Monday, July 23rd, 1866

To day we all left Houston by the Rail Road and had a pleasant run to Galveston, at which place we arrived all safe at 7 O'Clock P.M. and took rooms at the Washington Hotel except Mrs. Buckley who put up with Maj. Bollings family. Expenses of the day 24$ in specie. Weather clear and hot. Ther : 90°.

Saturday, July 21st, 1866

To day I drove up town in Company with Col. Wrigley to attend a meeting of the board of aldermen for the City of Liberty, and while there was re-elected Mayor of said City for the ensuing year after which I returned home and drove in the buggy to the Rail Road depot with the little woman [Margaret Hall Stewart nee Sharp], Roberta [Downes Halyard nee Hall], Florence [Hall], Jimmy [James Wrigley Hall] and negro woman Louisa and all their baggage, when we all left on the [rail]cars for Houston. Mrs. Buckley also went along with us. we arrived in Houston about 4 O'clk and put up with Mrs. Perkins. Expenses of the day 20$ specie. Weather changeable and hot with occasional showers of rain. Ther : 90°

Thursday, June 7th, 1866

The forenoon of to day, I worked at the warehouse. In the evening I remained at home & painted one shutter, after which I had another fever in addition to my other diseasements. Hicks hauled bricks and sand to the black smith shop. The little woman [Margaret Hall Stewart nee Sharp] hired a negro woman by the name of Ann, incumbered with two children. for her services as cook in addition to supporting her two children, she is to receive six dollars per month in specie, thus relieving the little woman from cooking. Weather variable and hot. Ther : 88°.

 

Tuesday, May 1st, 1866

To day I am at work at the warehouse. The Str. Royal Arch left for Galveston with Maj. Bolling on board and to whom I loaned 2 wagon sheets for the purpose of making an awning. The articles purchased by Ed. Jones for me, viz: The clothing & harness, cost me $113 specie. Col. Wrigley is still sick. Jimmy [James Wrigley Hall], Joe and Conney are still sick with measles. Florence [Mahala Hall] and Roberta [Downes Halyard nee Hall] are recovering a little. The little woman [Margaret Hall Stewart nee Sharp] hired a negro woman by the name of Winney to do her cooking & house work generally for which I am to pay her 10$ per month. Mrs. Stanwood spent the evening with us. Capt. John W. Redmond arrived from Sour Lake and stopped with me. he rode down to Frank Redmonds & spent the night. Weather variable and pleasant.

Friday, April 27th, 1866

To day I am still at work at the warehouse. Fawn [Florence Mahala Hall], Roberta [Downes Halyard nee Hall], Jimmy [James Wrigley Hall], Joe & Conney are all down with the measles. Hicks is at work in the garden. Messrs. Marbert & Gregg finished the gallery and I paid them for repairing it $25.50 specie which I regarded as very high price. A flat boat came down the [Trinity] river from Pine bluff with 64 bales of Cotton on board. I am still without a servant and the little woman [Margaret Hall Stewart nee Sharp] is still doing her own housework. Weather clear and pleasant. 

Friday, April 6th, 1866

To day I am at work at the warehouse. The steamer Col. Stell came down the river loaded down to the guards with cotton and by her I received 28 bales of Cotton also my parlor furniture and one box of bacon. I paid 127$ specie freight on said articles. After putting out my freight she left for Galveston. The Steamer Arizona took the cotton off of Capt. John T. Smith's flat boat and left for Galveston. Col. Wrigley came over from Houston on the cars. Weather cloudy and cold with occasional showers of rain throughout the day.

Tuesday, March 27th, 1866

To day I sold my mules John & Riley to Henry E. Perkins for $300 specie. Col. Wrigley left on the train for Houston carrying with him 6 mules, 1 horse & 10 sks. corn. I drove up town with the little woman [Margaret Hall Stewart nee Sharp] to purchase some articles. Capt. John W. Redmond left for Houston on the cars. Weather changeable and cool.

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.

Thursday, January 25th, 1866

To day the boys went out and got some Mulberry trees and set them out around the house yard. I drove up town in the buggy with the little woman [Margaret Hall Stewart nee Sharp] and while there purchased some articles for which I paid 12$ specie. Pet [Florence Mahala Hall] is some better. Frank [Stewart] & Burt [Roberta Downes Halyard nee Hall] are still sick. Jimmy [James Wrigley Hall] had a chill & fever. I loaned Frank Stewart two dollars and fifty cents. Lelia left on the Cars for Houston in Company with Mrs. Perkins. Weather clear and pleasant but cold at night with a frost.

Tuesday, January 16th, 1866

To day I drove up town and paid Mr. Bristley 20$ specie for some Crockery. I purchased from him a suit of clothes for $25 and one empty whiskey barrell for the little woman [Margaret Hall Stewart nee Sharp]. Weather cloudy & cold with a frost & freeze at night.

Saturday, January 13th, 1866

To day I am at work at the store house. The train from Beaumont brought over the lumber to build the Cotton shed, and in the evening the wagons hauled it down to the river. Frank Stewart and Roberta [Downes Halyard nee Hall] are both quite sick, do not improve any. The little woman [Margaret Hall Stewart nee Sharp] drove up town after a few articles. Mrs. Lund came over and spent the evening with the little woman. I purchased two shoats, for which I paid 5$ specie. Weather changeable with drizzling rain.

Saturday, December 30th, 1865

To day I am still at work at the storehouse. The steamer Kate & sloop Luna arrived from Galveston with a small freight. I shipped by the Steamer Kate 71 beef hides & 9 B/C [bales of cotton]. I then drove up town to attend a meeting of the citizens to raise a police guard, but it all ended in smoke. ? finished splitting up my wood and I paid him $2⁵⁰ specie for his labor. Weather cloudy with occasional showers of rain.

Wednesday, December 13th, 1865

To day I am still at work at the ware house. I purchased another hog weighing 150 lbs for which I paid 7$ specie. The little woman [Margaret Hall Stewart nee Sharp] drove up town after a few articles and also purchased for me some tobacco. Billy Duncan arrived from his trip up the Country. Weather variable & intensely cold with a strong North wind blowing. At night all the water in the different vessels was frozen and the ponds around town were covered with ice.

Sunday, December 10th, 1865

All the forenoon of to day I worked at the ware house. In the evening the propeller Kate and sloop Luna arrived from Galveston with considerable freight. I received by the Kate one barrel of flour and 35$ in specie due me from Charles C. Lund. Weather variable and pleasant.

Wednesday, November 29th, 1865

To day I am still at work at the warehouse. Hicks is engaged hauling wood. Jimmy [James Wrigley Hall] missed his chill and fever. I am still afflicted with sores, which does not seem to improve any. Frank Stewart still continues to improve. The little woman [Margaret Hall Stewart nee Sharp] drove up town and purchased a pair of shoes for which she paid 5$ specie. Weather variable and a little cool.

Wednesday, November 1st, 1865

To day we arrived in Houston just at day break. we left the Steamer and put up at the Rusk House and after breakfast for which we had to pay one dollar each specie Stewart and I left Houston on the freight train for Liberty at which place we arrived about 2 O'Clk P.M. and for our passage we paid 4$ specie. I found all my family well except Fannie who is sick and confined to her room. Weather cloudy and cold with occasional showers of rain and a strong north wind still blowing.

Friday, October 27th, 1865

To day we left the mouth of the river on the Steamer Ruthven leaving the Kate still aground in the canal and ran down to Galveston for which I had to pay $2.75 in specie. We all stopped at the Washington Hotel. Mr. Ballinger handed me $61.50 which he had collected for the warehouse at Liberty. Weather variable & cold with a strong norther blowing all day.

Wednesday, October 18th, 1865

To day I am still at work at the ware house. In the evening I rode up town in company with Wm. Leaverton who is still with me and while there I purchased a hat? form? for little Major [James Hall Sharp] for which I paid $1.50 specie. Weather clear & cold with a frost at night which is the first frost of the season ?

Thursday, September 14th, 1865

To day I went over to Mr. Patillo's shop and made two cribbage boards, one for Mr. Trawick and the other for Mr. Jones, after which I commenced papering my parlor. Charles Leaverton arrived from my mills on the mail stage, bringing us letters from our relatives and friends up the Country [Houston County] also 255$ specie. The little woman [Margaret Hall Stewart nee Sharp] drove up town in the buggy in order to get me some tobacco. Hicks is engaged in hanging the garden and house yard gates. Weather variable and cool with occasional showers of rain.

Thursday, March 30th, 1865

To day I am still in Crockett and stopping with Billy Stewart. My mule broke out of the lot last night and made his escape. Billy Stewart's negro boy York robbed my pocket book of 250$ in new issue of Confederate Money and 1$ in specie. Cols. Gregg, Jones & Crawford took dinner at Billy Stewarts. Weather clear & cool.