Tuesday, August 14th, 1866

To day I worked at the warehouse. Mrs. James Wrigley left on the train for Houston. Capt. John W. Redman rode out in the Country after dinner and remained all night. Hicks is at work on the wagon shed. In the evening I commenced a border leading from the front gate to the house made with glass bottles. I was assisted by Ed. Smith. Ed. Jones is quite sick. Weather clear and hot. Ther : 92°.

Thursday, July 19th, 1866

I spent nearly the whole of to day at the warehouse. Capt. Dawson came up and took dinner with me. I paid Dr. Coleman his medical bill for his attention to my sweet little babe [Josephine Martha Hall]. Mrs. Beale* [Elizabeth Lemaire Beale nee Waring] and Mrs. Buckley spent the day with the little woman [Margaret Hall Stewart nee Sharp]. Weather variable and hot, with a shower of rain in the evening. Ther: 89°

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

 

Monday, June 25th, 1866

To day I worked at the warehouse until dinner, loading and making out freight bills for the Str. Royal Arch, in order that she may leave for Galveston, which she done in the evening. I drove up town and attended the election for State and County officers. I also attended a session of the City council. I am still suffering with Cough and the itch. Roberta [Downes Halyard nee Hall] had a fever, which lasted nearly all day. Weather clear and hot. Ther : 90°.

Monday, June 11th, 1866

To day I am at work at the warehouse. Hicks & Steve are engaged hauling shingles from the [rail]cars. The Str. Royal Arch arrived from Galveston and by her I received a barrel of ice to cool the parched tongue. Ed. Jones took dinner with me. My Cough & itch is but little if any better. Weather variable and hot : Ther : 88°.

Tuesday, April 3rd, 1866

To day I am at work at the warehouse storing cotton. Two more flat boats came down the river, upon one of which commanded by W.H. Farish I had 28 bales of Cotton. I paid him 112$ gold freight on same. Dr. Brashears borrowed Col. Wrigley's wagon to haul the remains of his sister to West Liberty for interment. Bolivar Sublett came up and took dinner with [his cousin] the little woman [Margaret Hall Stewart nee Sharp]. Weather cloudy & cool with a high wind blowing.

Sunday, March 18th, 1866

To day I drove up town with Col. Wrigley and remained until dinner time when I returned home. The evening I spent at the Warehouse. My cough is better. Weather variable and cool.

Thursday, February 22nd, 1866

All the forenoon I worked at the warehouse and the evening I spent at home. My cough and cold being no better and under which I am rapidly faiing. Be it remembered that I attained the 47th anniversary of my birth day, and I had a magnificent birth day dinner and cake, gotten up in my cook stove? in happy style & with rich profusion. Mrs. Massie is still here sewing for the family. Frank [Stewart] still sick. The children's eyes are still sore. Weather variable and cold with occasional showers of rain.

Monday, January 1st, 1866

To day I commence my notes of events that may daily happen immediately around me during the current year. These notes are not intended to be of any service to any one except myself as a book of reference and to my family as a faithful exposition of my daily transactions. 

I formed & entered into a copartnership with James Wrigley to carry on in the town of Liberty a general Commission and Warehouse business. The Steamer Kate & Sloop Luna left for Galveston. 

The little woman [Margaret Hall Stewart nee Sharp] had a fine new year's dinner which reflected great credit upon her art as a house Keeper. I entered into a Contract with negro man Albert to work for the year at 15$ per month with board, he furnishing a negro woman to cook. I also employed my old servant Hicks for the year at 10$ per month. Weather cloudy & cold with incessant rain throughout the entire day.

from 1866 & 1867 issues of the

Galveston Flakes Daily Bulletin

Monday, December 25th, 1865

To day I am very busy at the ware house loading the steamer Kate & sloop Luna. we put 135 B/C on them when they left for Galveston. The only thing I had in way of Christmas festivities was a first rate dinner which was gotten up in the little woman's [Margaret Hall Stewart nee Sharp] happy style. Weather variable and warm, for the season, with occasional showers of rain.

Monday, October 23rd, 1865

To day I am still at work at the warehouse and purchased one bale Cotton for a/c of Col. Wrigley. Billy Stewart is still with me. After dinner I drove up town with James Wrigley who left on the stage for Polk County. Weather clear and cool.

Thursday, August 3rd, 1865

To day my new woman Jemima came back home, bringing her Mother home with her who I suppose I will now have to support in order to keep Jemima with me. I drove my horse and buggy (with John Booth in Company with me) down to Richard Coles. we remained there for dinner. William Leaverton spent the evening with us. he is waiting for the cars to carry him to Sour Lake. The steamer Mary Hill arrived from Galveston. Weather cloudy and warm. Ther: 88°.

Wednesday, August 2nd, 1865

To day William Leaverton arrived from my mills. he informed me that my relatives are well and the mill in successful opperation. He is on his way to Sour Lake. He brought the little woman some apples and a package of letters. He remained for dinner in order to wait for some letters I am engaged in writing. Weather cloudy and warm with a very hard rain. Ther: 86°.

Monday, July 10th, 1865

To day I rode up town in the buggy in company with Jim Wrigley. Capt. John Redman took dinner with me. I am sick with a slight diarrhea. Louisa is still sick but improving rapidly. Weather variable & hot. Ther: 88°.

Monday, July 3rd, 1865

To day the trains came over from Houston, and brought my bagging & rope, also a barrel of sugar. I had the wagons loaded up, and after dinner, they left en route for the mills [Houston County]. Frank Stewart & Charles Leaverton going along in charge of them. I purchased from Charley Lund 100 lbs of bacon at 10¢ per lb. I borrowed from Charles Leaverton 25$ and gave him a draft for the amount on Sam H. Sharp [Samuel Houston Sharp]. Weather clear & hot. Ther: 90°.

Wednesday, June 21st, 1865

To day I rode down to gum lake to attend a party or rather a fish fry. we had fine luck and an excellent dinner. I passed a very pleasant time and everything passed off to the satisfaction of all the parties interested. At night I went down to Mr. Cole's in his yawl [boat] to attend a party given by Mr. Cole in honor of Col. Denson & his bride they having just been married and the party might be considered as a bridle [sic] party or ball. I have received nothing as yet from home [Houston County]. I am still at John Booths. Weather clear & very hot. Ther: 91°.

Monday, April 17th, 1865

To day I visited Clay Stone in company with Geo. White & Richard Cole, and there partook of a fine dinner after which I went in company with Mr. Cole down the river in a batteaux to his residence where I stopped with him for the night. we enjoyed ourselves very well drinking lager beer. at home Hicks ground 29½ bushels of corn. Weather variable and pleasant.

Tuesday, April 4th, 1865

To day I left home on my mule John in company with Billy Roberts in route for Liberty. We rode to Crockett & stopped for dinner with Billy Stewart. We then rode down to Dan Dailey's where we stopped for the night. Weather cloudy & warm. at the mill Hicks ground 31 bushels of corn.

Thursday, March 30th, 1865

To day I am still in Crockett and stopping with Billy Stewart. My mule broke out of the lot last night and made his escape. Billy Stewart's negro boy York robbed my pocket book of 250$ in new issue of Confederate Money and 1$ in specie. Cols. Gregg, Jones & Crawford took dinner at Billy Stewarts. Weather clear & cool.

Thursday, February 16th, 1865

To day John is at work on the levee. James Roberts, Mother [Mahala* Sharp Hall nee Roberts], & Nellie* [Mary Alexandrien Sharp nee Lemaire] came up and Roberts left for Crockett. Col. John Smith & 3 soldiers stopped for dinner. Mother & Nellie left for home. Hicks ground 11 bushels of wheat & 10 bushels of corn. Weather clear & rather warm for the season.

*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.

Sunday, February 5th, 1865

To day Billy Stewart and I drove down to Mothers [Mahala* Sharp Hall nee Roberts] and remained for dinner. I purchased from him negro woman America & her child Claudine for which I paid him ten bales of cotton. The creek is still very high. The levee is still in great danger and Hicks was compelled to run the mill and ground 15 bushels of corn. Weather cloudy and very cold. 

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