1866 :: Death of James Madison Hall

One hundred fifty years ago today . . . "I shall have shuffled off this mortal soil and been reaped to the bosom of my ancestors."

It was the 12th day of September . . . in the year was 1866 . . . and according to the information recorded on a military tombstone in the Liberty City Cemetery, this was the final day on this earth for James Madison Hall aka the author of this Journal . . .


A handwritten note on the last page of my copy of the Journal indicates that the "Liberty Gazette says J M Hall died of Cholera Sept 1866" . . . another source says he survived until November of 1866 . . . and yet another handwritten note on the last page of the Journal indicates that he did not die until September of 1867 . . .

Research will be on-going . . . with periodic postings and updates as information is revealed and compiled . . .

James Madison Hall was fond of posting a closing statement at the end of every month of the year as well as at the end of every calendar year . . . since we do not (yet) have access to his final thoughts, we will now go back to his closing notes for the month of December 1864 . . .

Thus I close my jottings for the month of December and for the year 1864 which has just passed & gone and now numbered with the things that were. Whether the Almighty will spare me to chronicle the daily events of the incoming year is more than poor mortal man can foresee or know but trusting in his goodness I shall enter upon the pleasing task which is meaningful as a book of reference and may hereafter be profitable to those who have an interest in my affairs after I shall have shuffled off this mortal soil and been reaped to the bosom of my ancestors.

Sunday, September 2nd, 1866

To day I remained at home writing up this note book. Jimmy [James Wrigley Hall] had a chill and fever. Capt. John W. Redman is still with me. Capt. Dawson and wife came up and spent the day with the little woman [Margaret Hall Stewart nee Sharp]. Weather clear and hot.

Friday, August 31st, 1866

To day I am at work at the warehouse. Billy Sowell came over on the cars from Houston in order to paint Col. Wrigley's & my house. Mr. Beard also arrived on the cars. Hicks still at work hauling white oak blocks. Capt. John W. Redman is still with me and quite sick. Jimmy [James Wrigley Hall] had a fever. Roberta [Downes Halyard nee Hall] again missed the fever and is now well. Weather variable and hot. Ther: 89°.Thus closes my notes for the month of August and as it also closes the summer months, I shall cease noting the state of the thermometers until next summer, should I be spared to live.

Sunday, August 26th, 1866

To day I remained at home writing up this journal. Late in the evening the little woman [Margaret Hall Stewart nee Sharp] and I visited Grand Ma Gayle. Weather cloudy and hot with occasional showers of rain. Ther: 82°.

Sunday, August 12th, 1866

To day I remained at home writing up this journal. Mrs. Mixon's little son departed this life and was interred at the expenses of the Corporation. Weather variable and hot with occasional showers of rain. Ther : 88°.

Sunday, August 5th, 1866

To day in the forenoon I remained at home writing up this journal. In the evening Col. Wrigley and I attended the funeral of young Prescott Pickett, who was buried in the burial ground at Liberty. Capt. John W. Redman is still with me. I am still suffering from the itch. Weather clear & hot : Ther : 94°.

Tuesday, July 31st, 1866

To day I am at work at the warehouse. Dr. C.L. Tarleton, wife and child [Annie Woodall McMulin nee Tarleton] came to my house to stop until he could make arrangements to keep house. Capt. John W. Redman also came to my house and put up with me, he having arrived on the cars from Sour Lake. I sent my wagon up town after their baggage. Weather variable and hot. Ther : 94°.thus closes my notes for July.

Sunday, July 1st, 1866

To day I remained at home writing up this journal. Roberta [Downes Halyard nee Hall], Jimmy [James Wrigley Hall] and Pet [Florence Mahala Hall] are all sick with fevers. Fanny having missed the fever. The Str. Royal Arch arrived from Galveston. Weather variable and warm. Ther : 82°

Saturday, June 30th, 1866

To day I am at work at the warehouse. Roberta [Downes Halyard nee Hall], Jimmy [James Wrigley Hall], Fanny and Pet [Florence Mahala Hall] are all sick with fevers. Mr. Gordon, Mr. Angell and Grand Ma Gayle all left on the cars for Houston. Col. Wrigley with the hands commenced to build a shop for wagon work. Weather clear and warm. Ther : 82°. Thus I close my notes for the month of June.

Sunday, June 24th, 1866

To day I remained at home writing up this journal. The Str. Royal Arch arrived from Galveston. Capt. Dawson is some better. My cough still severe. Weather clear & hot. Ther : 90°.

Sunday, June 10th, 1866

To day I spent at home writing up this journal. Ed. Jones and Capt. Dawson came and spent the forenoon with me. I am still suffering with the itch and cough. Weather changeable and hot. Ther : 86°

Thursday, May 31st, 1866

To day I am at work at the ware house. Col. Wrigley with the hands finished the ground work and laying the floor of the Warehouse shed. Hicks & Steve are at work hauling the salt out of the McKim house and piling it upon the platform or floor of the shed. Jimmy [James Wrigley Hall] & I are still suffering with the itch or some other infernal sores. Weather variable and cool with occasional showers of rain. Thus closes my jottings for the month of May.

Sunday, May 27th, 1866

To day I remained home writing up this journal. Col. Wrigley came over and spent the afternoon. Capt. John W. Redmond is still here. Jimmy [James Wrigley Hall] & I are still suffering with the itch. Weather clear and pleasant.

Sunday, May 20th, 1866

To day I wrote a little in this journal, and then walked down to the [Trinity] river. I am suffering with diarrhea. The river is rising very fast. John W. Redmond is still here and suffering with rheumatism. Weather cloudy and cool, with occasional showers of rain.

Sunday, May 13th, 1866

To day I remained at home writing up this journal. I had my barrel of ale hauled up home. Mrs. Stanwood came over & left with me a number of a/c's for collection. I am still suffering with the itch & sore throat. Weather variable & cool with a hard rain and storm at night. 

Sunday, May 6th, 1866

To day I remained at home writing up this journal. The children are all recovering from the measles. I am severely suffering from the itch or some other infernal eruption of the skin breaking out all over my body and producing considerable pain. Weather variable & pleasant.

Monday, April 30th, 1866

To day I am at work at the warehouse. The Steamer Royal Arch is loading with cotton. I had a full settlement with Maj. Bolling and paid in full up to date. I received some few groceries, harness &c. by the Royal Arch. Jimmy [James Wrigley Hall], Joe & Conney are still sick with measles. Florence [Mahala Hall] and Roberta [Downes Halyard nee Hall] are recovering very fast. I am sorely afflicted with the itch, which has broken out on me again. Col. Wrigley and Ed. Jones arrived from Houston on the train. The former quite sick. The latter brought me three suits of summer clothing. Weather clear & warm. Thus I close my notes for the month of April. 

Sunday, April 29th, 1866

To day I remained at home writing up this journal. Jimmy [James Wrigley Hall], Joe & Conney still have the measles. Fawn [Florence Mahala Hall] & Burta [Roberta Downes Halyard nee Hall] are better. the little woman [Margaret Hall Stewart nee Sharp] is still without help. Weather clear 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, 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.