Friday, September 23rd, 1864

To day I sent the boys after some timber to make a wagon bed. I am engaged in weaving and finished the surcingles. I then warped and beamed and drew in a set of bridle reins, and commenced weaving them. The little woman [Margaret Hall Stewart nee Sharp] & Pet [Florence Mahala Hall] are both better. Jemima was taken with another congestive chill. Burt [Roberta Downes Halyard nee Hall] still here. Hicks ground 2 bushels of corn. Weather variable, windy and very hot. Ther: 94°.

Thursday, December 10th, 1863

To day the boys raised one portion of the stables. John is still at work hauling in the timber for the stables. Sam [ Samuel Houston Sharp] rode out hog hunting but without any success. I ground 3 bushels of corn. Weather changeable and cold with a frost at night.

Wednesday, December 9th, 1863

To day the boys commenced working on the stables. John is still hauling in the stable timber. Sam [Samuel Houston Sharp] ground 4 bushels of wheat and I ground 5 bushels of corn. Weather cloudy and cold with a frost at night.

Tuesday, December 8th, 1863

To day the boys are still at work hauling timber for the stables. Sam [Samuel Houston Sharp] ground 10 bushels of wheat and I ground 16½ bushels of corn. Weather clear and cold with a hard frost at night.

Monday, December 7th, 1863

To day the boys are at work hauling in the timber for the stable. I sent Bill again across the river after my oxen, which has been running there for some time. he succeeded in finding and driving him home. I ground 36 bushels of corn and Sam [Samuel Houston Sharp] ground 5 bushels of wheat. weather cloudy, rainy and very cold.

Saturday, December 5th, 1863

To day the boys are at work at and finished getting timber for the stables. John is at work hauling the timber in. Sam ground 8 bushels of corn and 3 bushels of wheat. Fawn's [Florence Mahala Hall] arm is still improving and will now get well in the course of one month without any serious harm. I am sore afflicted with rheumatism in the right hip and not able to get about. Mother [Mahala Sharp Hall nee Roberts] and Roberta [Berta Downes Halyard nee Hall] came up to see the little woman [Margaret Hall Stewart nee Sharp] and spent the day. Weather cloudy with occasional showers of rain & rather cold.

Friday, December 4th, 1863

To day the boys are still at work getting timber to build a stable. John is at work hauling it in. Dr. Murchison came to see me but not professionally and I paid him 25$ that I borrowed from him on the 27th of last month. J.H. Leaverton paid me the 200$ that I loaned him on the 27th of last month. Sam* [Samuel Houston Sharp] ground 8 bushels of corn and 2 bushels of wheat. I worked all day painting & lettering my half bushels. Fawn's [Florence Mahala Hall] arm is still improving. Weather clear & pleasant in the morning, but cloudy, rainy and disagreeable in the evening with a hard rain at night.

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

 

Thursday, December 3rd, 1863

To day the boys are still at work getting timber to build a stable. John commenced hauling it in. Sam [Samuel Houston Sharp] rode down to Mothers [Mahala Sharp Hall nee Roberts] to fix her loom. I ground 15 bushels of corn. Fawn's [Florence Mahala Hall] arm is still improving. Weather clear and cold with a hard frost at night.

Wednesday, December 2nd, 1863

To day the boys are still at work getting timber to build a stable. John is at work chopping wood. Sam [Samuel Houston Sharp] ground 6 bushels of wheat and 4 bushels of corn. Toby [Horace Oscar Hall] came up to see Fawn [Florence Mahala Hall] whose arm is still improving. he did not remain long. Weather clear & cool with a frost at night.

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.

Friday, January 23rd, 1863

To day Hicks is still at work on the garden rails. The other boys are getting timber for garden pickets. Sam* Sharp is still at work in making the loom for Mother [Mahala* Lee Sharp Hall nee Roberts]. I ground 6 bushels of corn, and also set some of the garden posts. weather changeable and warm with drizzling showers of rain nearly all day thereby retarding all our work greatly.

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

Thursday, January 22nd, 1863

To day I rode out in the woods to select some timber suitable to make garden pickets. Hicks still at work on the garden rails. Sam* Sharp still at work on the loom (i.e.) in making the loom for Mother [Mahala* Sharp Hall nee Roberts]. I ground only 2½ bushels of corn. James Wootters stoped to see me. he was on his way to Corsicana. I am busy setting the garden posts. weather changeable & warm with occasional showers of rain.

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

Wednesday, July 16th, 1862

To day I am engaged in the office. The steamer Ruthven arrived from and departed for Galveston. The boys are at work for the Corporation in getting out timber for the convent bridge and in hauling the same. Charley & Sleepy are still at work pulling fodder. I purchased from Jack McKim 54 lbs. bacon. Lieut. E.L. Jones left on the cars for Houston in route for Camp Waul. weather changeable & hot, with a shower of rain at night. Ther. 90°.

Tuesday, July 1st, 1862

To day I am busy in the office making out war tax roles for Charley Lund. The boys are engaged in hauling the jail timber from the swamp to the jail building. The other boys (i.e., Bob & Charley) are busy working out the potatoes. weather clear & hot. Ther: at 98°.

Friday, June 27th, 1862

To day I am busy in the office. I loaned my horse Rat to Capt. Frankland to ride to Smith's point. The Steamer Ruthven arrived from and left for Galveston. The boys finished getting timber in the swamp for the County jail. Capt. James Wrigley, wife and son left on the cars for Camp Waul in Washington Co. weather clear & very hot. Ther: 96°.

Thursday, June 26th, 1862

To day I am busy in the office working on the war tax Collector's advertisements of sale of lands for which the tax had not been paid, and succeeded in finishing them. The boys are still in the swamp getting out jail timber. Capt. W.* got on a considerable tight and it pretty well all day. weather clear & hot. Ther: 94°. [*i.e., Wrigley]

Wednesday, June 25th, 1862

To day I am engaged in the office. The Steamer Ruthven arrived from and departed for Galveston. Frank Hitchcock left on her for the Island City. Capt. Wrigley arrived home on the cars from Houston looking quite well. The boys commenced getting out timber for the County jail. weather clear & hot. Ther: 95°.

Friday, March 14th, 1862

To day I am busily engaged in making out accounts in the office. the boys are still in the swamp getting timber for my fence. weather changeable and cool.

Tuesday, July 23rd, 1861

To day James Wrigley with the hands went to the pinery to get timber to raise the Str. Alice now sunk in the river. He returned with a hard chill & fever & remained in bed all day. Charlie Lund is also confined to his bed with sickness. I am engaged in the store with but little doing. weather clear with strong wind from the North. The Str. Ruthven arrived from Galveston with but little freight. Ther. 86°

Thursday, October 25th, 1860

To day Mother & Roberta came up to see the little woman and Roberta was taken with the chills. John Harwell is still sick. Bill & Albert went after timber for the yokes. I ground 4½ Bushels meal. weather clear & warm.