Thursday, December 14th, 1865

To day I am still at work at the warehouse. I loaned negro Porter Steve two dollars and fifty cents to give a party with at his house. My whole family are afflicted with the itch. Frank is slowly improving. Weather variable and very cold, with ice plenty, being the coldest night of the winter so far.

Friday, March 25th, 1864

To day the boys are at work plowing the new ground. Sam* Sharp left for Crockett to join his company and before he left I let him have $100. Hicks ground 22 bushels of corn. Weather changeable & rather cool.

*This Sam is a 2nd great-grandpa to the Keeper of this family history blog. He is also the brother-in-law as well as the step-brother of JMH.

Friday, December 4th, 1863

To day the boys are still at work getting timber to build a stable. John is at work hauling it in. Dr. Murchison came to see me but not professionally and I paid him 25$ that I borrowed from him on the 27th of last month. J.H. Leaverton paid me the 200$ that I loaned him on the 27th of last month. Sam* [Samuel Houston Sharp] ground 8 bushels of corn and 2 bushels of wheat. I worked all day painting & lettering my half bushels. Fawn's [Florence Mahala Hall] arm is still improving. Weather clear & pleasant in the morning, but cloudy, rainy and disagreeable in the evening with a hard rain at night.

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

 

Tuesday, January 27th, 1863

To day the boys are still at work on the garden fence and getting on rather slowly. Sam* Sharp still at work making the loom. I ground 39½ bushels of corn and sold four bushels of meal in exchange for tallow. I also contracted with Mr. Pennington for his hogs & loaned him 2 bushels of meal. weather clear & cold with a hard freeze & frost at night.

*This Sam is a 2nd great-grandpa to the Keeper of this family history blog. He is also the step-brother as well as the brother-in-law of JMH.

Monday, September 16th, 1861

To day I left on my mule Kate in route for Liberty. While in Crockett had a settlement with G.F. Moore in which I agreed to let him ? my Henry 1/3 league of land in Denton & 640 acres in Jack Counties. I also gave him my note for $146. He agreed to convey me 640 acres in Coryell County & surrender me a bond for his locative interest in some other claims. I then rode to Dan Dailey's and staid there for the night. weather cloudy with hard rain all the evening. expenses $1.50.

Friday, July 19th, 1861

To day I received a very interesting letter from the little woman. The Liberty Guards are drilling at the ware house. But little business doing. I loaned Capt. J.W. Redman 10$ in cash with no hopes of ever receiving it back. The Steamer Ruthven left for Galveston. weather clear and very hot.

Monday, July 15th, 1861

To day I started Frank Stewart with my mules & little wagon up to the mill and loaned Frank in cash $2.50. Capt. Wrigley left on the Steamer Ruthven for Galveston. Sam H. Sharp has again resumed his position in the store as salesman. business very dull however. weather clear & warm.

Sunday, April 7th, 1861

To day the steamer Ruthven arrived, and James Wrigley returned home from Galveston. The river rose 7 feet plumb water and the steamer Col. Stell started for the upper river with a large freight. I sold Melinda, Laura and Elisha for $1700. these negroes were the property of the little woman [Margaret Hall Stewart nee Sharp] and I am indebted to her for the amt. of purchase money. I having ? it. I was busily engaged in writing up our correspondence. weather clear & warm.

Monday, March 18th, 1861

To day Frank Stewart started with the mules for the mill [in Houston County] to get my little wagon and to haul down a load. I let Frank have $20 in cash. not much business doing. weather clear & cold.

Saturday, March 16th, 1861

To day we left Mason's old stand, and drove over a road off of the same piece we had on yesterday and if any odds a little more damaged for 22 miles and stoped at Grand Cane for the night, at which place Frank Stewart overtook us in the stage?. I loaned Frank fifty cents, and after supper he started on the stage for Liberty. weather cloudy & cold. expenses of the day $3.50.

Sunday, March 10th, 1861

To day I went down to Mother's [Mahala* Sharp Hall nee Roberts] and had a settlement with her. I find that I advanced her upon 5 D/C the sum of $112.50 and upon our final settlement she fell in my debt $20.10. I gave to Father [Joshua James Hall] a power of attorney to manage and control my boy Albert. in the evening I returned home & found Charley Hall there. weather clear & pleasant.

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

Friday, March 8th, 1861

To day I went down to Father's [Joshua James Hall] and received from Frank Stewart the sum of one hundred dollars that he collected for me at Cairo. I paid five dollars for taking up Charley Lund's horse that he borrowed at Cairo, and sent him to Cairo by Frank Stewart. After dinner I returned home in company with Mother [Mahala* Sharp Hall nee Roberts], Father also came up in the evening and I let him have 30$ in cash. weather was cloudy & occasional showers of rain. At night there was a frost.

 *This Mahala is a 3rd great-grandma to the Keeper of this family history blog. She is also the mother-in-law as well as the step-mother of JMH.

Tuesday, February 5th, 1861

I am still in Crockett but cannot collect one dollar due me. After dinner I returned home and found the little woman [Margaret Hall Stewart nee Sharp] and Florence well. weather clear & cold.

Thursday, January 17th, 1861

To day I went to Leaverton's gin to see about some cotton. We succeeded in taking down the upper story of the old Machine shop. I let the widow Hall (Charley) have one bushel of meal on a credit for $1.50. weather cloudy with occasional showers of rain and very cold.

Wednesday, January 9th, 1861

To day I went up to the mill to see John Harwell & John Williams in relation to their working the mill for the year, but Williams could not agree to the requirements wanted and thus his claim or proposition was rejected. I remained for dinner and then went to Mothers [Mahala* Sharp Hall nee Roberts]. I loaned Father $8 in money. Weather cloudy & cold.

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

Friday, November 9th, 1860

To day Tanner came up & I settled with him in full & then let him have 1 bushel of meal. weather clear & cool.

Wednesday, September 19th, 1860

To day I examined the records of the County Clerks office & also settled with Messrs. Henry Sampson etc. on behalf of Messrs. Numsen Thomas etc. and took their note at 6 mos. for $594.00 and left on the Steamer Bayou City at 5 P.M. for Galveston. expenses of the day $6.50. weather clear & a little cool with light North wind.

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The Explosion of the Steamer Bayou City. - Front Page - NYTimes.com - October 10th, 1860. . . . nytimes.com . . . WASHINGTON, Friday, Oct. 5. The New-Orleans Picayune of the 2d reports the explosion of the steamer Bayou City, running regularly between Galveston and Houston, near Lynchburgh, with a fearful loss of life. The total number killed and wounded is unknown. Those known to be killed principally belong to the boat and were negroes. There was a large list of passengers. As far as known the explosion was caused by incrustation by salt water on the boilers.

Monday, June 11th, 1860

To day I went to the lower place & brought Toby home. The hands at work in the cotton. Mrs. Peacock loaned me 1 qr. of beef weighing 65 lbs. weather changable.

Monday, May 28th, 1860

To day we droped? the mill rocks. I went on Joseph Keen's note as security for $59.64 payable to Herndon's admst. Cousin Sally Dillard paid us a visit & remained to tea, a great woman Cousin Sally is. The hands still in the corn. Sam still sick. Weather clear dry & very warm.

Sunday, May 6th, 1860

To day I returned home from Crockett and loaned Mrs. Hall $75 in cash. weather changeable & warm.