Monday, November 6th, 1865

To day my wagon and team driven by negro man Hicks arrived from the mills [in Houston County] with 5 bales of Cotton, my desk, and sundry other articles on board. The negro man John having run off and left it on the road and Hicks after turning out the oxen left, and I suppose my employment for good. The little woman [Margaret Hall Stewart nee Sharp] drove up town in my buggy after some articles. Fannie is still sick. Col. Wrigley & I drove up town in Maggie's buggy after returning home, we all went over to Col. Wrigley's where the little woman, Mrs. Wrigley, Col. J. Wrigley and I all took a solemn vow, not to use any spirituous liquor as a beveridge for the space of one year. Weather clear and cold, with a hard frost at night.

Wednesday, September 27th, 1865

To day Hicks & John left with one wagon and four yoke of oxen in route for my mills [in Houston County]. Mr. Haggard arrived from Houston on the construction train but he failed to procure me another bowie knife in lieu of the one he lost so I presume I shall be without my knife. I am engaged working around the house and put the carpet down on the parlor floor. weather variable and cool with occasional showers of rain.

Saturday, September 9th, 1865

To day I am at work in the garden. In the evening my wagons arrived from the mills [Houston County]. one of them was driven by Hicks & the other by John with 3 yoke of oxen attached to each wagon. They brought down some provisions, 22 chickens, 4 bales of cotton and a small lot of furniture, and have been on the road 10 days. They however brought every thing safe. Weather variable & hot with a shower of rain at night.

Thursday, February 23rd, 1865

To day John is engaged in hauling fire wood, I loaned Col. Smith's boy 2 yoke of oxen to haul a load of corn to the war widows. Hicks ground 18 bushels of corn. Weather cloudy & cold with a rain at night. The Elkhart is still very high. Father [Joshua James Hall] & Mother [Mahala* Sharp Hall nee Roberts] came up & spent the evening.

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

Sunday, November 13th, 1864

To day I remained at home quite sick. I let the boys ride the mules over the river after some of my oxen that had ran away. They returned at night with the oxen. Weather changeable & rather warm.

Wednesday, September 7th, 1864

To day John left for Huntsville, with the wagon, three yoke of oxen and five bales of cotton. The boys are at work putting up a house to save some peas in. In the evening the little woman [Margaret Hall Stewart nee Sharp], Pet [Florence Mahala Hall] and I drove down to Mother's [Mahala Sharp Hall nee Roberts] in the buggy and spent the evening. Hicks ground 1 bushel of corn. Weather cloudy with occasional showers of rain. Ther: 80°. At night Lieut. Allen and his comrad stopped with me.

Tuesday, September 6th, 1864

To day the boys are engaged in hunting up my oxen. I remained at home writing up this note book. Roberta [Roberta Downes Halyard nee Hall] left for home in company with Jimmy [James Wrigley Hall]. Mr. Turner & servant stopped with me for the night. Hicks ground one bushel of corn. Weather variable & warm with a light shower of rain. Ther: 88°.

Monday, September 5th, 1864

To day the boys are engaged in hunting up my oxen. Mrs. Bird left for home early in the morning and I loaned her a beef hide. The little woman [Margaret Hall Stewart nee Sharp] rode down to Hall's bluff to see Mrs. Stubblefield and spend the day with her. Roberta [Roberta Downes Halyard nee Hall] is still here. Hicks ground 2 bushels of corn after finishing the forebay floor. Weather clear & hot. Ther: 95°.

Sunday, September 4th, 1864

To day the boys went out and drove up some of my oxen. Mother [Mahala Sharp Hall nee Roberts] & Nellie [Mary Alexandrien Sharp nee Lemaire] came up & spent the day. They brought Jimmy [James Wrigley Hall] home and Roberta [Roberta Downes Halyard nee Hall] on a visit. Billy Stewart's wagon left for Crockett & I sent him 30 lbs flour. Mrs. Bird stopped in on her way from church very sick and remained all night. Weather clear & hot. Ther: 95°.

Monday, August 22nd, 1864

To day Bill is at work thrashing out some wheat. I rode down to the mill and started John with his wagon & 3 yoke of oxen to the saline after salt. The little woman [Margaret Hall Stewart nee Sharp] rode down to Mother's [Mahala Sharp Hall nee Roberts] and spent the day. Mr. Keen came over and bled my horse hawk. Weather clear and warm. Ther: 80°.

Monday, August 8th, 1864

To day the boys are still across the river, but returned home late at night with two of the oxen. Florence [Florence Mahala Hall] missed her fever. Weather changeable with a light shower of rain. Ther: 93°.

Sunday, August 7th, 1864

To day I let the boys go across the Trinity River in search of some of my oxen that has been gone for some time. Nellie [Mary Alexandrien Sharp nee Lemaire] returned home from her visit to Mother's [Mahala Sharp Hall nee Sharp]. Weather changeable & hot. Ther: 95°.

Monday, December 28th, 1863

To day Bill returned home from his visit across the river to Mrs. Tubbs. he brought with him the ox bell which had been stolen from the neck of my ox while he was running over there by one of Mr. Tubbs' negro boys. Fawn [Florence Mahala Hall] was quite sick. I remained about the house, writing up this note book. Weather clear & cold with a frost and freeze at night.

Monday, December 7th, 1863

To day the boys are at work hauling in the timber for the stable. I sent Bill again across the river after my oxen, which has been running there for some time. he succeeded in finding and driving him home. I ground 36 bushels of corn and Sam [Samuel Houston Sharp] ground 5 bushels of wheat. weather cloudy, rainy and very cold.

Sunday, December 6th, 1863

To day Sam [Samuel Houston Sharp], Fawn [Florence Mahala Hall] & I rode down to Mothers [Mahala Sharp Hall nee Roberts] and spent the day. I sent Bill across the Trinity River after one of my oxen, but he did not succeed in finding him. Weather changeable and cold.

Thursday, November 26th, 1863

To day the boys are still at work in the woods splitting boards. John lost the entire day hunting his oxen. Sam [Samuel Houston Sharp] ground 5 bushels of wheat. Dr. Murchison remained until after dinner in consequence of which I done no work on Mr. Cox's sign. Father [Joshua James Hall] came up to see Fawn [Florence Mahala Hall] who is doing pretty well with her arm. he did not remain long. Weather cloudy and cold.

Sunday, November 22nd, 1863

To day I let Bill and John ride over on the other side of the Trinity River after one of my oxen that had straid off but they had no success. Sam [Samuel Houston Sharp] & I worked on Cox's sign and succeeded in finishing the largest one. Mr. Cox's wagon came out from Crockett after the signs and remained all night. Weather clear & cool with a strong East wind blowing.

Thursday, September 24th, 1863

To day the boys finished putting up what logs they had hauled for the corn crib. Hicks made a temporary bed for my wagon to haul corn in from the field. Bill commenced pulling corn down. John spent the whole day in hunting his oxen. Sam Sharp [Samuel Houston Sharp] rode up to see Mr. Heflin & render a list of his taxable property. The mill done no grinding. I commenced putting the floor in the corn crib. weather clear & very hot.

Wednesday, September 16th, 1863

To day the boys are still at work chopping logs to build a corn crib. John lost the entire day hunting his oxen. The little woman [Margaret Hall Stewart nee Sharp] and children drove down to Mother's [Mahala Sharp Hall nee Roberts] in the buggy and spent the day there. James [James Wrigley Hall] had another chill and fever. I ground 5 bushels of corn and 2 bushels of Rye. weather cloudy & warm with occasional light showers of rain.

Thursday, August 27th, 1863

To day the boys was compelled to quit chopping logs in order to work on the mill levee in consequence of a small rend made in it last night. John succeeded in finding his oxen. The little woman [Margaret Hall Stewart nee Sharp] rode Hawk down to Mother's [Mahala Sharp Hall nee Roberts] and back. Mr. T.R. Dailey delivered 3590 lbs of lint cotton. In consequence of the low water in the pond, the mill could not grind. weather very changeable. at 7 o'clock A.M. the Ther. stood at 60°, and at 3 o'clock P.M. it stood at 92°.