Friday, January 5th, 1866

To day I drove up town [Liberty] in my buggy and waited until the train came in from Houston by which I received sundry papers and letters. I let the little woman [Margaret Hall Stewart nee Sharp] have the buggy who drove up town & purchased some articles. I purchased from Mr. Fontaine some cups and saucers. Burt [Roberta Downes Halyard nee Hall] & Pet [Florence Mahala Hall] are sorely afflicted with the itch. Weather clear & cold with a frost and freeze at night.

Friday, December 8th, 1865

To day I am still at work at the warehouse and assisted in moving the office from the warehouse to the Store house, in order to be more comfortable. Mr. Haggart arrived from Houston on the cars in company with Mr. Brackenridge. I loaned my horse & buggy to Col. W. to drive up town after the letters and papers. Weather cloudy and cold, with occasional showers of rain.

Friday, December 16th, 1864

To day the boys are at work chopping wood. I finished the shoes I was making for little Major [James Hall Sharp]. Toby [Horace Oscar Hall] is still here. Burt [Roberta Downes Halyard nee Hall] came up to bring some papers and letters. Hicks ground 20 bushels of corn & 3 bushels of wheat. Weather cloudy & warm with occasional light showers of rain.

Sunday, February 21st, 1864

To day I drove my horse and buggy down to Mothers [Mahala* Sharp Hall nee Roberts] after the papers carrying Pet [Florence Mahala Hall] with me. Charley Hall came out from Crockett and stopped with me for the night. Bill went fishing and caught a fine mess, which is the first of the season. Weather changeable & rather cool.

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

Sunday, February 14th, 1864

To day Mr. Leaverton came over and had the impudence not only to claim the shoats spoken of in my notes of Friday last but to claim the sow too, and as a matter of course I will be compelled to prosecute him for hog stealing. I drove down to Mother's [Mahala* Sharp Hall nee Roberts] in the buggy carrying Fawn [Florence Mahala Hall] with me after the late papers. Nellie* [Mary Alexandrien Sharp nee Lemaire] who has been staying down at Mother's for several days came home with me in the buggy. Weather cloudy with light misting showers of rain. at night it rained in torrents for about one hour, and continued to rain lightly throughout the entire night.

*This Mahala is a 3rd great-grandma to the Keeper of this family history blog. Nellie is a 2nd great-grandma.

Sunday, September 27th, 1863

To day I rode my horse Rob up to the upper mill to see in what order it was in. Father [Joshua James Hall] came up to see us and brought my papers from Hall's bluff. weather hazy with indications of rain and rather hot. James [James Wrigley Hall] had a chill & fever.

Sunday, March 8th, 1863

To day the boys went to the bluff [Hall's Bluff on the banks of the Trinity River] after my gun stand & centre table and returned with them all safe. Hicks went out in search of my horse Gladiator, but returned at night without finding him. I am busy arranging my desk and papers. Capt. Rose came in the evening and remained all night with me. weather cloudy & cold.

Friday, November 21st, 1862

To day I am busy writing up the papers preparitory for a settlement with the County Court of Sam Sharp's* affairs as Assessor & Collector. The Court entered into the settlement, but not having time to complete it adjourned over until tomorrow. In the evening I went up town & soon returned home. weather clear & cool, with frost at night. [*This Sam is a 2nd great-grandpa to the Keeper of this blog]

 

Wednesday, November 12th, 1862

 
To day I am still busy in making out the Muster roll of Conscripts, conscripted by me since I have held the office of enrolling officer for Liberty County, and also in arranging all the papers belonging to said office preparitory to my resignation. The Government steamer Col. Stell arrived here from Lynchburg in quest of negro men to assist in erecting fortifications at the mouth of the Trinity River and in sinking obstructions in said river to prevent the gun boats of our enemy from ascending the same. weather cold, cloudy & rainy with a strong north wind blowing.

Tuesday, November 11th, 1862

To day I am busily engaged in fixing up my papers in the Conscript office and in putting the office in good trim for my successor whomsoever he may be. weather cold with a strong north wind blowing and a very hard rain at night.

Thursday, July 24th, 1862

To day Charley Lund and I at the request of Mrs. Wrigley examined the papers belonging to deaf Smith and among them we found his last will & testament by which he bequeathed every thing he had to Mrs. James Wrigley. I am engaged in the office. Capt. Bolling left on the cars for Houston. The boys Bill & Bob are still at work for Mr. Meyers on his house. weather clear & hot. Ther: 98°.

Monday, June 9th, 1862

To day I made the boys move the desks & papers belonging to the Provost Marshal's office to the little house belonging to Wm. Meyer which I have rented for an office and which will make a very pleasant one. One of Capt. Cook's men died and his remains was carried over on the cars. Boys engaged storing freight. My Pet Fawn has entirely recovered. Charley Lund left on the cars for Houston. weather clear & hot. Ther: at 95°.

Friday, April 5th, 1861

To day I finished filing and arranging the papers and vouchers refered to on yesterday, but did not go to the Ware house in the evening because I anticipated a return of the fever. it did not come and Richard is himself again. weather cloudy with a cold and chilly rain nearly the whole day.

Thursday, April 4th, 1861

To day I am up after spending a very sick night and went to work on the papers & accounts of the steamers belonging to the Trinity River navigation Company. The little woman [Margaret Hall Stewart nee Sharp] became very much alarmed for fear I was going to have a severe and protracted spell of sickness, but as I am up this morning she appears to be very much relieved. weather cloudy and rather warm for the season of the year with every prospect for a hard rain.

Wednesday, April 3rd, 1861

To day James Wrigley left on the steamer Ruthven for Galveston. I am still engaged in arranging the papers and vouchers named on yesterday. In the evening I had a pretty hard fever and the little woman says a chill preceeded it but I think not as I never have before had one of the articles. be that as it may I do know that I had a fever which lasted nearly all night. weather cloudy & showery.

Tuesday, April 2nd, 1861

To day I am engaged in filing and arranging the papers & vouchers belonging to the Trinity River Navigation Company. weather changable and warm with every prospect of rain.