Sunday, January 31st, 1864

To day I remained at home writing up this journal. Mother [Mahala* Sharp Hall nee Roberts], Mrs. Brooks and the children came up and spent the day with the little woman [Margaret Hall Stewart nee Sharp]. Mr. Wiesnowsky came out from Crockett and got the sign that I painted for Mr. Cox. He went down to Father's [Joshua James Hall] after the piano that the little woman had given Burt [Roberta Downes Halyard nee Hall] but did not succeed in obtaining it. Weather cloudy and cool with occasional showers of rain. Thus closes my jottings for the month of January just past and gone.

*This Mahala is a 3rd great-grandma to the Keeper of this family history blog. She is also the mother-in-law as well as the step-mother of JMH.

Wednesday, December 1st, 1863

To day the boys commenced getting timber to build a stable. I sent John to drive the cows and calves down to the river bottom for a winter range. Sam [Samuel Houston Sharp] ground 8 bushels of wheat. I ground 2 bushels of corn and worked upon and finished painting the second sign for Mr. Cox. Fawn's [Florence Mahala Hall] arm is still slowly improving. Weather clear and cold, with a hard frost at night.

Saturday, November 28th, 1863

To day the boys are still at work in the woods splitting boards. John is still at work running tar. In the morning early the ground was covered with sleet and when I went down to the stables I found my horse Gladiator had seriously hurt himself some time during last night. he died about 10 o'clock a.m. from the injury, thus perished the finest horse that was in the County, and one that I had refused twelve hundred dollars for. Poor old horse let him die and he has now ended his labors on earth. Fawn [Florence Mahala Hall] is still improving with her arm. Sam [Samuel Houston Sharp] ground 10 bushels of wheat and 1½ bushels of corn. I had the skin taken off of Gladiator, and intend keeping the same to remind me of him. I am at work painting Mr. Cox's sign. Weather clear and bitter cold, with a hard freeze at night the ice forming ½ in. thick in all the vessels that had water in them.

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.

Wednesday, November 25th, 1863

To day the boys are still at work in the woods splitting boards. John went up to Mrs. Bird's to haul in and house her potatoes. Sam [Samuel Houston Sharp] ground 4 bushels of wheat. I am still at work painting Mr. Cox's sign. Mother [Mahala Sharp Hall nee Roberts] came up and spent the day. The little woman [Margaret Hall Stewart nee Sharp] rode up to Mrs. Birds and while she was absent my daughter Florence [Florence Mahala Hall] fell from the house gallery and dislocated the Radius bone of the right fore arm at the elbow joint. I sent for Dr. Murchison who came to see her and remained all night. Weather clear & cold with a hard frost at night.

Tuesday, November 24th, 1863

To day the boys are still at work in the woods splitting boards. John is at work hauling wood. Sam [Samuel Houston Sharp] ground 5 bushels of wheat. I am engaged painting another sign for Mr. Cox. Weather cloudy and cold. at night it cleared off and there was a hard frost and freeze.

Monday, November 23rd, 1863

To day the boys are still at work in the woods splitting boards. John is at work hauling wood. Mr. Cox's wagon left with one of the signs. Sam [Samuel Houston Sharp] ground 24 bushels of corn. Nellie [Mary Alexandrien Sharp nee Lemaire] drove Rob and the buggy down to Mothers [Mahala Sharp Hall nee Roberts] and there spent the day. Mother sent me by Nellie a new pair of pants for which I am thankful. Sam killed two nice ducks. I marked and branded eleven calves, the mark being a crop and two splits in the right ear and a swallow fork in the left ear, and branded them Æ A&E united. weather cloudy and cold, with indications of rain.

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.

Saturday, November 21st, 1863

To day the boys are still at work in the woods splitting boards. John is at work hauling boards and made two loads. The little woman [Margaret Hall Stewart nee Sharp] and children drove down to Mothers [Mahala Sharp Hall nee Roberts] in the buggy and there spent the day. I am busy at work lettering Mr. Cox's signs. Sam [Samuel Houston Sharp] ground 34 bushels of corn. Weather changeable and cold, with a frost at night.

Friday, November 20th, 1863

To day the boys are still at work in the woods splitting boards. John is at work hauling fire wood. Mr. Cox came out to see about his signs and when I could get them painted. He remained until after dinner & then left for Crockett. Sam [Samuel Houston Sharp] ground 7 bushels of wheat. I went out hunting and killed a duck the likes of which I have never before seen. it was perfectly white with a black back and black top knot tinged with purple. rather an odd fowl to me. weather changeable & cold with a hard frost at night.

Wednesday, November 18th, 1863

To day the boys are still at work in the woods splitting boards. John commenced hauling boards and made two loads. Father [Joshua James Hall], Judge Eagan, Mr. Allen and Strain came up to see but did not remain long. I ground 5 bushels of corn and then worked on Mr. Cox's signs giving them the second coat of paint. Sam [Samuel Houston Sharp] went hunting but without success. Weather changeable and warm for the season.

Tuesday, November 17th, 1863

To day the boys are still at work in the woods splitting boards. John drove the wagon over to Mr. Keens to have some smith work done upon it. Mother [Mahala Sharp Hall nee Roberts] came up and spent the afternoon. I ground 12 bushels of corn. Sam [Samuel Houston Sharp] made a frame for one of Mr. Cox's signs, which got broken in taking it down. Weather clear and warm.

Monday, November 16th, 1863

To day the boys are still at work in the woods splitting boards. John is at work in the new ground. I ground 17½ bushels of corn. Mr. Cox sent two signs out from Crockett for me to paint. Toby [Horace Oscar Hall] came up with letters for Nellie [Mary Alexandrien Sharp nee Lemaire] from her Mother [Elizabeth Lemaire Beale nee Waring]. Weather clear and pleasant, but a hard frost and freeze at night.

Friday, May 11th, 1860

Still in Crockett & at work on the sign, which I finished in the evening. at home the hands are still chopping out the cotton. weather clear & warm.

Thursday, May 10th, 1860

To day I went to Crockett, and while there commenced a sign for Haden & Wortham. at home at work in the Cotton. weather clear & warm.