Wednesday, August 22nd, 1866

To day at 7½ O'Clock A.M. I arrived at Houston and immediately took a carriage for the rail road depot and arrived in time for the train for Liberty. I arrived in Liberty at 12 O'Clock M. and found my family all well. I also found Capt. John W. Redman still living at my house. I hired Ned Smith a freedman to work for me one month for which I am to pay him 20$ he losing all lost time. Weather variable & hot. Ther : 84°.

Saturday, July 21st, 1866

To day I drove up town in Company with Col. Wrigley to attend a meeting of the board of aldermen for the City of Liberty, and while there was re-elected Mayor of said City for the ensuing year after which I returned home and drove in the buggy to the Rail Road depot with the little woman [Margaret Hall Stewart nee Sharp], Roberta [Downes Halyard nee Hall], Florence [Hall], Jimmy [James Wrigley Hall] and negro woman Louisa and all their baggage, when we all left on the [rail]cars for Houston. Mrs. Buckley also went along with us. we arrived in Houston about 4 O'clk and put up with Mrs. Perkins. Expenses of the day 20$ specie. Weather changeable and hot with occasional showers of rain. Ther : 90°

Monday, July 16th, 1866

To day about dawn, I arrived in Houston and immediately left in an omnibus for the depot of the Texas and New Orleans Rail Road. we left the depot on the train at 9 O'Clock A.M. for Liberty. I arrived home at 4 O'Clock P.M. just in time to witness the death throes of my sweet little daughter Josephine Martha, who departed this life at 5½ O'Clock, and now reposes sweetly upon the bosom of her Savior. She died at the tender age of two years seven months and one day. The neighbors generally came in and bestowed upon my stricken family such consolation as they could under our heavy trial. Weather cloudy and hot with occasional showers of rain. Ther: 90°.

Friday, August 11th, 1865

To day all the sick missed their fevers. I drove up to the depot to see William Leaverton who came over on the cars from Houston. I gave him a package of letters. He then left for the mills, going in the stage as far as Crockett. Weather clear and hot. Ther: 92°.

Tuesday, August 8th, 1865

To day I drove up to the depot and waited until the cars arrived, in order to see William Leaverton, who came in them from Sour Lake, in route for Houston. Fannie & Florence are sick again with fever. Weather variable & hot. Ther: 86°.

Saturday, July 15th, 1865

To day I am about well again, and drove up town in my buggy with Col. Jim Wrigley. we remained at the depot until the cars came in, in which I found William Leaverton, who has just come down from the mills, and who informed me that all my relatives up there [Houston County] are well. Mr. Leaverton is on his way to Houston. The Steamer Ruthven arrived from Galveston. Weather clear and hot. Ther: 92°.