Friday, March 2nd, 1866

To day I am confined at home with my Cough which is growing worse. Hicks is at work in the orchard preparing it for planting. Frank Stewart still improving a little and still determined to leave for Crockett. The little woman [Margaret Hall Stewart nee Sharp] and children still have sore eyes. Col. Wrigley finished the school house & is now ready for business opperations. Mrs. Massie is still here. At night the steamer Indian No. 2 arrived from Galveston. Weather clear & pleasant.

Tuesday, February 27th, 1866

To day I finished papering the school house for Col. Wrigley. I drove up town and settled in full with Mr. Baldwin & Dr. Rives. Hicks & Albert are working in the garden. My cough & cold are no better. The little woman [Margaret Hall Stewart nee Sharp] still afflicted with sore eyes. Frank [Stewart] still confined to his bed. I purchased from the Str. Col. Stell which is still here one Barrel of irish potatoes for which I paid 5$ specie. Weather clear & pleasant. Mrs. Massie still here.

Monday, February 26th, 1866

To day I commenced papering the schoolhouse for Col. Wrigley and the one upon which he has been working. I am but little if any better of my cough and cold. Frank [Stewart] is still confined to his bed. Mrs. Massie is still here. Berta [Roberta Downes Halyard nee Hall] & Fanny spent the night at Mrs. Beale's* [Elizabeth Lemaire Beale nee Waring]. The little woman [Margaret Hall Stewart nee Hall] is still suffering with sore eyes. Weather clear and pleasant.

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

Monday, February 12th, 1866

To day I spent nearly the entire day at the warehouse. Col. Wrigley still at work on the school house. Hicks is at work in the garden and planted out irish potatoes. Albert is at work hauling wood. The little woman [Margaret Hall Stewart nee Sharp] drove up town after some medicine for me. Frank [Stewart] is still quite sick. Roberta [Downes Halyard nee Hall] is rather worse. All the children are suffering with sore eyes. I am still suffering with cough & cold. Weather variable and cold.

Wednesday, February 7th, 1866

To day I worked at the warehouse although suffering greatly with a Cough & sore throat which does not seem to improve any. Frank [Stewart] and Berta [Roberta Downes Halyard nee Hall] are still quite sick. Hicks and Albert are at work chopping wood. Col. Wrigley still at work on the school house. At night there was a surprise party at Col. Wrigley's to which the little woman [Margaret Hall Stewart nee Sharp] & I was compelled to go. The party was a brilliant little affair and passed off to the general satisfaction of all concerned. Weather clear and cold with a frost at night.

Saturday, February 3rd, 1866

To day I remained at home, not being able to go out in consequence of a bad cold, cough and sore throat. Hicks still at work at the school house for Col. Wrigley. Frank [Stewart] & Burt [Roberta Downes Halyard nee Hall] are still sick, and I see no change for the better. Mrs. Massie still here sewing for the little woman [Margaret Hall Stewart nee Sharp]. she however left for home late in the evening. Weather variable and cold.

Friday, February 2nd, 1866

To day I am still confined home with my cough and cold. The little woman [Margaret Hall Stewart nee Sharp] and Albert worked in the garden. Hicks still at work on the school house for Col. Wrigley. Ed. Jones gave a dancing party up town. Mrs. Massie is still at work sewing. Burt [Roberta Downes Halyard nee Hall] and Frank [Stewart] still sick. Weather variable and cool.

Thursday, February 1st, 1866

 
To day I am so sorely afflicted with a cough and cold as to render me entirely unfit for business. The little woman [Margaret Hall Stewart nee Sharp] and Mrs. Wrigley drove up town to purchase a few articles. Hicks is still at work on the school house for Col. Wrigley. Albert worked in the garden setting out onions. Mrs. Massie still here sewing for the little woman. Frank [Stewart] and Burt [Roberta Downes Halyard nee Hall] are no better. Weather variable and cool.

Wednesday, January 31st, 1866

To day Lelia & Ed. Jones arrived home from Houston. Hicks & Albert assisted Col. Wrigley on the school house. Mrs. Massie is still here. Frank [Stewart] & Burt [Roberta Downes Halyard nee Hall] still sick. Weather variable & unpleasant. Thus I close my notes for the month of January.

Tuesday, January 30th, 1866

To day I am still at work at the warehouse. Col. Wrigley is still engaged in moving the Smith house. he succeeded in getting it up to the new location and blocking it up. Hicks and Albert assisted him all day. The sloop Gray Hound left for Galveston. I drove up town in company with the little woman [Margaret Hall Stewart nee Sharp]. we purchased 20 oranges, apples, banannas & cocoa nuts. Jimmy [James Wrigley Hall] is better. Frank [Stewart] & Burt [Roberta Downes Halyard nee Hall] are still sick. Weather clear and pleasant.

Monday, January 29th, 1866

To day I am at work at the Warehouse. The little woman [Margaret Hall Stewart nee Sharp] drove out after Mrs. Masie, who came home with her, and commenced sewing at 6 bits per day. Hicks & Albert hauled pickets all day for Mrs. Beale* [Elizabeth Lemaire Beale nee Waring]. Col. Wrigley commenced moving the Smith house to a new location in order to convert it into a school house. The sloop Gray Hound arrived from Galveston with some freight on board. Weather clear and pleasant.

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

Saturday, January 27th, 1866

To day I am at work at the warehouse. Col. Wrigley received a load of lumber from Beaumont to build a school house with. Hicks & Albert set out some more trees, and hauled some lumber from the cars to the school house. They also hauled some palings for Mrs. Beale* [Elizabeth Lemaire Beale nee Waring]. Frank [Stewart], Burt [Roberta Downes Halyard nee Hall] & Jimmy [James Wrigley Hall] are still sick. Weather clear & pleasant, but cold at night with another frost.

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