Sunday, April 2nd, 1865

To day Mr. Haden & Mr. Driscol left for Crockett. Frank Stewart came out & went hunting. he killed a fine turkey and a deer. Frank then rode down to Mother's [Mahala* Sharp Hall nee Roberts] and thence to Crockett. Nellie* [Mary Alexandrien Sharp nee Lemaire] is quite sick. Weather variable & pleasant.

*This Mahala is a 3rd great-grandma to the Keeper of this family history blog. Nellie is a 2nd great-grandma, and is Mahala's daughter-in-law.

Thursday, March 23rd, 1865

To day Billy Stewart and Billy Roberts went out hunting and killed a fine turkey. Father [Joshua James Hall] & Mr. Crow spent the day with us. John worked in the field. Hicks ground 7 bushels of wheat & 12 bushels of corn. Nellie* [Mary Alexandrien Sharp nee Lemaire] rode down to Mothers [Mahala* Sharp Hall nee Roberts] & spent the night with her. Weather clear and pleasant.

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

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.

Saturday, December 19th, 1863

To day the boys are engaged in cutting up and salting down the pork killed yesterday. John is at work hauling wood. Sam* [Samuel Houston Sharp] rode out hog hunting but was unsuccessful. he however killed two fine turkeys. Mother* [Mahala Sharp Hall nee Roberts] is still here. The little woman [Margaret Hall Stewart nee Sharp] is improving. I ground 7½ bushels of corn. I purchased two bushels of pecans, at 6$ per bushel & gave flour for them at 50¢ per lb. 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.

Thursday, October 8th, 1863

To day the boys are still at work pulling and hauling corn. they made two loads. In consequence of the low stage of water in pond the mill done no grinding. My son James [James Wrigley Hall] has attained the first anniversary of his birth day. in consequence of having been afflicted with so much sickness he is not so well grown or as forward as Fawn [Florence Mahala Hall] was at his age. I am thankful however that he is as well as he is. Father [Joshua James Hall] sent us a quarter of beef. Sam [Samuel Houston Sharp] & I went out hunting. Sam killed 3 turkeys and I killed a brant. Sam rode down to Mothers [Mahala Sharp Hall nee Roberts] and remained there all night. weather changeable and pleasant.

Wednesday, October 7th, 1863

To day the boys are still at work pulling and hauling corn. they made two loads. The little woman [Margaret Hall Stewart nee Sharp] is confined to her bed with neuralgia in the face or tiedouloureux [tic douloureux]. she has this day attained the 23rd anniversary of her birth day. I ground 9½ bushels of corn. Sam [Samuel Houston Sharp] went out hunting and killed a fine turkey. weather changeable and rather cool.

Thursday, April 9th, 1863

To day the boys are still at work in the bottom field preparing it for planting. Williams & Stewart and I went out fishing with pretty fair success. The little woman [Margaret Hall Stewart nee Sharp] drove my horse & buggy down to Mothers [Mahala* Sharp Hall nee Roberts] for the purpose of carrying Roberta [Hall] home. she has been staying here for several days. Mother is getting much better although she is still sick. Charles Leaverton came up in the buggy with the little woman. Sam* [Samuel Houston Sharp] ground 11½ bushels of corn and then went out hunting. he succeeded in killing a fine Turkey. weather changeable and rather cool for the season of the year.

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

Monday, March 30th, 1863

To day the boys commenced to brake up the lower field in order to plant corn. Sam* [Samuel Houston Sharp] went out cow hunting, he had no success, except killing a fine turkey. Nellie* [Mary Alexandrien Sharp nee Lemaire] & Toby [Horace Oscar Hall] came up from Mother's [Mahala* Sharp Hall nee Roberts] who is no better. they returned in the evening. I ground 18½ bushels of corn. weather clear with a strong wind blowing from the north. The wind however lulled and there was a hard frost at night. I fear it has killed all the fruit and had not the little woman [Margaret Hall Stewart nee Sharp] covered up all the garden vegetables they must of necessity been killed too.

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

Tuesday, March 24th, 1863

To day the boys are still at work fixing up the fence around the lower field. Sam* [Samuel Houston Sharp] rode out hunting cows & calves but without any success. he however killed a fine turkey. I ground 23 bushels of corn. Charles Leaverton & Joseph Wright came out to see me & remained for dinner. The little woman [Margaret Hall Stewart nee Sharp] rode down to see Mother [Mahala* Sharp Hall nee Roberts] who is sick and confined to her bed. weather clear & cold with a considerable 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.

Thursday, February 26th, 1863

To day the boys are splitting and hauling rails. I went down to the old place & took down the little smoke house and thence down to Mother's [Mahala* Sharp Hall nee Roberts] for dinner. Frank Stewart killed two turkeys & sent one up by the wagon to the little woman [Margaret Hall Stewart nee Sharp]. Sam* [Samuel Houston Sharp] ground 12 bushels of corn. weather clear & rather cool.

*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. Mahala is the step-mother as well as mother-in-law to JMH. Sam is a step-brother as well as brother-in-law to JMH.

Saturday, February 21st, 1863

To day the boys are still at work splitting rails. Hicks finished the axle tree and started the big wagon to running again. Frank Stewart came up to see us and went to Mrs. Keen's for the little woman [Margaret Hall Stewart nee Sharp] to get her a couple of turkeys which he brought home to her. I am still at work on my reel. Sam* Sharp ground 32 bushels of corn. The little woman & Fawn [Florence Mahala Hall] went down to see Mother [Mahala* Lee Sharp Hall nee Roberts] and returned in the evening. weather clear but rather cool.

This Sam is a 2nd great-grandma to the Keeper of this family history blog. Mahala is his mother, as well as the mother of the little woman.

Friday, November 7th, 1862

This morning I went up town and moved my office down to the river where I can be more comfortable. In the afternoon I took my gun and went out hunting and succeeded in killing two nice turkeys and one duck which was as much as I could conveniently carry home. The boys are at work digging & housing potatoes. weather clear & cool, with a frost at night.