Sunday, April 2nd, 1865

To day Mr. Haden & Mr. Driscol left for Crockett. Frank Stewart came out & went hunting. he killed a fine turkey and a deer. Frank then rode down to Mother's [Mahala* Sharp Hall nee Roberts] and thence to Crockett. Nellie* [Mary Alexandrien Sharp nee Lemaire] is quite sick. Weather variable & pleasant.

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

Thursday, December 22nd, 1864

To day Sam* Sharp and the boys again went out hog hunting but without success. Sam however killed a fine deer. I loaned Mother* [Mahala Sharp Hall nee Roberts] 300 lbs of fine dry salt. Capt. John Wootters came out & stopped with me for the night. Hicks ground 12 bushels of wheat. Weather clear and cold, with a hard frost at night.

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

Sunday, March 27th, 1864

To day Mr. Fitzsimmons & I went out hunting and succeeded in killing a very nice deer. The little woman [Margaret Hall Stewart nee Sharp] & children with Mr. Fitzsimmons & myself all rode down to Mothers [Mahala* Sharp Hall nee Roberts] and spent the day. The boys went cow hunting but without any success. Weather variable & cool with very strong wind blowing.

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

Thursday, November 5th, 1863

To day the boys are still at work in the woods getting boards. John is still at work in the new ground. Sam [Samuel Houston Sharp] & I finished pecking the wheat mill stones and started the mill. we ground 6½ bushels of corn and 3 bushels of wheat. Billy Stewart left after dinner for Crockett and George Numsen left for Father's [Joshua James Hall]. Joseph Keen, Thomas Keen and Sam went out fire hunting at night and succeeded in killing one fine buck. they got separated in the woods, and Mr. Keen carried the deer home with him. so I lost the venison steak that I so much hungered after. better luck next time. weather cloudy & warm with occasional showers of rain.

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.

Tuesday, June 23rd, 1863

To day the boys are still at work getting rails to finish enclosing the mill field. John left with the wagon for Corley's gin to get a load of cotton. Charley Hall came out & remained for dinner. Sam [Samuel Houston Sharp] made Roberta [Hall] a good pair of shoes and then went out hunting. he succeeded in killing a fine deer. I ground 2½ bushels of corn. weather cloudy with occasional showers of rain. Ther: 82°.

Wednesday, May 6th, 1863

To day the boys finished replanting & hoeing the corn in the bottom field and commenced splitting rails to enclose the mill field. Father [Joshua James Hall] & Frank Stewart left for Huntsville. Sam* [Samuel Houston Sharp] went out hunting and killed a fine deer. In the evening the little woman [Margaret Hall Stewart nee Sharp], children & I went down in the buggy to see Mother [Mahala* Sharp Hall nee Roberts], who is sick again. Roberta [Hall] came up and I sent her and Toby [Horace Oscar Hall] home on Hawk. we remained all night with Mother. weather changeable & very cold for the season of the year.

*This Sam is a 2nd great-grandpa 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.

Tuesday, February 17th, 1863

To day the boys are busy at work in carrying sand to stop a rend in the mill dam. The water is fearfully high in the Elk Hart and the Mill dam is just on the wiggle. the water however is falling a little and probably the mill dam may stand the presure. In the evening the boys went after a load of wood and bogged down and in their effort to get the wagon out of the bog broke an axle tree, thus giving more trouble. Be it known and remembered that Sam* Sharp took a strole out in the woods with his gun and while out succeeded in killing a fine Deer, the steaks of which when nicely broiled was not hard to take. The whole face of the low lands is still covered with water. weather cloudy & cool with misting rain throughout the day.  

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

Wednesday, August 7th, 1861

This morning I purchased 2 deer skins @ $1.25 each and left Carr's in Company with Capt. John Redman. we rode 41 miles and arrived at Sumpter, stopping for the night with O. Teagarden. during the journey Capt. Redman became very sick and was confined on the road side with several fits, which detained me on my journey very much being compelled to waite upon and attend him. weather changeable with light showers of rain. Expenses of day $4.50.