Saturday, July 8th, 1865

To day I drove Mrs. Beale [Elizabeth Lemaire Beale nee Waring] up town and while there loaned her six dollars to purchase two pairs of shoes and one bottle of whiskey. She left sundry articles of furniture with us, for safe keeping. She then left on the train for West Liberty in route for Danville. Louisa is still sick. Weather variable & warm with occasional showers of rain. Ther: 86°.

Saturday, March 11th, 1865

To day John is at work hauling wood. I marked 15 pigs. Sam* Sharp rode to Crockett & back on business we did with the army. We all tried to distill some whiskey but dismally failed. Weather variable & rather cold.

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

Sunday, November 20th, 1864

To day Lieut. Allen stopped on his way to Houston. I got from him 1 qt of whiskey. I am still confined with the sore mouth. Nellie [Mary Alexandrien Sharp nee Lemaire] drove my buggy down to Mother's [Mahala Sharp Hall nee Roberts] and there spent the day. Weather changeable and cold, with a hard freeze at night.

Thursday, August 11th, 1864

To day I left Crockett in Company with Billy Stewart and came out by the way of Simpson's. I obtained from Mr. Simpson a qt. of whiskey and borrowed a decanter. I got from Mr. Downes in Crockett 56 balls of thread being a part of what I left with him for sale. Weather cloudy & hot, with occasional showers of rain. Ther: 95°.

Friday, May 20th, 1864

To day the boys are still at work in the bottom field. Mr. Summers, Leatherwood, &tc left in the morning. I am working on the loom. Hicks ground 6 bushels of corn. Capt. Cameron & Dr. Winch came down from Magnolia & stopped for dinner. The little woman [Margaret Hall Stewart nee Sharp] drove down to Mothers [Mahala Sharp Hall nee Roberts] and spent the day. In the evening all hands set out potato slips. I let Dr. Murchison have two Gals. of whiskey. Weather changeable & hot.

Tuesday, May 17th, 1864

To day the boys are still at work in the lower field. Nellie [Mary Alexandrien Sharp nee Lemaire] & I drove down to Hall's bluff and spent the day with Mr. Stubblefield and from whom I obtained 20 lbs. of sugar in exchange for 1 Gal. of whiskey. Hicks ground 8 bushels of corn. Weather changeable and warm.

Thursday, May 12th, 1864

To day Bill is at work in the lower field. I left home with John, the little wagon & mules and drove up to Parker's bluff a distance of 27 miles and stopped for the night with Mr. F. Ward, while at Parker's bluff I purchased 2 pairs of cotton cards for which I paid $150 and 1 barrel of whiskey at 20$ per Gal. Weather clear and rather warm.

Friday, April 8th, 1864

To day I made the boys work in the garden. Hicks ground 23½ bushels of corn. I drove my horse and buggy down to Mother's [Mahala* Sharp Hall nee Roberts] and brought her up to see the little woman [Margaret* Hall Stewart nee Sharp]. Mr. Bowman came down from Parker's bluff with his Government wagons after corn. He bought me a demijohn containing 3 gallons of whiskey. Weather variable & rather cool.

*This Mahala is a 3rd great-grandma to the Keeper of this family history blog. JMH is married to her daughter, Margaret, and is also Mahala's stepson.

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.

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.

Sunday, December 23rd, 1860

I am still in Liberty and at work in the store doing but little business. times are very tight, and money scarce, but whiskey bears a premium, although there is plenty of the article in market. weather rather cool, cloudy and occasional showers of rain.

Saturday, December 15th, 1860

To day Tanner came up and got a gallon of whiskey for Mother [Mahala Sharp Hall nee Roberts]. we ground 6½ bushels of meal. weather changable & cold. frost at night.

Wednesday, May 2nd, 1860

To day Isaac Tanner's time expired for which I had employed him. The wagon returned, with 12 bushels of corn and the things I purchased at Wall's sales. I let Mrs. Hall have 1 Btl. of whiskey 40 Gals. @ 80¢ per gal. making $32‰. Albert went to the mills & got about 200 lbs. flour, 3 bushels of meal, & I also let Mrs. H. have 3 bushels of meal. The hands still at work in the cotton. weather clear & warm.

Thursday, February 16th, 1860

To day negro Dan, went to Crockett and brought me 1½ gals. of Whiskey, 3 Plows, 3 prs. trace chains, 1 pr. hames, 1 pot & 1 spider. Still clearing. weather warm but cloudy with prospects for rain.

• Hames :: used to connect the collar to the harness, hames are metal or wooden and come in a variety of styles
• Spider :: a cast-iron frying pan, flat bottomed, slant sided, and three-legged
• Trace Chains :: used to connect an animal's harness to a vehicle

Saturday, February 4th, 1860

To day Martin & Albert returned from Crockett with the wagons, and negro woman Louisa, also 5 gals. of whiskey. it rained the entire day with rather cool wind.