Thursday, August 30th, 1866

To day I am at work at the warehouse. Capt. Dawson, Dr. Tarleton and I rode down to gum lake on a fishing excursion and had fine success. Dr. Tarleton was taken with chill and fever. Hicks still hauling white oak blocks from the woods. Capt. John W. Redman is still with me. Roberta [Downes Halyard nee Hall] missed her chill and fever. Weather variable and hot. Ther: 88°.

Friday, June 16th, 1865

To day I am still at Booths. Capt. Harrison & I rode down to horse shoe lake fishing we had pretty fair luck. Nothing yet from home [Houston County]. Weather variable with a light shower of rain. Ther: 86°.

Thursday, June 1st, 1865

To day I rode up to Jose bayou in company with Capt. Harrison & John Booth on a fishing excursion but was rather unsuccessful. We however killed some fine squirrells. Capt. Cameron & Miss Adelia Wrigley were married at night. nothing yet from home. I am still at John Booths. At home the little woman [Margaret Hall Stewart nee Sharp] went down to Mothers [Mahala Sharp Hall nee Roberts] to spend what time she remained up the Country, and consequently quit keeping the opperations of the mill. As this is the first day of summer I shall give the state of the thermometer noting it each day at 3 o'clock P.M. Weather clear & hot. Ther: 90°.

Wednesday, May 31st, 1865

To day I am still at Booth's. Capt. Harrison and I rode down to gum lake fishing, but with very poor success. we killed some squirrels however. According to the account furnished me by the little woman [Margaret Hall Stewart nee Sharp], The mill ground for the current month 316 bushels of corn and 49 bushels of wheat. Weather clear & hot. Thus I close my jottings of current events around me for the month of May.

Thursday, October 14th, 1864

To day the boys are preparing the little field to sow Rye. The little woman [Margaret Hall Stewart nee Sharp] and Mrs. Downes rode over to Mrs. Beazley's and spent the day. Billy Stewart & I went fishing with fine success. In the evening I rode down to Father's [Joshua James Hall] with him and was then taken quite sick. we returned home, & Stewart remained with me for the night. Hicks ground 3 bushels of corn. Lieut. Allen & a soldier stopped with me. Weather variable & rather warm.

Saturday, September 3rd, 1864

To day the boys are still at work on the mill forebay floor. John & I took the little wagon and drove up to the King house and tore down the little smoke house and brought the lumber home to fix the floor of the forebay. Capt. Stubblefield and Mr. Reagan came up from Hall's bluff and went fishing in the mill pond but with rather poor success. Billy Stewart's wagon came out from Crockett and by it I received from him 43½ lbs. of Sugar. Fannie missed her fever. Weather clear & hot. Ther: 93°.

Friday, June 17th, 1864

To day the boys are still at work in the lower field. Billy Stewart & I went fishing but with rather poor success. Late in the evening Stewart left for Crockett. Nellie [Mary Alexandrien Sharp nee Lemaire] rode up from Mother's [Mahala Sharp Hall nee Roberts] and then went to Mrs. Bird's where she spent the night. Hicks worked in the garden. Weather clear and warm. Ther: 84°.

Monday, June 6th, 1864

To day the boys are still at work in the lower field plowing out the corn. I rode up to see Mr. Keen who is very sick and from there I rode over to Dr. Murchison's to get some medicine for Mother [Mahala Sharp Hall nee Roberts]. Billy Stewart, W.F. Wingfield and Thos. Stubblefield came out from Crockett and stopped with me at the house. In the evening I rode down to Mother's to carry her the medicine. I found her much improved. Nellie [Mary Alexandrien Sharp nee Lemaire] still down there. Stewart & his party caught a fine mess of fish. Weather cloudy & warm with occasional showers of rain. Ther: 88°. Hicks ground 10 bushels of corn.

Sunday, May 22nd, 1864

To day I went fishing but with rather poor success. In the evening I rode down to Mothers [Mahala Sharp Hall nee Roberts] but did not remain there long. Weather clear and very hot.

Sunday, May 15th, 1864

To day I went fishing and had fine success but while I was absent my daughter Florence and son James were both taken with a fever. Weather variable and warm with indications of rain.

Monday, May 2nd, 1864

To day the boys are at work in the lower field. Billy Stewart and Billy Wingfield came out from Crockett. I went fishing with them. we had good success. I caught the largest trout that has ever been caught out of the mill pond. Hicks ground 10 bushels of corn. Nellie* [Mary Alexandrien Sharp nee Lemaire] & Pet [Florence Mahala Hall] rode down to Mother's [Mahala* Sharp Hall nee Roberts] and spent the night. Weather clear and pleasant.

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

Sunday, May 1st, 1864

To day I took Toby [Horace Oscar Hall] with me and went fishing in the lower creek. we had fine success. Mrs. Byrd came down and spent the day. Nellie* [Mary Alexandrien Sharp nee Lemaire] rode down to Mothers' [Mahala* Sharp Hall nee Roberts] and carried Toby with her home. Mr. Butler from Magnolia on his way home to Cold Springs stopped. Weather clear and warm.

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

Saturday, April 30th, 1864

To day the boys are still at work in the lower field. Nellie* [Mary Alexandrien Sharp nee Lemaire] rode up to Mrs. Byrd's but did not remain long. I worked in the garden in the forenoon and went fishing in the evening with fine success. Hicks ground 10 bushels of corn. Weather cloudy and very warm. Thus closes my notes for the month of April.

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

Wednesday, April 27th, 1864

To day the boys are still at work plowing the corn in the lower field. Mrs. Byrd came down and spent the day. The little woman [Margaret Hall Stewart nee Sharp] & I went fishing with pretty fair success. Hicks attended the mill and ground 20 bushels of corn. Weather clear and warm.

Friday, April 22nd, 1864

To day the boys are still at work planting corn in the bottom field. Mr. Fitzsimmons left for Palestine, Billy Stewart & I went fishing with fine success. In the evening Billy Stewart and family drove down to Mothers [Mahala* Sharp Hall nee Roberts] & stopped there for the night. The little woman [Margaret Hall Stewart nee Sharp] also went down to Mothers but did not stop long. Hicks ground 7 bushels of corn. Weather variable & cool, with a hard rain at night.

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

Tuesday, April 19th, 1864

To day the boys are still at work planting the bottom field. Hicks attended the mill and ground 4 bushels of wheat and 7½ bushels of corn. I went fishing with the Crockett boys and had very good success. After dinner, Messers Stewart, Wingfield & Haden left for Crockett very well satisfied with their trip. Weather changeable & warm.

Monday, April 18th, 1864

To day the boys commenced planting corn in the bottom field for the second time. Hicks ground 16½ bushels of corn. I rode up to the school house and paid Mr. Bodenhamer the war tax collector, my taxes also those of Sam* Sharp. In the evening Billy Stewart, William E. Wingfield and Mr. Haden came out on a fishing excursion and put up at the house. Weather variable but rather cool.

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

Saturday, April 16th, 1864

To day the boys finished planting corn for the second time in the lower field. I went fishing but with rather poor success. Hicks ground 22 bushels of corn. After dinner the Crockettites left for home, having had very poor success. At night, Mr. Butler, Mr. Hoot & a little boy stopped with me. Weather variable & rather cool.

Friday, April 15th, 1864

To day the boys are still at work planting corn in the lower field. Hicks ground 7½ bushels of corn. Father [Joshua James Hall] rode in to Crockett and back. The little woman [Margaret Hall Stewart nee Sharp], children and I drove down to Mothers [Mahala* Sharp Hall nee Roberts] to see her. she is much improved in health and will soon be up. In the evening about 30 Crockettites came out on a fishing excursion. nine of the ladies put up with us at the house. weather changeable & cool, with a shower of rain and a large frost at night.

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

Thursday, April 14th, 1864

To day the boys are at work planting corn in the lower field. Bill Stewart & I again went fishing & had fine success. After dinner Billy left for Crockett and I rode down to Mothers [Mahala* Sharp Hall nee Roberts] and found her sick & confined to her bed. Hicks ground 22 bushels of corn. Weather changeable & cool with a frost at night.

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