Saturday, December 10th, 1864

To day the boys went out hunting hogs but without any success. I assisted the little woman [Margaret Hall Stewart nee Sharp] to spool some thread to put in the loom to weave some linsey. Hicks ground 5 bushels of corn. I paid Mr. Parker 30 lbs of flour for some tallow I purchased from him some time since. Weather changeable & cold with freeze at night.

Saturday, August 6th, 1864

To day Bill is still at work pulling fodder. I let John go over to assist Mr. Keen in stacking his fodder. I rode down to the mill & delivered to Mr. Parker's negro man 32 lbs. of flour, in part payment for 27½ lbs of tallow. In the evening I rode down to Mothers [Mahala Sharp Hall nee Roberts] to see Jimmy [James Wrigley Hall]. Weather changeable & hot. Ther: 92°.

Tuesday, July 28th, 1863

To day the boys are still at work getting boards. John commenced hauling rails. The sick have all recovered once more. Sam [Samuel Houston Sharp] got back from Huntsville having procured from the Penitentiary 151 yds of cotton cloth for our family and a like amount for Mother's [Mahala Sharp Hall nee Roberts]. The wagon got down to Huntsville after much trouble and the loss of two yoke of oxen, which escaped and returned home. Nellie [Mary Alexandrien Sharp nee Lemaire] rode up to Mrs. P?'s and obtained some tallows. I ground 3 bushels of corn. weather changeable and hot with indications of rain. Ther: standing at 94°.

Tuesday, January 27th, 1863

To day the boys are still at work on the garden fence and getting on rather slowly. Sam* Sharp still at work making the loom. I ground 39½ bushels of corn and sold four bushels of meal in exchange for tallow. I also contracted with Mr. Pennington for his hogs & loaned him 2 bushels of meal. weather clear & cold with a hard freeze & frost at night.

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

Friday, January 2nd, 1863

To day Sam* Sharp and I resalted the pork that I purchased from Mr. Bird. Sam went down to Mother's [Mahala* Sharp Hall nee Roberts] and got a little tallow for the use of the mill. we then took up the Mill rocks and rebushed the spindle. Nellie* [Mary Alexandrien Hall nee Lemaire] is still quite sick but improving a little. I ground 14 bushels of corn. weather cloudy and warm with occasional showers of rain.

*Sam and Nellie are 2nd great-grandparents to the Keeper of this family history blog. Mahala is Sam's mother.