Thursday, November 16th, 1865

To day I am still at work in the warehouse. Riley Hefley arrived from my mills with 6 bales of cotton on his wagon. He reports all my relatives up the country [in Houston County] well. Hicks hauled 2 loads of corn to Col. Wrigley's crib. Frank Stewart and Roberta are still quite sick. Jimmy & Josephine have recovered. Weather cloudy & cool with a light shower of rain at night.

Wednesday, November 15th, 1865

To day I am still at work in the warehouse. Hicks hauled me another load of corn which makes in all delivered in my crib 190 barrels. He also hauled one load of 38 barrels and put in Col. Wrigley's cribs. Frank Stewart is still sick and confined to his room. Roberta is also sick. Jimmy & Josephine are better. Weather changeable & warm with a shower of rain.

Tuesday, November 14th, 1865

To day I am still at work in the warehouse. Col. Wrigley left on the cars for Houston. Hicks hauled me another load of corn and put it in the crib. Frank Stewart is still quite sick and confined to his bed. My son Jimmy [James Wrigley Hall] and little daughter Josephine are both unwell. The little woman [Margaret Hall Stewart nee Sharp] drove up town and purchased a few articles. Weather cloudy and a little cool.

Monday, November 13th, 1865

To day I am still at work at the ware house. My son Jimmy [James Wrigley Hall] is still sick. Frank Stewart was attacked with a severe hemmorage from the nose. I finally got it stopped with the assistance of Col. Wrigley by holding his arm perpendicular for about 30 minutes. Hicks hauled me 76 barrels of corn and threw it into my crib. Ed. Jones has recovered. Weather cloudy and cool.

Thursday, January 28th, 1864

To day I rebushed the mill and put down the mill stone and then ground 28 bushels of corn. Hicks is still at work covering in the cribs. In the evening the boys went to work in the bottom field. Mother [Mahala* Sharp Hall nee Roberts] and Mrs. Bird came to see the little woman [Margaret Hall Stewart nee Sharp] and remained for dinner. Weather clear & pleasant.

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

Wednesday, October 14th, 1863

To day the boys finished putting up the upper part of the cribs ready to receive the roof. Nellie [Mary Alexandrien Sharp nee Lemaire] & the little Major [James Hall Sharp] are still sick. I ground 13 bushels of corn. Sam [Samuel Houston Sharp] made Pet [Florence Mahala Hall] a pair of shoes. weather clear & cool. at night there was a light frost being the first of the season.

Tuesday, October 13th, 1863

This morning Mr. Ramsdale stopped at the house for his breakfast. he is on his way home from Waco and walked the whole distance in eight days making 25 miles per day. this is pretty good walking for a man 65 years of age. The boys are at work putting up the upper part of the cribs. Nellie [Mary Alexandrien Sharp nee Lemaire] and the little Major [James Hall Sharp] are both sick. I ground 11½ bushels of corn. weather clear & cool.

Monday, October 12th, 1863

To day the boys are at work hauling logs to complete the corn cribs. I ground 17½ bushels of corn. Sam [Samuel Houston Sharp] went out hunting but no luck. Burt [Roberta Downes Halyard nee Hall] & Toby [Horace Oscar Hall] came up & spent the day. weather changeable and rather cool.

Saturday, October 10th, 1863

To day the boys are getting and hauling logs to complete the corn cribs. I ground 2½ bushels of corn. My son James [James Wrigley Hall] was taken with a fever and is quite sick. Sam [Samuel Houston Sharp] went out hunting but without any success. weather clear and rather warm.

Monday, October 5th, 1863

To day the boys are at work pulling and hauling corn. they made two loads from the lower field. Sam [Samuel Houston Sharp] and I finished lining & putting the door to the second corn crib. I ground 6½ bushels of corn. Roberta [Berta Downes Haylard nee Hall] & Toby [Horace Oscar Hall] came up to see us, but did not remain long. The little woman [Margaret Hall Stewart nee Sharp], children and myself moved back into our old bed chamber, out of which we have been sleeping for the last two months. weather clear and quite pleasant.

Saturday, September 26th, 1863

To day the boys are still pulling and hauling corn they made 2 loads. Sam [Samuel Houston Sharp] & I finished putting the floor & lining to the other corn crib. I ground 2 bushels of corn. Clara had a chill & fever. Nellie [Mary Alexandrien Sharp nee Lemaire] rode down to Mothers [Mahala Sharp Hall nee Roberts] & back. The little woman [Margaret Hall Stewart nee Sharp] rode up to see Mrs. Beazley but did not remain long. weather clear & hot.

Friday, September 25th, 1863

To day the boys are at work pulling and hauling corn. they only made one load. Sam [Samuel Houston Sharp] & I finished the floor, lining and door to one of the corn cribs. In consequence of the low water in the pond the mill done no grinding. Mr.John Kyle delivered for me at McElroy's gin 5455 lbs of seed cotton and for which I paid him $337.¹⁵ in full consideration for the same. weather clear & hot.

Thursday, September 24th, 1863

To day the boys finished putting up what logs they had hauled for the corn crib. Hicks made a temporary bed for my wagon to haul corn in from the field. Bill commenced pulling corn down. John spent the whole day in hunting his oxen. Sam Sharp [Samuel Houston Sharp] rode up to see Mr. Heflin & render a list of his taxable property. The mill done no grinding. I commenced putting the floor in the corn crib. weather clear & very hot.

Wednesday, September 23rd, 1863

To day the boys are still at work putting up the walls of the corn crib. Mr. T.R. Dailey delivered 2407 lbs of lint cotton which was more than I had contracted with him for. I paid him $49 for the over plus. Billy Stewart left after dinner for Crockett. I loaned him one bushel of barley before his departure and ground it in barley flour for him. I also ground 9 bushels of corn. I rode up to see Mr. Heflin the war tax Assessor and rendered him a list of my taxable property. weather clear & hot.

Tuesday, September 22nd, 1863

To day the boys commenced putting up the body or walls of the corn crib. Billy Stewart came out from Crockett and stopped with me at the house. Billy and Sam [Samuel Houston Sharp] went fishing with tolerable success. In consequence of the low water the mill done no grinding. weather clear & rather hot.

Monday, September 21st, 1863

To day the boys finished hauling logs to build the body or walls of the corn crib. Mr. Dailey delivered 1635 lbs of lint cotton. The little woman [Margaret Hall Stewart nee Sharp] rode hawk down to Mothers [Mahala Sharp Hall nee Roberts] and back after some candles, which she succeeded in getting. Sam [Samuel Houston Sharp] rode over to Mr. Keen's after my saddle which he got but it was not mended in fact it was worse broken then when I took it for repairs. I ground 5 bushels of corn. weather clear & hot but cool at night.

Saturday, September 19th, 1863

To day the boys are still at work hauling logs to build the corn crib. Sam Sharp rode my horse Gladiator and I drove my horse Rob and buggy to Crockett and back. while there I obtained my discharge from conscription as a Miller and Sam was also discharged as an Assistant Miller. Father [Joshua James Hall] and Roberta [Berta Downes Halyard nee Hall] came up and waited for our arrival from Crockett. After supper Father returned home. Burt however remained all night. Hicks ground 2 bushels of corn. weather changeable and rather cold for the time of the year.

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.

Wednesday, September 16th, 1863

To day the boys are still at work chopping logs to build a corn crib. John lost the entire day hunting his oxen. The little woman [Margaret Hall Stewart nee Sharp] and children drove down to Mother's [Mahala Sharp Hall nee Roberts] in the buggy and spent the day there. James [James Wrigley Hall] had another chill and fever. I ground 5 bushels of corn and 2 bushels of Rye. weather cloudy & warm with occasional light showers of rain.