Monday, August 6th, 1866

To day I went up town and held an election for seven trustees or alderman for the Corporation of the City of Liberty. The time of the old board having expired. At which said election I was again re-elected one of the Alderman. Capt. John W. Redman is still with me. I received from Galveston by the way of Houston the little monument purchased by the little woman [Margaret Hall Stewart nee Sharp] and to be erected over the grave of my sweet little babe Josephine Martha. Weather variable and hot. Ther : 96°.

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, March 19th, 1866

To day I drove up town and held the election in relation to the corporations tax. The District Court for Liberty County commenced its session. Capt. John W. Redmond came over from Houston on the cars, and stopped at my house. The little woman [Margaret Hall Stewart nee Sharp] drove out after Mrs. Massie who came about dinner time. Ed. Jones and Col. Wrigley are at work at the store house. Weather cloudy and cool with occasional showers of rain.

Monday, January 8th, 1866

To day I drove up town to attend the election for a delegate to the Convention for reconstruction and while there I voted for J.O. Shelby to be said delegate. I assisted Col. Wrigley in making a settlement with B.F. White. Mrs. Beale* [Elizabeth Lemaire Beale nee Waring] took her horse away which has been staying here since her arrival from Montgomery County. Albert is still sick. Hicks however is at work in the garden. Weather cloudy & cold with occasional light showers of rain.

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

Monday, August 1st, 1864

To day the boys killed a beef and are at work salting it down. I rode over to attend the general election of State & County officers. Nellie [Mary Alexandrien Sharp nee Lemaire] rode down to Mother's [Mahala Sharp Hall nee Roberts] and remained there all night. Weather variable & warm. Ther: 85°.

Monday, August 3rd, 1863

To day the boys are still at work pulling fodder in the lower field. Fawn [Florence Mahala Hall], Conny and Jemima are still sick. Sam [Samuel Houston Sharp] & I went up and attended the general election for State officers and remained there nearly the whole day. Be it remembered that I voted for T.J. Chambers for Governor, because I am opposed to all those who advocate Military necessity as paramount to the Constitution and laws of the land. Father [Joshua James Hall] came home with me from the election but did not remain long. I sold George Brashears a pair of wool cards for 30$ just think of such a price hereafter. In consequence of the low water I was unable to grind any corn. weather clear & hot. Ther: 93°.

Saturday, August 16th, 1862

To day being the regular meeting of the City Council of Course I had to attend being the Mayor of the City [i.e., of Liberty], and the time having expired for which each member was elected, the Council ordered a new election to be held on the first Monday in September next for seven trustees or aldermen for the City out of which number the mayor has to be elected. Sam Sharp & Charley Lund are busy making out the rolls of Assessment for the County. The boys worked on the fence in the forenoon and in the evening I gave them holliday. weather changeable & very hot. Ther: 97°.

Monday, August 4th, 1862

In the morning I am busy in the ware house braking out freight for the Steamer Ruthven, which left for Galveston. This being the day of election for State and County officers I attended the polls. I also held the sale of non rendered property for the war tax and sold about half the land in Liberty Co. Boys at work on the fence. weather clear & hot. Ther: 94°.

Saturday, June 21st, 1862

To day I am engaged in the office. In the evening I was compelled to attend the session of the board of Alderman for the City of Liberty. I being a member of said board, and under the laws of the corporation an election was gone into and I had the extreme honor of being elected Mayor of the City, into which office I duly installed after making the oath of office. Sam Sharp & the ladies reached the mills [in Houston County] as I am informed by letter. I make this note in order to date the time that my little woman [Margaret Hall Stewart nee Sharp] commenced boarding with her mother [Mahala Sharp Hall nee Roberts*]. Charley Lund engaged in the office. Boys at work at Capt. Wrigley's. weather clear & hot. Ther: 94°. [*This Mahala is a 3rd great-grandma to the Keeper of this blog.]

Monday, March 31st, 1862

To day I went up town to attend the election of town officers. Business dull. The boys at work on the fence. weather changeable & showery.

Saturday, March 22nd, 1862

To day I went up town to attend the election of a Brig. Genl. & there voted for T.J. Chambers. Business dull. The Steamer Ruthven left for Galveston. Alex* [Mary Alexandrien Sharp nee Lemaire] is still at my house. The little woman [Margaret Hall Stewart nee Sharp] is better. The Boys finished the well house. Capt. Scruggs' Co. received some 10 or 15 recruits at the ware house. weather clear & very cold. 

*This Alex is a 2nd great-grandma to the Keeper of this family history blog.

Saturday, March 15th, 1862

To day James Wrigley & myself went up town to attend the elections for field officers of the 5th Regt. and also to Muster & drill company "A" of said Regt. I being a candidate for the Coloncy had to play the amiable finely, after the polls were closed and I was elected I got on a little tight, but very gently. weather clear & pleasant.

Thursday, October 17th, 1861

To day the Steamer Ruthven arrived from Galveston. I received by her an excellent barrel of oysters. The Liberty Guards had a re-organization and new election of officers, which resulted as follows: James Wrigley Capt. Joseph N. Park 1st Lieut. B.F. Sterling ? 2nd Lieut & B. Hardin, Jr. 2nd Lieut. after which they left on the Ruthven for Galveston, to commence their services in the army. Business tolerable. nothing doing on my house. weather cloudy with drizzling rain & strong wind from the North & pretty cool.

Monday, August 5th, 1861

To day I went up town in company with Charley Lund to attend the general election for state officers. after voting we returned to the store. but little business doing. Sam Sharp still sick but somewhat better. weather clear in the morning but very hard rain all the evening with Ther. standing at 88°

Saturday, February 23rd, 1861

To day I went with John Harwell to the polls, and while there had to act as one of the clerks to the election. The vote at precinct No. 7 stood for Secession 31, against Secession 5. I voted for it. weather cloudy & warm, until in the evening when the wind hauled around to the North & it became very cold with a heavy frost at night.

Tuesday, January 8th, 1861

To day I went in company with Father to Dailey's store, and from there to the election. there I met Richard Duglass, the Assessor & Collector, give in a list of property and paid him my taxes for the year 1860 and took his receipt for the same. I then went to the Mill in company with W. B. Lacy and Mr. Cunningham where we all dined. John Harwell then went to the election & I returned to Mothers [Mahala* Sharp Hall nee Roberts], where the little woman [Margaret Hall Stewart nee Sharp] is still still staying, waiting favorable weather to carry Florence home. weather clear & warm.

*This Mahala is a 3rd great-grandma to the Keeper of this family history blog. Margaret is her daughter from her first marriage, who is married to JMH, the son of her second husband.

Tuesday, November 6th, 1860

To day John Harwell went to Crockett. I went to the election at the Elk Hart box, where 45 votes were cast out of which Breckenridge & Lane 41 and Bell & Everett 4. Father & Frank Stewart came home with me & remained to supper. weather cloudy & light showers of rain.