Monday, August 27th, 1866

To day I am at work at the warehouse. Capt. John W. Redman is still with me. Ned Smith is still sick and done no work. I received by the cars my son Jimmy's [James Wrigley Hall] little buggy which I purchased when in Houston last and for which I paid $22.50 in gold. Weather cloudy and hot with occasional showers of rain. Ther: 84°.

Tuesday, August 21st, 1866

To day I am still in Galveston. I deposited with Messrs. J.C. & S.R. Smith & Co. the sum of 3000$ in gold, subject to the order of myself or Col. James Wrigley. In the evening I left Galveston on the Steamer Era No. 3 bound for Liberty, having left Col. Wrigley in Galveston. I had a pleasant trip across the bay & up Buffalo bayou, and met many old acquaintances on board of the Steamer. Weather variable & hot. Ther: 84°.

Saturday, August 18th, 1866

To day I left Liberty on the cars for Houston in Company with Col. Wrigley and his family. We arrived in Houston safe and sound and put up with Mr. Perkins. I carried over with me $4000. in gold. Col. Wrigley's son John was sick all the way over. I am sorry to state that I drank too much brandy as medicine, to prevent the cholera which is now prevailing in Houston. Weather cloudy and hot with occasional showers of rain. Ther: 88°.

Wednesday, July 18th, 1866

To day I drove up town in my buggy and while the[re] paid the funeral expenses of my sweet little angel Josephine Martha, which amounted to 55$ in gold. I then drove to the warehouse but did not remain long, being in no condition to attend to business. My little woman [Margaret Hall Stewart nee Sharp] is still suffering great agony for our sad bereavement. Edward Jones arrived on the [rail]cars from Houston and brough[t] me a large piece of ice, which is quite refreshing this hot weather. Mrs. Buckley came over and spent the evening with the little woman giving her all the Consolation in her power. Weather variable and hot. Ther: 90°.

Saturday, May 26th, 1866

To day I worked at the warehouse. Hicks & Steve are at work hauling Cotton from the [rail]cars. The steamer Ruthven came down the river with all the crew of the steamer Col. Stell on board, the latter named boat having been seized by the government while up the river. My old friend John B. Zimmerman came down on the Ruthven and I loaned him 25$ gold which he promised to return as he goes back home, or to deposit the same at Galveston to my credit with Messrs. Bolling, Spooner, & Co. The Ruthven left for Galveston loaded with cotton. Capt. Redmond is still here. Weather variable and warm with light showers of rain.

Galveston City Directory, 1866-1867

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.

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.

Tuesday, March 13th, 1866

To day after settling my board bill to the Washington Hotel amounting to 8$ My medical bill 75$ and the various other bills which I had contracted amounting in all to 500$ in gold I left Galveston on the steamer Indian No. 2 in route for Liberty. We run across the bay and anchored at the mouth of the [Trinity] river for the night. My cough is much improved. Weather cloudy and cool with rain occasionally.

Tuesday, March 6th, 1866

To day I am still at the Crawford house in Galveston. My Cough is a little better. I drove around the City in Company with Dr. Stanwood. I purchased a few articles to go forward by the Str. Indian No. 2 to the little woman [Margaret Hall Stewart nee Sharp]. I also purchased 2 pair fine gold spectacles, one pair for myself and the other pair for the little woman. Weather variable and cool.

Friday, January 19th, 1866

To day I drove up town and purchased a few articles from Dr. Rives. John Cochran arrived on the cars from Houston and brought over $10,000 gold to purchase cotton with. Frank [Stewart] still very sick. Burt [Roberta Downes Halyard nee Hall] slightly improving. Col. Wrigley commenced digging a well at the convent. Hicks at work getting logs to store cotton on. Mrs. Basil Waring* [Harriett Waring nee Gill] after a short illness died. Weather cloudy & very cold. 

*This is a sister-in-law of Mrs. Beale aka Elizabeth Lemaire Beale nee Waring who is a 3rd great-grandma to the Keeper of this family history blog. This is the ONLY record I have found of Harriett's date of death.

Monday, January 15th, 1866

To day I discharged the Str. Kate and loaded her with Cotton. I sent to C.C. Lund & Co by Capt. Chandler $10.60 gold to pay for the potatoes & cod fish received from them by the former trip of the Kate, also for one Bbl. of potatoes received for Mrs. Beale* [Elizabeth Lemaire Beale nee Waring]. The little woman [Margaret Hall Stewart nee Sharp] drove out to Mrs. Massie's & back. Burt [Roberta Downes Halyard nee Hall] & Frank [Stewart] no better. Weather cloudy with drizzling showers of rain.

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

Monday, October 30th, 1865

To day I am still in Galveston. Billy Stewart is much improved and went out with me ? short time. I purchased for the little woman [Margaret Hall Stewart nee Sharp] ? for which I paid $68 in gold. Weather cloudy and cold ? still blowing.

Monday, January 11th, 1864

To day the boys are at work killing and cleaning the hogs that Sam* [Samuel Houston Sharp] found and drove up yesterday. The six weighed 801 pounds. Sam also killed one of the old mans [Joshua James Hall] hogs which weighed 184 lbs. I ground 33½ bushels of corn. Capt. Peacock left in route for Houston and by him I sent 20$ in gold to purchase for me a gutta percha band for the flour mill. Weather cloudy and misting, but it is now moderating very fast.

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