Saturday, October 19th, 1865

To day I am still at work at the ware house. Wm. Leaverton is still with me. My daughter Florence [Florence Mahala Hall] attained the 5th anniversary of her birth day. The little woman [Margaret Hall Stewart nee Sharp] made her a first rate birth day cake. My horse Rob got out of the stable & ran off. Weather clear and rather cool.

Thursday, March 9th, 1865

To day John is at work filling up the stalls in the stable. All the women are at work in the garden. Nellie* [Mary Alexandrien Sharp nee Lemaire] came home from Mrs. Byrds. Hicks ground 6 bushels of wheat & 21 bushels of corn. Sam* Sharp came home from the army on a short visit. Weather changeable & cold with an occasional shower of sleet at night there was a hard frost & freeze which I think will destroy all the fruit & vegetation now put forth. 

*This Nellie and Sam are 2nd great-grandparents to the Keeper of this family history blog.

Tuesday, March 22nd, 1864

To day Bill is at work putting troughs in all the stalls in the stable. John is at work hauling fire wood. Sam* [Samuel Houston Sharp] left for Crockett to join his company. I ground 7½ bushels of wheat & 2 bushels of corn. Billy Stewart and Mr. Fitzsimmons are still with me. In the evening I rode down to Mother's [Mahala* Sharp Hall nee Roberts] in company with Billy Stewart. we found her much improved in health. Weather clear & cold with a hard frost at night.

*This Sam is a 2nd great-grandpa to the Keeper of this family history blog. Mahala is a 3rd great-grandma, and is Sam's mother. She is also the step-mother as well as the mother-in-law of JMH.

Saturday, January 23rd, 1864

To day the boys finished covering in the stables. Bill is at work in the garden. Mr. Keen came over and spent the day. Nellie* [Mary Alexandrien Sharp nee Lemaire] is now up and entirely recovered from her late indisposition. I ground 10 bushels of corn. Weather clear and pleasant, another perfect spring day.

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

Friday, January 22nd, 1864

To day the boys are at work covering in the stables. The little woman [Margaret Hall Stewart nee Sharp] is gardening. Mother [Mahala* Sharp Hall nee Roberts] sent the little woman two shoats & 3 turkeys. I let Mother have 30 lbs of lint cotton. I ground 23½ bushels of corn & 3 bushels of wheat. Weather clear & warm for the season, quite another spring day.

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

Thursday, January 21st, 1864

To day Hicks is at work covering in the stables. Bill and John are at work in the garden. Nellie* [Mary Alexandrien Sharp nee Lemaire] is still improving slowly. I ground 10 bushels of corn and 2 bushels of wheat. Mother [Mahala* Sharp Hall nee Roberts] left for home early in the morning. Weather clear and pleasant, another spring day.

*This Nellie is a 2nd great-grandma to the Keeper of this family history blog. Mahala is her mother-in-law.

Wednesday, January 20th, 1864

To day the boys are at work on the stables. Sam* [Samuel Houston Sharp] left Crockett in route for Marshall. I ground 15 bushels of corn. The little woman [Margaret Hall Stewart nee Sharp] planted some English peas in the garden. Mother [Mahala* Sharp Hall nee Roberts] came up and remained all night with Nellie* [Mary Alexandrien Sharp nee Lemaire], who is recovering slowly from her late confinement. Weather clear and warm for the season. in fact a perfect spring day.

*This Sam and Nellie are 2nd great-grandparents to the Keeper of this family history blog. Margaret is Sam's sister (and wife as well as step-sister to JMH). Mahala is Sam and Margaret's mother.

Monday, January 18th, 1864

To day the boys are at work on the stables. Sam* [Samuel Houston Sharp] rode my horse Ratler to Crockett and was conscripted and put into the army of the Confederacy Sans Serimonia. I let Sam have 100$ before he left for Crockett. Mother [Mahala* Sharp Hall nee Roberts] and the children [Roberta and Toby] left for home. In the evening Mr. Thomas Sharp arrived from the wheat region with two loads of wheat which he left at the mill. He and Mr. Anderson remained with me for the night. I ground 51 bushels of corn. Weather changeable and cold, with a hard freeze at night.

*This Sam is a 2nd great-grandpa to the Keeper of this family history blog. Mahala is his mother, and is step-mother as well as mother-in-law to JMH.

Thursday, January 14th, 1864

To day the boys are at work covering in the stables. I rode my horse Rob to Crockett and while there was again arrested by the conscript officer. when they will get through conscripting me God only knows for one set of officers pulls down as fast as the others set up. I however after much difficulty attained another discharge, but how long it will last I cannot say. 

When I returned home I found Dr. Murchison and Mother [Mahala* Sharp Hall nee Roberts] in attendance upon Nellie* [Mary Alexandrien Sharp nee Lemaire] whose symptoms are more aggravating. Weather changeable and rather cold.

*This Mahala is a 3rd great-grandma to the Keeper of this family history blog. Nellie is pregnant, and is married to Mahala's son, Sam.

Saturday, January 9th, 1864

To day the boys are still at work covering in the stables. John is at work hauling wood. Sam* [Samuel Houston Sharp] rode out hog hunting but without any success. I ground 21 bushels of corn. Mother [Mahala* Sharp Hall nee Roberts] sent up one hog which weighed 201 pounds. Weather changeable and bitter cold. The mill pond still frozen over one inch thick.

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

Friday, January 8th, 1864

To day the boys are still at work covering in the stables. John is at work hauling wood and it keeps one hand busy to run the fires during the present cold spell. Mother [Mahala* Sharp Hall nee Roberts] came up and spent the day. Sam* [Samuel Houston Sharp] & I ground 10 bushels of wheat. Weather clear and bitter cold. The mill pond still being frozen over.

*This Mahala is a 3rd great-grandma to the Keeper of this family history blog. Sam is her son, and is a 2nd great-grandpa to Keeper.

Thursday, January 7th, 1864

To day the boys are still at work covering in the stables. John is at work chopping wood in the new ground. Sam* [Samuel Houston Sharp] & I ground 10 bushels of wheat & 3½ bushels of corn. Weather clear and bitter cold, the mill pond still frozen over.

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

Wednesday, January 6th, 1864

To day the boys are at work covering in the stables. John is at work hauling wood. I ground 23 bushels of corn and 2 bushels of wheat. Sam* [Samuel Houston Sharp] rode out hog hunting but without any success. Weather changeable and bitter cold, the mill pond still being frozen over one inch thick.

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

Tuesday, January 5th, 1864

To day the boys are at work on the stables, covering them in. Sam* [Samuel Houston Sharp] rode down to Hall's bluff after some lead. I ground 8 bushels of wheat & 2½ bushels of corn. Weather changeable & bitter cold, the mill pond still being frozen over, and ice plenty. Mr. Hughes stopped with me for the night & from whom I purchased some sewing thread &c.

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

Thursday, December 24th, 1863

To day the boys are still at work on the stables. I sent John over to Rives' still after the demijohn & wallet also for some whiskey but he did not get any in consequence of the still house having been robbed the night before. I ground 12 bushels of corn, and Sam* [Samuel Houston Sharp] ground 3 bushels of wheat. In the evening Capt. Peacock and I rode down to Fathers [Joshua James Hall] and back. Times are quite brisk at the house preparing for Christmas dinner. Weather changeable & cool with occasional showers of rain.

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

Wednesday, December 23rd, 1863

To day the boys are still at work on the stables. Capt. Peacock arrived from Liberty on his way to Parker's bluff. he stopped with me to spend the Christmas festivities. I ground 28 bushels of corn. Weather cloudy and warm with a hard rain at night.

Tuesday, December 22nd, 1863

To day the boys are still at work on the stables. I sent John across the Trinity river with Father [Joshua James Hall] to Rives' still after some whiskey, but they did not get any. they left my demijohn and wallet over there which will cost another trip. I ground 24 bushels of corn. Weather cloudy and warm with a hard rain at night.

Monday, December 21st, 1863

To day the boys are at work on the stables. I drove my horse (Rob) and buggy to Crockett and back. while there I left with L.E. Downes 15 pairs of russett brogans for him to sell for me. I purchased one gallon of whiskey for which I paid 80$ 1 oz. of the oil of Sassafras at 5¢ per oz. 1 lb. of candy at 3$. I record these prices for the benefit of those that come after me, in order that they may see some of the benefits that war brings upon the Country and people. Sam* [Samuel Houston Sharp] ground 9½ bushels of corn. Mother* [Mahala Sharp Hall nee Roberts] went home leaving the little woman [Margaret Hall Stewart nee Sharp] and babe [Josephine] all doing well. Weather changeable and cold, with indications of rain.

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

Friday, December 18th, 1863

In the morning the boys worked on the stables. Sam* [Samuel Houston Sharp] rode out with Mr. Keen and succeeded in killing 6 hogs which the boys cleaned in the evening. they weighed 637 lbs. Mr. Keen came up to see the little new responsibility [Josephine]. he however did not stay long. Mother* [Mahala Sharp Hall nee Roberts] rode down home and returned with Father [Joshua James Hall] in the evening, who came up to see the little stranger [Josephine]. Father did not remain long. I ground 18 bushels of corn. Weather clear and cold, with a hard frost and freeze at night.

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

Wednesday, December 16th, 1863

To day the boys are at work on the stables. John is at work hauling wood. Mother [Mahala Sharp Hall nee Roberts] is still here. Rachael however went home. Not having caught sufficient head of water, the mill done no grinding. Weather cloudy, disagreeable & very cold with a hard frost and freeze at night, the ice forming in all the vessels that had water in them ½ inch thick.