Saturday, August 25th, 1866

To day I am at work at the warehouse. Hicks and Ned are preparing the ground to sew turnip seed. I paid Ned two dollars on a/c. he was taken sick and lost nearly the entire day. Capt. John W. Redman is still with me. Dennis went to mill in the wagon. Weather cloudy and hot with occasional showers of rain. Ther: 81°.

Friday, August 24th, 1866

To day I am at work at the warehouse. Hicks & Ned are at work preparing the ground to sew turnip seed. Capt. John W. Redman is still with me. Roberta [Downes Halyard nee Hall] is still staying with grand ma Gayle as Company. Mr. Beard is still at work on the railing for little Joe's grave [Josephine Martha Hall]. Weather cloudy and hot with a hard rain & wind blowing. Ther: 82°.

Thursday, June 14th, 1866

To day I am at the warehouse in the morning at work. In the evening I remained at home and painted one shutter. The Str. Indian No. 2 came down the [Trinity] river and proceeded on her voyage to Galveston. I am still sick with the cough. Hicks, Montgomery and Ed are at work in the corn. Weather clear and hot. Ther : 90°.

Wednesday, June 13th, 1866

To day in the forenoon I worked at the warehouse. In the evening I remained at home and painted one shutter. Capt Dawson opened the black smith shop for public custom [sic]. Hicks & Montgomery are at work in the corn patch. Weather clear and hot. Ther : 88°.

Tuesday, June 12th, 1866

To day I am at work at the warehouse. The Str. Royal Arch left for Galveston with Mrs. John Wrigley on board. Montgomery & Hicks are at work in the potato patch. I am still afflicted with itch and the cough which does not improve any. Weather variable and hot : Ther : 90°

Friday, June 8th, 1866

The forenoon of to day I worked at the warehouse. The evening I spent at home and painted another shutter. I took quinine all day and missed the fever. I am however suffering severely with the cough. Hicks is at work in the garden. The Str. Arizona came down the [Trinity] river and proceeded on her voyage to Galveston. Weather changeable and hot. Ther : 86°.

Monday, May 14th, 1866

To day I am at work at the warehouse. Grand Ma Gayle and Ida arrived from Houston bringing the little woman [Margaret Hall Stewart nee Sharp] some drapes. George and Montgomery finished breaking up one flat boat. Hicks worked in the garden. I am still afflicted with sore throat & itch. Weather clear & warm.

Friday, April 27th, 1866

To day I am still at work at the warehouse. Fawn [Florence Mahala Hall], Roberta [Downes Halyard nee Hall], Jimmy [James Wrigley Hall], Joe & Conney are all down with the measles. Hicks is at work in the garden. Messrs. Marbert & Gregg finished the gallery and I paid them for repairing it $25.50 specie which I regarded as very high price. A flat boat came down the [Trinity] river from Pine bluff with 64 bales of Cotton on board. I am still without a servant and the little woman [Margaret Hall Stewart nee Sharp] is still doing her own housework. Weather clear and pleasant. 

Thursday, April 19th, 1866

To day I am still at work at the warehouse. Florence [Mahala Hall] is very sick with the measles and in consequence of which Dr. Shelby was called in. Roberta [Downes Halyard nee Hall] still has the fever though the measles have not yet made its appearance. Hicks is at work setting out potato slips. The [Trinity] river is now on a stand. I received from Col. Wrigley at Houston one Bbl. of corn meal. Weather cloudy with a hard rain, and rather cold,a norther blowing. 

Monday, March 26th, 1866

To day I drove up town in my buggy and while there I opened a special Mayor's Court for the purpose of trying Mr. J. Baillie and a negro man for an affray. Capt. John W. Redmond came back and put up with me. Hicks is at work in the garden. Weather cloudy and cool with occasional showers of rain throughout the day.

Thursday, March 1st, 1866

To day I worked at the warehouse. My cough is no better. Frank Stewart being a little better has concluded to leave on the Stage for Crockett. Mrs. Massie still here. The little woman [Margaret Hall Stewart nee Sharp] and children are still afflicted with sore eyes. I paid off and discharged one of my freedmen Albert. Hicks is still at work in the garden. Weather clear and pleasant.

Wednesday, February 28th, 1866

To day I remained at home suffering severely with my Cough and cold. Hicks and Albert are working in the garden. Mrs. Massie is still here. The little woman [Margaret Hall Stewart nee Sharp] & children are afflicted with sore eyes. Frank [Stewart] is some little improved. Weather clear & pleasant. Thus closes the notes for the month of February.

Tuesday, February 27th, 1866

To day I finished papering the school house for Col. Wrigley. I drove up town and settled in full with Mr. Baldwin & Dr. Rives. Hicks & Albert are working in the garden. My cough & cold are no better. The little woman [Margaret Hall Stewart nee Sharp] still afflicted with sore eyes. Frank [Stewart] still confined to his bed. I purchased from the Str. Col. Stell which is still here one Barrel of irish potatoes for which I paid 5$ specie. Weather clear & pleasant. Mrs. Massie still here.

Thursday, February 15th, 1866

The forenoon of to day I worked at the warehouse and the evening I spent at home. I am still suffering with my cough and cold. Capt. John W. Redmond arrived in the cars from Sour Lake and stopped at my house. Frank [Stewart] is still confined to his room. Hicks worked in the garden. Albert worked for Mrs. Beale* [Elizabeth Lemaire Beale nee Waring]. The children are still afflicted with the sore eyes. Weather variable and cold, with strong norther blowing and hard freeze at night.

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

Monday, February 12th, 1866

To day I spent nearly the entire day at the warehouse. Col. Wrigley still at work on the school house. Hicks is at work in the garden and planted out irish potatoes. Albert is at work hauling wood. The little woman [Margaret Hall Stewart nee Sharp] drove up town after some medicine for me. Frank [Stewart] is still quite sick. Roberta [Downes Halyard nee Hall] is rather worse. All the children are suffering with sore eyes. I am still suffering with cough & cold. Weather variable and cold.

Friday, February 2nd, 1866

To day I am still confined home with my cough and cold. The little woman [Margaret Hall Stewart nee Sharp] and Albert worked in the garden. Hicks still at work on the school house for Col. Wrigley. Ed. Jones gave a dancing party up town. Mrs. Massie is still at work sewing. Burt [Roberta Downes Halyard nee Hall] and Frank [Stewart] still sick. Weather variable and cool.

Thursday, February 1st, 1866

 
To day I am so sorely afflicted with a cough and cold as to render me entirely unfit for business. The little woman [Margaret Hall Stewart nee Sharp] and Mrs. Wrigley drove up town to purchase a few articles. Hicks is still at work on the school house for Col. Wrigley. Albert worked in the garden setting out onions. Mrs. Massie still here sewing for the little woman. Frank [Stewart] and Burt [Roberta Downes Halyard nee Hall] are no better. Weather variable and cool.

Wednesday, January 17th, 1866

To day I am at work at the store house. The little woman [Margaret Hall Stewart nee Sharp] drove up town & purchased some articles. Col. Wrigley finished covering in the Cotton shed. The rail road commenced this day to make tri-weekly trips from Houston to Beaumont. Mrs. Beale* [Elizabeth Lemaire Beale nee Waring] still has her horse here. Negro boy Albert is now at work in the garden. Weather variable and rather warm.

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

Tuesday, January 9th, 1866

To day I worked at the store house. We commenced putting up the Cotton shed and got one line of posts planted. Burt [Roberta Downes Halyard nee Hall] is but little if any better. Albert still sick. Hicks worked in the garden. Weather clear & cold.

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.