Saturday, January 23rd, 1864

To day the boys finished covering in the stables. Bill is at work in the garden. Mr. Keen came over and spent the day. Nellie* [Mary Alexandrien Sharp nee Lemaire] is now up and entirely recovered from her late indisposition. I ground 10 bushels of corn. Weather clear and pleasant, another perfect spring day.

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

Thursday, January 21st, 1864

To day Hicks is at work covering in the stables. Bill and John are at work in the garden. Nellie* [Mary Alexandrien Sharp nee Lemaire] is still improving slowly. I ground 10 bushels of corn and 2 bushels of wheat. Mother [Mahala* Sharp Hall nee Roberts] left for home early in the morning. Weather clear and pleasant, another spring day.

*This Nellie is a 2nd great-grandma to the Keeper of this family history blog. Mahala is her mother-in-law.

Wednesday, January 20th, 1864

To day the boys are at work on the stables. Sam* [Samuel Houston Sharp] left Crockett in route for Marshall. I ground 15 bushels of corn. The little woman [Margaret Hall Stewart nee Sharp] planted some English peas in the garden. Mother [Mahala* Sharp Hall nee Roberts] came up and remained all night with Nellie* [Mary Alexandrien Sharp nee Lemaire], who is recovering slowly from her late confinement. Weather clear and warm for the season. in fact a perfect spring day.

*This Sam and Nellie are 2nd great-grandparents to the Keeper of this family history blog. Margaret is Sam's sister (and wife as well as step-sister to JMH). Mahala is Sam and Margaret's mother.

Sunday, January 17th, 1864

To day Father [Joshua James Hall], Burt [Roberta Downes Halyard nee Hall] and Toby [Horace Oscar Hall] came up to see Nellie* [Mary Alexandrien Sharp nee Lemaire] who is something better. They spent the day and remained all night except Father who returned home. Dr. Murchison left for home in the morning. Weather changeable and cool, with a hard frost at night.

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

Saturday, January 16th, 1864

To day I am still in Crockett and Sam* [Samuel Houston Sharp] is still in confinement and as I said in yesterday's notes on no charge but mere suspicion that he is liable to conscription. 

The reign of Military despotism is now complete, and a man not in the army dares not say that his life is his own or that he owns one dollar's worth of property. 

I left Crockett late in the evening after having failed to obtain Sam's release. upon my arrival at home I found as I had previously expected that Nellie* [Mary Alexandrien Sharp nee Lemaire] had miscarried. this catastrophy was hastened by the cruel and brutal arrest of her husband. 

If the agents of the Government think this is the proper way to make good soldiers for its armies by dragging husbands from wives who are almost at the point of death, I must humbly beg leave to differ with them. 

Dr. Murchison and Mother [Mahala* Sharp Hall nee Roberts] were in attendance upon Nellie. At night Sam came home to see his wife having been released upon his parole to return on Monday next. Dr. Murchison & Mother remained all night. Weather changeable & cold with a hard frost at night.

*This Sam and Nellie are 2nd great-grandparents to the Keeper of this family history blog. Mahala is Sam's mother.

Thursday, January 14th, 1864

To day the boys are at work covering in the stables. I rode my horse Rob to Crockett and while there was again arrested by the conscript officer. when they will get through conscripting me God only knows for one set of officers pulls down as fast as the others set up. I however after much difficulty attained another discharge, but how long it will last I cannot say. 

When I returned home I found Dr. Murchison and Mother [Mahala* Sharp Hall nee Roberts] in attendance upon Nellie* [Mary Alexandrien Sharp nee Lemaire] whose symptoms are more aggravating. Weather changeable and rather cold.

*This Mahala is a 3rd great-grandma to the Keeper of this family history blog. Nellie is pregnant, and is married to Mahala's son, Sam.

Wednesday, January 13th, 1864

To day the boys cut up and salted down the hogs that Sam* [Samuel Houston Sharp] killed yesterday that is one half of the 3 that was cleaned down at Father's [Joshua James Hall] they weighed 205 lbs. Sam is at work making a pair of shoes. I ground 7 bushels of corn and 1 bushel of wheat. Nellie* [Mary Alexandrien Sharp nee Lemaire] was taken very sick, with threatening symptoms of miscarriage. Weather clear & rather warm on the pork salted down.

*This Sam and Nellie are 2nd great-grandparents to the Keeper of this family history blog.

Saturday, January 17th, 1863

To day the boys are still at work on the garden posts. I ground 46½ bushels of corn when the balance iron of the mill stones gave way thereby preventing me from grinding any more. Nellie* [Mary Alexandrien Sharp nee Lemaire] was taken sick again with one of her spells and with strong symptoms of a miscarriage she being well advanced in a state of pregnancy. weather clear and rather cool.

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