Saturday, September 8th, 1866

To day I am at work at the warehouse. In the evening I drove up town in my buggy with my horse Charley working in order to try him. The boys finished chopping white oak blocks. Hicks went to [still?] and upon his return he had a hard chill & fever. Capt. Redman left on his pony and rode out in the Country and remained all night. Dr. Tarleton and wife are still here. Weather cloudy and hot with occasional showers of rain and a severe storm at night attended with a flood of rain.

Thursday, August 16th, 1866

To day during the forenoon I worked at the warehouse. In the evening I worked on the glass border assisted by Ed. Smith. Hicks finished the wagon shed. Capt. John W. Redman is still with me. Ed. Jones has recovered from his illness. Weather variable and hot, with a hard thunder storm & rain. Ther : 95°.

Thursday, August 2nd, 1866

To day I worked at the warehouse. Capt. John W. Redman is still with me. Weather variable & hot. Ther : 93°. In the evening a severe thunder storm came up attended with severe & intense rain and wind from the North, which caused the thermometer to run down to 80° & stopped all kind of business.

Sunday, July 29th, 1866

To day I went to the warehouse and spent the forenoon reading. Jimmy [James Wrigley Hall] had another fever. Weather clear and very hot. Ther: 97° being one degree higher than on yesterday. At night a thunder storm came up, attended with rain, which cooled the air a little.

Tuesday, October 24th, 1865

To day I am still at work at the warehouse. Billy Stewart is still with me. The propeller Kate arrived at the lower landing or Walnut bluff from Galveston. I am sorely afflicted with a boil on my "stearne" Weather variable and pleasant until night when there was a severe rain storm which lasted nearly all night.

Friday, September 30th, 1864

To day John is engaged in hauling wood. Bill is at work setting out eschalots in the garden. I am engaged in making surcingles and made one for Mother [Mahala Sharp Hall nee Roberts] & one for Burt [Roberta Downes Halyard nee Hall]. Capt. Peacock arrived & stopped with me for the night on his way to Liberty from Parker's bluff at which place he has been confined for some time with chill & fever. Weather cloudy & warm with a hard rain & storm at night blowing down the shade trees around the house. Ther: 86°. Thus I close my notes for the month of September and also the noting of the standing of the thermometer until next summer when I will again give it, if I am permitted to live so long.

Thursday, September 29th, 1864

To day I sent Bill with the little wagon & mules and one bale of cotton to Crockett. The little woman [Margaret Hall Stewart nee Sharp] (who missed her fever) and Mother [Mahala Sharp Hall nee Roberts] left for Crockett and returned home at night with the little wagon, they having sold the bale of cotton for 47 lbs of coffee. Hicks ground 1 bushel of corn. I worked in the shop. John returned from Mr. Keen's with the wagon late at night. Weather cloudy & warm. Ther: 86° with a hard rain & storm at night.

Tuesday, March 8th, 1864

To day the boys are at work in the new ground. Hicks ground 27½ bushels of corn. I am at work in the garden sticking the english peas. Mother [Mahala* Sharp Hall nee Roberts] & Roberta [Berta Downes Halyard nee Hall] came up and remained all night. Weather changeable & warm. At night there was a considerable storm attended with thunder and lightning. It also hailed and rained.

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

Monday, March 7th, 1864

To day the boys are at work in the bottom field. I drove my horse and buggy over to Mr. Keen's and got him to do some repairs on the buggy and also to shoe my horse Ratler for Sam* [Samuel Houston Sharp] to ride to the army. Sam made Pet [Florence Mahala Hall] a pair of shoes. The mill ground 1½ bushels of corn. Weather changeable & rather warm. At night it clouded up and rained very hard, which was attended with considerable thunder and lightening and hail fell as large as a partridge egg.

*This Sam is a 2nd great-grandpa to the Keeper of this family history blog. He is also the brother-in-law as well as the step-brother of JMH.