Friday, July 20th, 1866

To day Col. Wrigley and Grand Ma Gayle arrived on the [rail]cars from Houston all well. I worked a little at the warehouse. The little woman [Margaret Hall Stewart nee Sharp] is fixing up her clothing to visit Houston & Galveston. Weather variable and hot, with occasional showers of rain. Ther : 90°.

Monday, April 30th, 1866

To day I am at work at the warehouse. The Steamer Royal Arch is loading with cotton. I had a full settlement with Maj. Bolling and paid in full up to date. I received some few groceries, harness &c. by the Royal Arch. Jimmy [James Wrigley Hall], Joe & Conney are still sick with measles. Florence [Mahala Hall] and Roberta [Downes Halyard nee Hall] are recovering very fast. I am sorely afflicted with the itch, which has broken out on me again. Col. Wrigley and Ed. Jones arrived from Houston on the train. The former quite sick. The latter brought me three suits of summer clothing. Weather clear & warm. Thus I close my notes for the month of April. 

Tuesday, January 16th, 1866

To day I drove up town and paid Mr. Bristley 20$ specie for some Crockery. I purchased from him a suit of clothes for $25 and one empty whiskey barrell for the little woman [Margaret Hall Stewart nee Sharp]. Weather cloudy & cold with a frost & freeze at night.

Tuesday, November 21st, 1865

To day I am still at work at the warehouse. Frank and Burt are still improving. Col. Wrigley left on the cars for Houston. I got from Ed. Jones an overshirt for Frank Stewart for which I paid two dollars. The little woman [Margaret Hall Stewart nee Sharp] also purchased him another shirt up town, for which I paid three dollars. Weather clear and pleasant.

Saturday, November 11, 1865

To day I am still at work at the warehouse. The Steamer Col. Stell arrived from Galveston, we loaded her with 184 bales of Cotton. Ed. Jones returned from Beaumont sick & is confined to his bed. Hicks hauled 2 loads of wood. Negro boy Stephen had a chill and fever. Frank Stewart is still quite sick. The little woman [Margaret Hall Stewart nee Sharp] drove up town and paid Messrs. Fontaine & Co. 15$ on my account and $8. on a/c of Billy Stewart, it being the full amounts which we owed them, for some clothing. Weather variable and pleasant.

Wednesday, October 4th, 1865

To day I drove up town in my buggy and while there I purchased for the little woman [Margaret Hall Stewart nee Sharp] one hoop skirt @ 2½$ one belt @ 2$ ? lbs. cheese 80¢ 1 lb candy @ 50 cts. At night the little woman and I attended a dancing party given at the residence of Mr. A.B. Trowell. There was a large concourse of people in attendance and the amusements of the evening gave general satisfaction to all participating. In fact it was a brilliant affair, and reflected credit upon its projectors. Weather clear and pleasant.

Friday, July 14th, 1865

To day I am still improving and again rode up town in the buggy with Col. Jim Wrigley. The little woman [Margaret Hall Stewart nee Sharp] finished making my cloak. Weather clear and hot. Ther: 91°.

Thursday, July 13th, 1865

To day I am well enough to ride up town in the buggy with Mrs. Wrigley. The little woman [Margaret Hall Stewart nee Sharp] is engaged in making me a coat. Weather clear and hot. Ther: 92°.

Saturday, October 8th, 1864

To day the boys are at work thrashing out barley. Nellie [Mary Alexandrien Sharp nee Lemaire] drove my John mule and the buggy and I rode hawk to Crockett and back in order to fix up and send forward Sam Sharp's [Samuel Houston Sharp] clothing. I received from Mr. Downes in Crockett five pair of shoes and 3 balls of cotton thread. Hicks ground 4 bushels of corn. My son James [James Wrigley Hall] attained his second year. Weather clear & cool with frost at night.

Saturday, September 17th, 1864

To day John is still hauling rails from the King house. Capt. Peacock left for Parker's bluff. Nellie [Mary Alexandrien Sharp nee Lemaire] rode down to Mother's [Mahala Sharp Hall nee Roberts] after some clothing for Sam Sharp [Samuel Houston Sharp]. I took down & built up a new back & ja?? to the chimney also laid a new hearth. Mrs. Keen came over & remained for dinner . . . [part missing]

 

Tuesday, September 13th, 1864

To day the boys are engaged in killing a beef. The little woman [Margaret Hall Stewart nee Sharp] rode down to Mother's [Mahala Sharp Hall nee Roberts] to carry some clothing to be sent to Frank Stewart. Josephine [Josephine Martha Hall] had a fever. Hicks ground 3 bushels of corn. Weather changeable and hot. Ther: 91°.

Tuesday, January 19th, 1864

To day I sent Sam* [Samuel Houston Sharp] his clothing and 100$ more by Hicks to Crockett. He was to leave Crockett this day in route for Marshall. John is at work hauling wood, and Bill is assisting me at the mill. I ground 8 bushels of corn and 5 bushels of wheat. Weather changeable & cold with a hard freeze & frost at night.

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

Friday, September 18th, 1863

To day the boys are still at work hauling logs to build the corn crib. Mr. Dailey delivered 1276 lbs of lint cotton. The little woman [Margaret Hall Stewart nee Sharp] is still at work on my clothing to take to the Army. In consequence of the low stage of the water in the pond the mill could do no grinding. weather cloudy with a strong North wind blowing making it very cold for the season.

Thursday, September 17th, 1863

To day the boys are at work hauling logs to build the corn crib. Mr. T.R. Dailey delivered 3722 lbs of lint cotton. James [James Wrigley Hall] missed his chill and fever. Sam [Samuel Houston Sharp] went hunting but had no success. I ground 2 bushels of corn. The little woman [Margaret Hall Stewart nee Sharp] is very busy making up my clothing to take to the army with me in the event that I am conscripted and have to go. weather changeable & rather cool with light showers of rain.

Thursday, August 13th, 1863

To day the boys are still at work pulling fodder in the bottom field. John has at last found his oxen and commenced hauling. The little woman [Margaret Hall Stewart nee Sharp] rode down to Mother's [Mahala Sharp Hall nee Roberts] and back. Mrs. Pennington sent home the cloth she had been weaving for the little woman without having finished it. It appears she took some exceptions to the little woman and cut the cloth out of the loom, probably ruining at least one garment. I ground 5½ bushels of corn. weather clear and hot. Ther: 90°.

Tuesday, July 28th, 1863

To day the boys are still at work getting boards. John commenced hauling rails. The sick have all recovered once more. Sam [Samuel Houston Sharp] got back from Huntsville having procured from the Penitentiary 151 yds of cotton cloth for our family and a like amount for Mother's [Mahala Sharp Hall nee Roberts]. The wagon got down to Huntsville after much trouble and the loss of two yoke of oxen, which escaped and returned home. Nellie [Mary Alexandrien Sharp nee Lemaire] rode up to Mrs. P?'s and obtained some tallows. I ground 3 bushels of corn. weather changeable and hot with indications of rain. Ther: standing at 94°.

Tuesday, July 21st, 1863

To day the boys are still at work splitting rails to enclose the mill field. I put John to chopping out the under growth in said field. Sam [Samuel Houston Sharp] rode my horse Rob to Crockett and back in order to purchase the women some hoop skirts. he succeeded in getting one for the little woman [Margaret Hall Stewart nee Sharp] & one for Nellie [Mary Alexandrien Sharp nee Lemaire], for which he paid 35¢ each. Fawn [Florence Mahala Hall] is still sick but still improving. Nellie is also still sick. I ground 10 bushels of corn. weather clear & very hot. Ther: 98°.

Saturday, November 22nd, 1862

To day I went up town and assisted the ladies in erecting a stage upon which to represent some tableaux which exhibition is for the benefit of the suffering soldiers in our army in the way of purchasing clothing, shoes etc. The County Court passed upon and allowed the account of Sam H. Sharp as assessor & collector and discharged him from further liability upon his official bond as such. weather clear and pleasant with considerable frost at night.

Thursday, October 9th, 1862

To day I went in company with William Leaverton in the buggy up to the mill to divide some toll corn. we were compelled to return in a very hard rain getting pretty well soaked, in consequence of which I was compelled to change my clothing. weather cloudy, warm & rainy nearly all day.

Tuesday, October 15th, 1861

To day the balance of the members of the Liberty Guards arrived from Hardin County and were sworn into the service. Business very brisk in fitting out each member of the Guards with clothing, etc. Nothing doing on my house. weather cloudy with rain all day long making it disagreeable.