Monday, July 9th, 1866

To day I am very busy at the warehouse discharging the Steamer Royal Arch and in making out freight bills. Clay Stone's little daughter Lena was buried. There was 3 deaths in town from small pox. Weather variable & hot with occasional showers of rain. Ther : 90°.

Monday, July 2nd, 1866

To day I am very busy at the Ware house unloading and loading the Royal Arch and several wagons. Roberta [Downes Halyard nee Hall] is much better. Jimmy [James Wrigley Hall] & Pet [Florence Mahala Hall] had another fever. Hicks is engaged hauling freight & lumber from the flat boats. Weather variable and cool with a hard rain. Ther : 80°.

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°.

Saturday, June 23rd, 1866

To day I am at work at the warehouse. Col. Wrigley & the hands finished the black smith shop, but are yet at work on the shed. The Str. Indian No. 2 arrived from Galveston and after discharging some freight she proceeded on her voyage up the [Trinity] river. The river is now falling very rapidly. I am still suffering with my afflictions. Capt. Dawson is quite sick & Confined to his bed. Weather variable & hot. Ther : 90°.

Tuesday, June 19th, 1866

To day I am at work at the warehouse. The Str. Royal Arch arrived from Galveston with considerable freight on board. Col. Wrigley with the hands are at work completing the black smith shop. I am still suffering with my afflictions. Weather variable & hot: Ther: 84°

Tuesday, June 5th, 1866

To day I am at work at the warehouse. The Str. Royal Arch arrived from Galveston, with considerable freight on board. Mr. Bolling consigned to us 330 sacks of corn for sale. I am still suffering with cough and the itch. Weather variable and hot. Ther : 88°.

Saturday, June 2nd, 1866

To day I am at work at the warehouse. Col. Wrigley, with the hands, let the McKim house down and cut out several doors in order to convert the building into a blacksmith shop. The steamer Ruthven arrived from Galveston bound up the [Trinity] river, and after putting off some freight she left on her voyage. Weather variable and hot with a rain at night. Ther : 88°.
 

Tuesday, May 22nd, 1866

To day the steamer Royal Arch arrived from Galveston, with a little freight on board. I worked at the warehouse. Capt. John W. Redmond came home having got in a drunken spree, lost his horse, saddle, blanket and coat and remained in the prairie all night. Hicks is engaged in hauling freight. He carried two chairs and the centre table to the shop for repairs. He brought home the curtain frames for the windows. Weather clear and pleasant.

Friday, May 11th, 1866

To day I am at work at the Warehouse. The steamer Ruthven arrived from Galveston bound up the [Trinity] river. she discharged a little freight. In the evening I drove up town and had my throat carterized or burnt with caustic. Jimmy [James Wrigley Hall] had a fever. the rest of the children are well. Capt. John Redmond is at work painting my house. Weather variable and warm. 

Thursday, May 3rd, 1866

To day I am engaged at work at the warehouse. Jimmy [James Wrigley Hall] and Josephine [Martha Hall] recovering from the measles. Roberta [Downes Halyard nee Hall] & Florence [Mahala Hall] are about well. The Steamer Col. Stell came down the [Trinity] river with 300 bales of Cotton on board and reports the river falling. she proceeded on her voyage to Galveston. The Steamer Kate arrived from Galveston with some freight on board which we stored except one load, which Col. Wrigley attempted to haul to town, but his horses became frightened and run off with the wagon doing considerable damage to the wagon, breaking up the harness and damaging the load of flour. Capt. John W. Redmond is still with me. Weather variable and warm.

 

Sunday, April 22nd, 1866

To day I am very busy at the warehouse loading the steamer Emery which has just arrived from Galveston with Nichols freight. after loading her she attempted to work her way through the raft but did not succeed to day. Florence [Mahala Hall] is still improving the measles have commenced disappearing. Roberta [Downes Halyard nee Hall] still sick. The [Trinity] river still falling. The little woman [Margaret Hall Stewart nee Sharp] still cooking. Weather variable and pleasant.

Friday, April 20th, 1866

To day I am at work at the warehouse. Florence [Mahala Hall] is still sick with the measles. Dr. Shelby called to see her. Roberta [Downes Halyard nee Hall] is still sick. The steamer Col. Stell arrived from Galveston with full freight and left for the up river. The [Trinity] river is falling a little. Weather variable & cool with showers of rain. 

Saturday, April 14th, 1866

To day I am still at work at the ware house. The Steamer Indian No. 2 came down the river loaded with cotton, and landed with the other boats above the raft. The Steamers Emery and Royal Arch arrived from Galveston with some freight. Roberta [Downes Halyard nee Hall] and Florence [Mahala Hall] are suffering severely with colds and cough. Weather cloudy & cool with occasional showers of rain.

Wednesday, April 11th, 1866

To day I am still busy at the warehouse. The steamer Emory after taking a full load of Cotton on board left for Galveston. The drift continues to increase above the bridge although all the hands belonging to the rail road are using every effort to remove it. Weather variable.

Tuesday, April 10th, 1866

To day I am busy discharging the steamer Emory which had just arrived from Galveston with a full freight. After discharging her, she dropped to Adam Bowen's flat boat and commenced taking on board a load of Cotton. The raft above the bridge has completely obstructed all navigation of the river above this point. Weather clear & pleasant, but cool at night.

Thursday, April 5th, 1866

To day I am at work at the warehouse. Three more flat boats came down the river commanded by John T. Smith, Wash Rose & Mr. Brown. The Steamer Sunflower came down the river & I shipped on her 130 bales of Cotton when she left for Galveston. The Str. Arizona also came down the river and remained all night at the landing. Weather cloudy & cold with a hard rain throughout the day & night.

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, April 1st, 1866

To day the steamer Indian No. 2 arrived from Galveston, bound up the river. It had to put on here 212 sacks of salt which consumed nearly the entire day. She left about 4 O'Clock for the up river. My cough is a little better. Weather variable and warm.

Saturday, March 31st, 1866

To day I am busy receiving and discharging 113 bales of Cotton that has just come down from Hall's bluff on a flat boat belonging to A.J. Walston and for bringing which I paid him $172 gold. I received a letter from My relatives up the Country [in Houston County] informing me that they were in good health. My Cough is but little if any better. At night the steamers Shreveport and Sunflower arrived from Galveston bound up the river. Weather cloudy and cool. Thus I close my notes for March.

Wednesday, March 28th, 1866

To day I am busy at the warehouse writing letters for Ed. Jones to take up the Country [to Houston County] with him. The Steamer Arizona arrived from Galveston with a freight for the up river and succeeded in getting through the draw bridge. Roberta is improving a little. Weather variable and pleasant.