Tuesday, May 22nd, 1866

To day the steamer Royal Arch arrived from Galveston, with a little freight on board. I worked at the warehouse. Capt. John W. Redmond came home having got in a drunken spree, lost his horse, saddle, blanket and coat and remained in the prairie all night. Hicks is engaged in hauling freight. He carried two chairs and the centre table to the shop for repairs. He brought home the curtain frames for the windows. Weather clear and pleasant.

Tuesday, May 23rd, 1865

To day I am still at Booths. The steamer Orizaba arrived from Galveston, with Spaight's Regiment on board. The soldiers of this command upon coming ashore immediately proceeded to sack Col. Wrigley's warehouse, stealing every species of property they could find, both public and private. some one of the party stold my fine double barrel shot gun, saddle, bridle and blanket out of the ware house. May my eternal curse rest upon the scoundrel who done it. The reign of terror is now complete in the land. our own soldiers are doing worse than the enemy could under any circumstances could do. The Steamers Ruthven & Orizaba left in order to seek a place of safety from the soldiers. At night Col. Wrigley arrived from Houston perfectly disgusted with the opperation of our soldiers, and the disgusting lawlessness of our citizens. Weather clear & hot.

Wednesday, February 15th, 1865

To day John is engaged hauling wood. I finished repairing my saddle. James Roberts, Nellie* [Mary Alexandrien Sharp nee Lemaire], Burt [Roberta Downes Halyard nee Hall] & Toby [Horace Oscar Hall] all left for Mother's [Mahala* Sharp Hall nee Roberts]. Hicks ground 27 bushels of corn. At night Capt. McCown & 2 other soldiers stopped with me. Weather clear and pleasant.

*This Nellie is a 2nd great-grandma to the Keeper of this family history blog. Mahala is a 3rd great-grandma, and is Nellie's mother-in-law.

Tuesday, February 14th, 1865

To day John is at work in the garden. The little woman [Margaret Hall Stewart nee Sharp] planted english peas. I am at work repairing my saddle. James Roberts & John, early in the morning again went to the pidgeon roost & killed 22 of them. Roberts, Nellie* [Mary Alexandrien Sharp nee Lemaire], Burt [Roberta Downes Halyard nee Hall] & Toby [Horace Oscar Hall] are still here. Weather variable & rather warm.

*This Nellie is a 2nd great-grandma to the Keeper of this family history blog. Burt and Toby are half-siblings to her husband, Sam Sharp, AND to JMH.

Thursday, August 4th, 1864

To day Bill is still at work pulling fodder. John returned from Crockett with 200 lbs of sugar and the saddle. Mother [Mahala Sharp Hall nee Roberts] & Mrs. Keen came up and spent the day. Mrs. Keen again drew the thread in the harness & sley of the loom which the little woman [Margaret Hall Stewart nee Sharp] had had cut out. Florence [Florence Mahala Hall] & Josephine [Josephine Martha Hall] both had fevers. I am rather unwell myself. Weather changeable and hot. Ther: 93°.

Wednesday, August 3rd, 1864

To day Bill is at work in the lower field pulling fodder. I sent John to Crockett after some sugar. by him I sent to Billy Stewart 2 bushels of meal, 50 lbs. flour & 3 doz. eggs. Mother [Mahala Sharp Hall nee Roberts] & Nellie [Mary Alexandrien Sharp nee Lemaire] also rode to Crockett & while there Nellie procured for me from Mr. Craddock a saddle for which she paid 95$. I learned that Crockett was nearly consumed by fire on yesterday. The fire broke out about 10 o'clock a.m. and burnt until 2 o'clk P.M. consuming in all about 25 houses. The little woman [Margaret Hall Stewart nee Sharp] & I with the children drove down to the mill & while there Mr. Miller the Govt. agent called upon me for one half of my cotton, which I declined to let go. Weather changeable & hot. Ther: 95°.

Monday, September 21st, 1863

To day the boys finished hauling logs to build the body or walls of the corn crib. Mr. Dailey delivered 1635 lbs of lint cotton. The little woman [Margaret Hall Stewart nee Sharp] rode hawk down to Mothers [Mahala Sharp Hall nee Roberts] and back after some candles, which she succeeded in getting. Sam [Samuel Houston Sharp] rode over to Mr. Keen's after my saddle which he got but it was not mended in fact it was worse broken then when I took it for repairs. I ground 5 bushels of corn. weather clear & hot but cool at night.

Monday, September 14th, 1863

To day the boys are at work chopping logs to build a corn crib. Nellie [Mary Alexandrien Sharp nee Lemaire] rode Hawk down to Mothers [Mahala Sharp Hall nee Roberts] and back but failed to bring Fawn [Florence Mahala Hall] home with her. Wolf is still improving and will soon be well. James [James Wrigley Hall] had a chill and fever. Sam [Samuel Houston Sharp] rode over to Mr. Keen's after my saddle but did not get it. I ground 7 bushels of corn. weather cloudy & warm with occasional showers of rain.

Saturday, September 5th, 1863

To day the boys are still at work hauling logs & preparing to put up the cotton house. Sam [Samuel Houston Sharp] rode over to Mr. Keen's after my saddle and also to the Post office. Father [Joshua James Hall] came up to see us but did not remain long. My son James [James Wrigley Hall] missed his chill and fever. In consequence of the low water the mill done no grinding. weather clear and hot.

Saturday, August 29th, 1863

To day the boys are at work in building the tar kiln and in picking peas. I drove my horse and buggy up to Mr. Keen's to have my saddle fixed up and carried Fawn [Florence Mahala Hall] up with me, but as the old gentleman was absent from home I did not succeed in my mission. In consequence of the continued low water in the pond, the mill done no grinding. weather changeable & hot. Ther: 92°.

Monday, January 12th, 1863

To day Sam* Sharp and I made a first rate saddlers horse. I ground only 5 bushels of corn. The boys are engaged in getting out and hauling garden posts. At night Capt. Peacock and Solomon Levy came out from Crockett in a buggy in route for Magnolia and stoped with me for the night. weather changeable and warm with indications of rain.

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

Monday, October 28th, 1861

To day I sent Charley Lund to Galveston on the Steamer Ruthven with the bridles & saddles we had made up for the Confederate States Army. I also sent Capt. Wrigley some supplies for the Guards. Business rather dull. The workmen raised a part of the frame of my house. The sick at home are all well again. weather cloudy & very warm. I was taken very sick in the evening and passed a very unpleasant night.

Saturday, August 10th, 1861

To day I went up to the mill in company with Father and found J. Harwell my miller busy grinding corn. he is still however in feeble health. In the evening I returned to Father's and employed myself in repairing my saddle. weather clear & good hot.

Thursday, December 13th, 1860

To day I brought Maggie, Burta & Florence home in the buggy. Charley Hall left for Crockett and to remain there. I loaned him Sam Sharp's saddles.weather clear & cool.

Sunday, May 27th, 1860

To day the little woman in company with Mr. Hepperla* went to see her mother and in returning was thrown from Mustapha through the negligence of the one who fastened on the saddle. no hurt however only a little vexed. Bill & Martin made another load to day. Sam Sharp still sick. Weather clear dry & warm.

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*Crockett Argus, began publication in 1857. John C. Hepperla, publisher, died of typhoid fever at Camp McLeod, Va., in 1861. His office was located on the SW corner of the public square and he shared with W. A. Stewart and James M. Hall, who owned the building. Hepperla favored H.R. Runnels for governor in 1857, and opposed Sam Houston. "Come Now and Let Us Reason Together" was this paper's motto.