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.

Wednesday, January 17th, 1866

To day I am at work at the store house. The little woman [Margaret Hall Stewart nee Sharp] drove up town & purchased some articles. Col. Wrigley finished covering in the Cotton shed. The rail road commenced this day to make tri-weekly trips from Houston to Beaumont. Mrs. Beale* [Elizabeth Lemaire Beale nee Waring] still has her horse here. Negro boy Albert is now at work in the garden. Weather variable and rather warm.

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

Saturday, January 13th, 1866

To day I am at work at the store house. The train from Beaumont brought over the lumber to build the Cotton shed, and in the evening the wagons hauled it down to the river. Frank Stewart and Roberta [Downes Halyard nee Hall] are both quite sick, do not improve any. The little woman [Margaret Hall Stewart nee Sharp] drove up town after a few articles. Mrs. Lund came over and spent the evening with the little woman. I purchased two shoats, for which I paid 5$ specie. Weather changeable with drizzling rain.

Thursday, January 11th, 1866

To day the Steamer Kate after taking on board 95 bales of Cotton from the flat boat left for Galveston with Frank Hitchcock on board. I had a partial settlement with him. I purchased from Sansom who is in charge of the flat boat a lot of rails some planks & 2 skiffs with one saddle blanket for all of which I paid him $250. I am at work making out accounts for the Str. Kate. James Wrigley raised the second string or row of posts for the Cotton shed. Weather cloudy and cold with occasional showers of rain.

Tuesday, January 9th, 1866

To day I worked at the store house. We commenced putting up the Cotton shed and got one line of posts planted. Burt [Roberta Downes Halyard nee Hall] is but little if any better. Albert still sick. Hicks worked in the garden. Weather clear & cold.

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.

Saturday, October 29th, 1864

To day the boys are at work fixing up a fence around the cotton house. Dr. Murchison came to see Nellie* and the little Major [James Hall Sharp] who are still sick. Mother** came up and took Burt [Roberta Downes Halyard nee Hall] & Toby [Horace Oscar Hall] home with her. Hicks ground 3 bushels of corn. Lieut. Allen stopped with me for the night on his way up the Country. Weather cloudy and warm.


*Mary Alexandrien Sharp nee Lemaire, my 2nd great-grandma
**Mahala Sharp Hall nee Roberts, my 3rd great-grandma

 

 

Saturday, September 12th, 1863

To day the boys finished putting up the walls of the Cotton house. I rode my horse Ratler to Crockett and back in order to get my discharge from Conscription. I found however that L.W. Cooper had been removed and H.W. Beeson had been appointed the Enrolling officer in his place and he refusing to act until Monday next I had my ride for no purpose. I purchased from Mr. Monroe $82.⁰⁰ worth of tobacco and $1. worth of pink root and left for home in company with Father [Joshua James Hall]. when about half way home it clouded up and rained exceedingly hard. I became thoroughly soaked with water. weather was clear in the morning and very hot.

Friday, September 11th, 1863

To day the boys are at work putting up the Cotton house. Dr. Murchison came over to see Carroll who is still quite sick. Clara is recovering from her sickness slowly. Fawn [Florence Mahala Hall] had another fever and is very much reduced from her sickness. Rachael and Roberta [Berta Downes Halyard nee Hall] came up to see the sick. weather hazy and very hot. The mill done no grinding.

Thursday, September 10th, 1863

To day the boys were compelled to go into the woods after more logs to complete the Cotton house. Mother [Mahala Sharp Hall nee Roberts], Father [Joshua James Hall] & Toby [Horace Oscar Hall] came up and spent the day. Clara & Carroll are still very sick, so much so as to require the attention of a Physician, in consequence of which I sent for Dr. Murchison. Fawn [Florence Mahala Hall] was again taken with the fever. In consequence of the low water in the pond the mill done no grinding. weather clear & hot.

Wednesday, September 9th, 1863

To day the boys are still at work putting up the cotton house. Sam [Samuel Houston Sharp] ground 3 bushels of corn. I rode my horse Ratler to Crockett & back in order to get released from Conscription, but did not succeed. In consequence of which I got on a slight bender. Clara & Carroll are still quite sick. While in Crockett I received from Mr. J.C. Miller the sum of $60. for two pairs of Wool cards. weather clear & very hot.

Saturday, September 8th, 1863

To day the boys are still at work putting up the Cotton house. Clara & Carroll are still very sick. Pet [Florence Mahala Hall] missed the fever & is now up. I purchased from Mr. Joseph Thompson three beef steers that are now bogged down in the mill pond. they are branded with C.S.A. and with other brands not now recollected. weather clear and hot. Sam [Samuel Houston Sharp] ground 3 bushels of corn.

Monday, September 7th, 1863

To day the boys commenced putting up the Cotton house. Sam [Samuel Houston Sharp] ground 5 bushels of corn. Pet [Florence Mahala Hall] is still sick. Clara and Carroll were taken with fever, and are very sick. weather clear & hot.

Saturday, September 5th, 1863

To day the boys are still at work hauling logs & preparing to put up the cotton house. Sam [Samuel Houston Sharp] rode over to Mr. Keen's after my saddle and also to the Post office. Father [Joshua James Hall] came up to see us but did not remain long. My son James [James Wrigley Hall] missed his chill and fever. In consequence of the low water the mill done no grinding. weather clear and hot.

Friday, September 4th, 1863

To day the boys are still at work hauling logs to build the cotton house. Sam [Samuel Houston Sharp] went hunting and succeeded in killing another fine large buck. My son James [James Wrigley Hall] is still sick. In consequence of the low stage of water in the pond, the mill could do no grinding. Ellen came up and brought Pet [Florence Mahala Hall] home who went down with Mother [Mahala Sharp Hall nee Roberts] yesterday and spent the night with her. weather clear & hot.

Thursday, September 3rd, 1863

To day the boys are still at work hauling logs to build the cotton house. Hicks tar kiln is now running very well. My son James [James Wrigley Hall] is still sick. I ground 11½ bushels of corn. Sam [Samuel Houston Sharp] went out hunting and succeeded in killing a fine large buck. Nellie [Mary Alexandrien Sharp nee Lemaire] came up home and Mother [Mahala Sharp Hall nee Roberts] came up with her and spent the day. weather clear and very hot.

Wednesday, September 2nd, 1863

To day the boys are still at work hauling logs to build the cotton house. Hicks is at work building another tar kiln which he fired and it is turning out very well. I ground 2½ bushels of corn. Nellie [Mary Alexandrien Sharp nee Lemaire] rode down to Mothers [Mahala Sharp Hall nee Roberts] to spend the night and Roberta [Berta Downes Halyard nee Hall] went home with her. Sam [Samuel Houston Sharp] went out hunting but had no success. My son James [James Wrigley Hall] had another chill and fever, which makes the little fellow look very bad. weather clear and exceedingly hot.

Wednesday, August 26th, 1863

To day the boys commenced getting logs to build a cotton house. John lost the entire day hunting his oxen. The little Major [James Hall Sharp] is still sick. I ground 19 bushels of corn. weather changeable & cool. Ther: 81°.