Hall] and the children went out crawfishing. In the evening the little woman [Margaret Hall Stewart nee Sharp] drove out in the buggy and carried Mrs. Massie out home. My cough still continues to improve. Weather clear & cool.

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.

Tuesday, January 23rd, 1866

To day I am at work at the warehouse. I loaned to Col. Wrigley my horse and buggy to drive up town. Ed. Jones left for Houston on the cars. The Steamer Sunflower arrived from Houston or rather from Galveston with Considerable freight. Capt. Chandler came up on her. Weather cloudy and cold with occasional showers of rain throughout the entire day.

Thursday, January 18th, 1866

To day I drove up town in the buggy after a few articles for the little woman [Margaret* Hall Stewart nee Sharp] and while there collected the freight bills for the Steamer Kate, which said boat I learned was burnt up on Red fish bar on her downward trip with 85 bales of Cotton. Frank Stewart & Roberta [Downes Halyard nee Hall] are still sick and do not improve any. I sent over to Houston for some iron bars to brace the Cotton shed. Weather changeable & warm.

*This Margaret is a 2nd great-grand-aunt to the Keeper of this family history blog, and is the wife as well as the step-sister of JMH.

Sunday, January 7th, 1866

To day I remained at home, principally writing a letter. Burt [Roberta Downes Halyard nee Hall] and Pet [Florence Mahala Hall] are still very sore with the itch, although I am applying lard & sulphur freely. I loaned my horse and buggy to Ed. Jones. Weather cloudy and cold, with drizzling rain throughout the entire day.

Saturday, January 6th, 1866

To day I loaned my horse & buggy to Col. Wrigley who drove up town & waited for the train to come in. Bob finished framing the posts for the Cotton shed. The negro man Albert whom I hired has been sick all the week consequently nothing has been done towards gardening &c. Hicks went to mill after some meal. Frank [Stewart], Burt [Roberta Downes Halyard nee Hall] & Pet [Florence Mahala Hall] are all sorely afflicted with the itch. Weather variable and cool with a hard rain at night.

Friday, January 5th, 1866

To day I drove up town [Liberty] in my buggy and waited until the train came in from Houston by which I received sundry papers and letters. I let the little woman [Margaret Hall Stewart nee Sharp] have the buggy who drove up town & purchased some articles. I purchased from Mr. Fontaine some cups and saucers. Burt [Roberta Downes Halyard nee Hall] & Pet [Florence Mahala Hall] are sorely afflicted with the itch. Weather clear & cold with a frost and freeze at night.

Tuesday, December 19th, 1865

To day I am still at work at the warehouse. Mrs. Beale* [Elizabeth Lemaire Beale nee Waring] & family are still with me, she paid the little woman [Margaret Hall Stewart nee Sharp] 5$ being the Amt. I loaned her last summer. I loaned my horse and buggy to Ed. Jones, to drive out, Courting. Weather cloudy & rather warm with occasional showers of rain.

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

Friday, December 8th, 1865

To day I am still at work at the warehouse and assisted in moving the office from the warehouse to the Store house, in order to be more comfortable. Mr. Haggart arrived from Houston on the cars in company with Mr. Brackenridge. I loaned my horse & buggy to Col. W. to drive up town after the letters and papers. Weather cloudy and cold, with occasional showers of rain.