Thursday, July 12th, 1866

To day we left the mouth of the Trinity River and after a boisterous run across the bay, we arrived at Galveston, at which place I found Col. Wrigley. We put up at the Washington Hotel. Weather cloudy & hot. Ther : 86°.

Wednesday, July 11th, 1866

To day we left Pipkin's place, and after a hard and boisterous run, we succeeded in reaching the mouth of the [Trinity] river, a distance of 12 miles, where we came to Anchor for the night, and had magnificient exercise fighting mosquitoes the whole night. Weather cloudy and warm with rain throughout the day. Ther : 86°.

Tuesday, July 10th, 1866

To day after bidding all the loved ones at home good bye, I left Liberty on the steamer Royal Arch in route for Galveston. we run down as far as walnut bluff and there got aground where we remained two hours. after getting off we run down to Pipkins place and there tied up for the night. Weather cloudy and hot with occasional showers of rain. Ther: 88°.

Saturday, June 23rd, 1866

To day I am at work at the warehouse. Col. Wrigley & the hands finished the black smith shop, but are yet at work on the shed. The Str. Indian No. 2 arrived from Galveston and after discharging some freight she proceeded on her voyage up the [Trinity] river. The river is now falling very rapidly. I am still suffering with my afflictions. Capt. Dawson is quite sick & Confined to his bed. Weather variable & hot. Ther : 90°.

Sunday, June 17th, 1866

To day Capt. Dawson and family spent the day with us. The Steamers A.S. Ruthven and Col. Stell passed down the [Trinity] river bound for Galveston. I am still suffering with the itch and cough. Weather cloudy and cool for the season with a north wind blowing. Ther : 80°.

Thursday, June 14th, 1866

To day I am at the warehouse in the morning at work. In the evening I remained at home and painted one shutter. The Str. Indian No. 2 came down the [Trinity] river and proceeded on her voyage to Galveston. I am still sick with the cough. Hicks, Montgomery and Ed are at work in the corn. Weather clear and hot. Ther : 90°.

Friday, June 8th, 1866

The forenoon of to day I worked at the warehouse. The evening I spent at home and painted another shutter. I took quinine all day and missed the fever. I am however suffering severely with the cough. Hicks is at work in the garden. The Str. Arizona came down the [Trinity] river and proceeded on her voyage to Galveston. Weather changeable and hot. Ther : 86°.

Saturday, June 2nd, 1866

To day I am at work at the warehouse. Col. Wrigley, with the hands, let the McKim house down and cut out several doors in order to convert the building into a blacksmith shop. The steamer Ruthven arrived from Galveston bound up the [Trinity] river, and after putting off some freight she left on her voyage. Weather variable and hot with a rain at night. Ther : 88°.
 

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.

Saturday, May 12th, 1866

To day I am at work at the warehouse. The Steamer Col. Stell arrived from Galveston bound up the [Trinity] river. I received by her one Bbl ale. I purchased from G.T. Hanks one gray horse 9 years old for which I paid him $115. I am still suffering with the itch & sore throat. Jimmy [James Wrigley Hall] had another fever. Capt. Redmond finished painting the priming coat upon all the exterior portion of my house except the door & window blinds. Weather variable and warm.

Friday, May 11th, 1866

To day I am at work at the Warehouse. The steamer Ruthven arrived from Galveston bound up the [Trinity] river. she discharged a little freight. In the evening I drove up town and had my throat carterized or burnt with caustic. Jimmy [James Wrigley Hall] had a fever. the rest of the children are well. Capt. John Redmond is at work painting my house. Weather variable and warm. 

Friday, May 4th, 1866

To day I am still at work at the warehouse. The Str. Emery passed down the [Trinity] river with a full load of Cotton. James Wrigley is Considerably brused up by his fall from the wagon in the run away scrape last evening. Jimmy [James Wrigley Hall] and Josephine [Mahala Hall] are still recovering slowly from the measles. Capt. John W. Redmond is still with me. Ed. Jones left for Houston on horse back. Weather variable and warm. 

Wednesday, April 25th, 1866

To day I am at work at the warehouse. The steamer Royal Arch, after taking on her cargo, left for Galveston. Ed. Jones went on her and I sent by her 9 bales of Cotton, consigned to Messrs. J.C. & S.R. Smith & Co. to be sold for my a/c. The steamer Ruthven arrived from Galveston heavy loaded for the upper [Trinity] river. after discharging a few Bbls. of flour she proceeded on her voyage. Fawn [Florence Mahala Hall] is still improving. Roberta [Downes Halyard nee Hall] is still sick with the measles. They also broke out on Conney, making three cases down at once. Weather clear and pleasant. 

Tuesday, April 24th, 1866

To day I am at work at the warehouse. The steamer Royal Arch discharging her cargo. The [Trinity] river is still falling. Fawn [Florence Mahala Hall] is still improving. Roberta [Downes Halyard nee Hall] has the measles broken out on her plentifully. Ed. Jones arrived from the up Country [Houston County]. Messrs. Marbert & Gregg commenced working on the gallery to my residence. Weather clear and warm.

 

Monday, April 23rd, 1866

To day I am at work at the warehouse. The Steamer Emery still at work at the raft, and succeeded in effecting a passage about 5.P.M. and left for the upper [Trinity] river. The Steamer Royal Arch arrived from Galveston bringing me one Bbl. flour. Fawn [Florence Mahala Hall] is still improving. Roberta [Downes Halyard nee Hall] is still sick, the measles however have not made their appearance.The little woman [Margaret Hall Stewart nee Sharp] is still doing her own house work. Weather clear and warm but rather cool at night. 

Sunday, April 22nd, 1866

To day I am very busy at the warehouse loading the steamer Emery which has just arrived from Galveston with Nichols freight. after loading her she attempted to work her way through the raft but did not succeed to day. Florence [Mahala Hall] is still improving the measles have commenced disappearing. Roberta [Downes Halyard nee Hall] still sick. The [Trinity] river still falling. The little woman [Margaret Hall Stewart nee Sharp] still cooking. Weather variable and pleasant.

Saturday, April 21st, 1866

To day I was compelled to work at the warehouse. Florence [Mahala Hall] is still sick with the measles, but improving a little. Roberta [Downes Halyard nee Hall] still sick. The Steamer Col. Stell failed to get through the raft on yesterday as stated but succeeded on to day, and left for the upper [Trinity] river about 10 a.m. The river still falling. The little woman [Margaret Hall Stewart nee Sharp] still cooking. Weather variable and cool. 

Friday, April 20th, 1866

To day I am at work at the warehouse. Florence [Mahala Hall] is still sick with the measles. Dr. Shelby called to see her. Roberta [Downes Halyard nee Hall] is still sick. The steamer Col. Stell arrived from Galveston with full freight and left for the up river. The [Trinity] river is falling a little. Weather variable & cool with showers of rain. 

Thursday, April 19th, 1866

To day I am still at work at the warehouse. Florence [Mahala Hall] is very sick with the measles and in consequence of which Dr. Shelby was called in. Roberta [Downes Halyard nee Hall] still has the fever though the measles have not yet made its appearance. Hicks is at work setting out potato slips. The [Trinity] river is now on a stand. I received from Col. Wrigley at Houston one Bbl. of corn meal. Weather cloudy with a hard rain, and rather cold,a norther blowing. 

Wednesday, April 18th, 1866

To day I drove up town with Capt. Sterling and while there I instituted suit against Henry my for[mer] cook for stealing. The measles has made its appearance on Florence [Mahala Hall] and she is quite sick with it. Roberta [Downes Halyard nee Hall] is no better, and I am satisfied that she too has the measles. The [Trinity] river still continues to rise and is overflowing all the bottom lands. The little woman [Margaret Hall Stewart nee Sharp] is still cooking. Weather variable & warm with occasional showers of rain.