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to Frances B. Shiras

Asks Mrs. Shiras to purchase and send the listed silverware, if she has not yet send him the money from Mr. Brown.

GLC02429.59

[Description of the collection written by an unnamed nephew of Alexander Shiras]

A short description of the collection of letters in GLC 2429. "These are letters written by & about Daniel & Nancy Hemans - Indians in whom Auntie Shiras & Uncle S were interested[.] Daniel having been educated at the Episcopal Mission House in West...

GLC02429.01

Mission of the Church to the Yankton Sioux Indians

Apparently a section extracted from a book.

GLC02429.57

to Frances B. Shiras

An undated note in which Nancy discusses a second pregnancy, possibly the one she had after Daniel's death. Ruminates on mortality.

GLC02429.58

[Name cards for Mr. and Mrs. D.W. Hemans and Nancy Abraham]

Two different name cards, one for Mr. and Mrs. D.W. Hemans and another for Nancy Abraham. The two cards are held together by a small piece of ribbon.

GLC02429.02

Extract from a letter from the Reverend Samuel D. Hinman

Discusses missionary work with the Indians along the Sioux River who renounced tribal claims and took plots of land in accordance with the Homestead Act.

GLC02429.56

Letters with wife Nancy, to Rev. & Mrs Shiras [decimalized]

Letters by missionaries from north of the Missouri River, 38 miles north of Santee Mission in South Dakota, describing teaching English, arithmetic, and bible to Yankton Sioux Indians. The collection was written to Rev. and Mrs. Alexander Shiras of...

GLC02429

to Frances B. Shiras

Thanks Frances for her help and interest in his missionary work. Describes his mission work at the Yankton Agency with Reverend James Cook. Notes his improving health. Discusses teaching, singing, and language issues. Comments on privations at the...

GLC02429.05

to Frances B. Shiras

Inquires about the money his friends sent. Describes the Christian, English-speaking Indian girl he is engaged to. Notes his salary of $150/year, and indicates it will be insufficient. Discusses his log house and preparing his home for housekeeping...

GLC02429.06

to Frances B. Shiras

Indicates he has sent a $50 wedding gift to Daniel Hemans and sends his well-wishes.

GLC02429.10

to Frances B. Shiras

Discusses a visit by Bishop Clarkson, missionary appointments, and his upcoming ordination. Discusses his wedding, attended by over 150 whites and Indians. Notes that Mr. Hinman gave him charge of the Santee mission starting in summer, but he will...

GLC02429.07

to Frances B. Shiras

Discusses a visit by Bishop Clarkson during which he was ordained a deacon and many Indians were baptized. Notes his plans to stay at the Yankton mission through the summer because he is needed to translate for Rev. James Cook. This is the first...

GLC02429.08

to Frances B. Shiras

Discusses Daniel and Nancy Hemans's recent wedding, attended by Indians and whites on a very rainy day. Notes Daniel's bad health and susceptibility to consumption.

GLC02429.09

to Frances B. Shiras

Discusses money Shiras sent. Comments on the cultivation being done by Yanktons on the reservation and their reception of annuity money. Discusses his wife, including her conversion from Presbyterian to Episcopalian. Comments on their garden...

GLC02429.11

to Frances B. Shiras

Comments on the length between their correspondence. Reports the freezing death of Rev. Philip Johnson. Discusses preaching with Rev. Cook at Santee. Indicates his cousin Paul was sick. Discusses his missionary work at Yankton, including the...

GLC02429.12

to Frances B. Shiras

Discusses a Christmas festival and provides an update on their missionary work, particularly in regard to education. Notes that his wife has charge of the Mother's Services. Expresses his dedication to "bring some souls to our service." Describes a...

GLC02429.13

to Frances B. Shiras

Writes about how they are getting along, discussing her health. Comments on a potential visit by Shiras. Explains why her upbringing (part with Indians, part with whites) has resulted in her only being to make Santee moccasins with beads and not...

GLC02429.14

to Alexander Shiras

Explains that he has not responded to a recent letter because he was ill. Thanks some friends for medicine they sent. Mentions Paul's hemorrhage. Discusses the status of two reservation churches, neither of which had a minister.

GLC02429.15

to Frances B. Shiras

Thanks Shiras for the money she sent from friends Sunday school children. Discusses his missionary work and his desire to convert his Indian countrymen. GLC02429.17 is a copy of this letter.

GLC02429.16

to Frances B. Shiras

Thanks Shiras for the money she sent from friends Sunday school children. Discusses his missionary work and his desire to convert his Indian countrymen. Copy of GLC02429.16.

GLC02429.17

to Frances B. Shiras

Thanks her for a box of clothing from Mrs. Clement. Indicates they will use some for their new baby and have already given some away. Mentions the Indian agent, a physician who gave him medicine. Discusses his desire for wrappers. Comments on...

GLC02429.19

to Frances B. Shiras

Thanks her for a box of clothing from Mrs. Clement. Indicates they will use some for their new baby and have already given some away. Mentions the Indian agent, a physician who gave him medicine. Discusses his desire for wrappers. Comments on...

GLC02429.18

to Frances B. Shiras

Mentions the birth of her son, Joseph. Thanks Mrs. Clement for clothes, some of which she gave away. Comments on the success of the missionary work, claiming that the Indians on the reservation could now hold services without ministers. Notes their...

GLC02429.20

to Frances B. Shiras

Reports than she is sending moccasins made like slippers, which will need soles added by a shoemaker. Notes spring is coming and the baby is growing. States her desire to have her first picture taken if a photographer comes in the summer. Comments...

GLC02429.21

to Frances B. Shiras

Reports that his health has improved. Discusses his growing baby, and naming him after Alexander Shiras. Comments on other Indian clergy that are ill. Discusses the child of Andrew Jones, one of the Indian teachers, who was expected to die and...

GLC02429.22

to Frances B. Shiras

Apologizes for not writing and explains how various chores have kept her too busy. Notes that Cecelia, the half-Indian girl living with her has gone to live with Reverend James Cook. Discusses separation from her husband Daniel. Apologizes for not...

GLC02429.23

[Hand-drawn map of Dakota mission area]

Depicts the missions and Indian agencies along about fifty miles of the Missouri River west of Sioux City. Hemans discusses making the map for Frances Shiras to answer her question about the spatial relationship between the Santee, Yankton, and Ponca...

GLC02429.04

[Hand-drawn map of Dakota mission area]

Depicts the missions and Indian agencies along about fifty miles of the Missouri River west of Sioux City. Hemans discusses making the map for Frances Shiras to answer her question about the spatial relationship between the Santee, Yankton, and Ponca...

GLC02429.03

to Frances B. Shiras

Discusses his wife's trip to the Santee Agency to visit relatives, his growing son, and sick Paul's attempt to build a log cabin on his land claim. Mentions the health of other Indian clergy. Discusses his income in the face of high prices in Yankton...

GLC02429.24

to Frances B. Shiras

Discusses a visit from Daniel's aunt and the porcupine quill moccasins she had made for Frances. Comments on her sister, a visitor named Mrs. Rumney, and her husbands adoration for their baby. Continues the letter on 12 June, comments on intervening...

GLC02429.25

to Frances B. Shiras

Reports than his family will leave the Yankton Mission for the Santee Mission. Explains that the Yanktons are sorry to see him leave, but he must go because of health problems related to his work on Sunday and the opportunity to make a prayer book in...

GLC02429.26

to Alexander Shiras

Mentions starting work at Santee and his growing son. Discusses the health of Paul and Christian Taopi, a fellow Indian preacher, whose death seemed imminent. Taopi expressed no fear in dying, but regretted not having more time to preach. Sends...

GLC02429.27

to Alexander Shiras

Reverend Hinman, who presided over the Santee Agency, writes to Reverend Shiras about Daniel Hemans. Notes Daniel is in good health, "is doing splendidly," and might be made a Presbyter. Thanks him for care of his boys. A postscript indicates Paul is...

GLC02429.28

to Frances B. Shiras

Indicates he has not written because he was sick. Informs Shiras that Christian Taopi has died. Discusses a recent visit by bishops Whipple and Clarkson, and William Welsh to all the Indian missions, their ordinations and assignations of missionaries...

GLC02429.29

to Frances B. Shiras

Discusses her son, who was sick recently, and her husbands work as the sole clergyman at the Santee Mission. Notes they are currently living in Reverend Hinman's house, until they can have their own built. Discusses her housework, which interrupted...

GLC02429.30

to Frances B. Shiras

Discusses his improved health, noting that he has not had any spitting of blood since August 1871. Notes that the formerly healthy Mr. Luke, at the Yankton Mission, had started spitting blood. Reports the receipt of wrappers Shiras sent and to who...

GLC02429.31

to Frances B. Shiras

Discusses Mrs. Hinman's illness and other ill women at the Santee Mission. Indicates she is making a dress and that her husband and son are in need of new clothes. Comments about how she should be thankful to God at Christmas for living another year...

GLC02429.32

to Frances B. Shiras

Thanks Shiras for the clothes his family and other Indian clergy have received. Discusses eating with Reverend Hinman and his missionary duties at Santee. Notes his son has started speaking. States that Paul is very sick but still walking around his...

GLC02429.33

to Frances B. Shiras

Discusses the death of their friend Paul Mazakute, an Indian clergyman who long-suffered from consumption. Explains how their buggy broke down after the funeral. In a post script, indicates that they might get photos taken.

GLC02429.34

to Frances B. Shiras

Discusses building a house and garden on his land in Bazille, his health, and his work. Mentions a possible transfer to the Chapel at Bazille Creek, on the recommendation of Bishop William Hare. Comments on the growth of his son, who he speaks to in...

GLC02429.35

to Frances B. Shiras

Discusses her garden and her growing son, comparing his dark skin to "a little niger." Indicates they will move to Bazille Creek, but will soon come back for the Convocation Meeting. Discusses money problems and a shawl she has yet to receive from...

GLC02429.36

to Frances B. Shiras

Discusses her son's broken leg and a visit from her sister and brother-in-law, Indian teacher at Fort Sully in the Dakota Territory. Comments on her husband's good health and expresses Christmas thanks to God for living another year.

GLC02429.37

to Alexander Shiras and Frances B. Shiras

Discusses the loss of Mary, her child, and takes solace in the idea that Mary will be with relatives in heaven. Mentions prayers and affirms her fidelity to God's will.

GLC02429.38

to Alexander Shiras

Discusses his wife Nancy's illness with rheumatism, a book he received, and the threat to his garden posed by grasshoppers.

GLC02429.39

to Alexander Shiras

Discusses the death of his daughter Mary and affirms his belief that it is God's will. Also discusses the destruction of his garden in the night by a herd of cattle. Notes he has a hemorrhage.

GLC02429.40

to Frances B. Shiras

Discusses her husband's declining health and how she recovered her own health, which became bad after her daughter Mary died, while camping. Notes visiting the sick via horseback. Comments on the local school, Christmas, and a visit by whites to...

GLC02429.41

to Alexander Shiras

Discusses her husband's sickness and impending death. Comments on sympathetic visitors, her friendship with the Shiras's, and the tragedy the death will be for their son.

GLC02429.42

to Alexander Shiras

Reports the death and burial of her husband, Daniel Hemans.

GLC02429.43

to Frances B. Shiras

Discusses all she has had to do since her husband's death and reveals that she is pregnant since three months before his death. Comments on her hope to be a good mother but willingness to die, if it is God's will. Discusses money problems with the...

GLC02429.44

to Frances B. Shiras

Discusses her loneliness and friendlessness since her husband's death and how a letter from Reverend Shiras lifted her spirits. Notes that her son is growing. Asks Shiras to pray for her "that the evil will not overcome me." Comments that she would...

GLC02429.45

to Alexander Shiras and Frances B. Shiras

Thanks them for their letter sent with five dollars. Expresses her praise for God. Notes that her son Allie is going to school at the Santee Agency and her infant son is doing well.

GLC02429.46

to Alexander Shiras

Explains that her health and taking care of her new baby has prevented her from writing sooner. Discusses how the baby keeps her up at night and how she and her other son were both sick recently. Compares her son's two schools, preferring the one far...

GLC02429.47

to Frances B. Shiras

Thanks Shiras and others for money sent (possibly for Daniel Hemans's grave stone). Thinks the Santee had enough money for a grave stone. Discusses her baby boy, Daniel, and his humorous actions. Comments on her other son's riding activities and his...

GLC02429.48

to Alexander Shiras and Frances B. Shiras

Thanks them for Allie's saddle. Discusses going eight miles with her son to "hunt up something" good to eat for her younger son, who had been sick with dysentery and vomiting. On that trip, her son was thrown from his horse, which made her reflect on...

GLC02429.52

to Frances B. Shiras

Notes that her son, Allie, is at school. Explains that she visited Flandreau, Dakota, for the fall. Comments positively on a pretty clock she received.

GLC02429.49

to Frances B. Shiras

Comments on the new spring and the difficult past winter. Discusses her garden. Also discusses her growing children and her older son's school. Informs Shiras she is getting re-married and is worried how she will react. Describes it as a financial...

GLC02429.50

to Alexander Shiras

Explains that she did not intend to alienate her friends in the east by re-marrying and justifies the re-marriage. Discusses the children, her two and her sister's three, who also live with them, the four oldest of which are in school. Thanks an...

GLC02429.51

to Alexander Shiras

Explains that he is the youngest son of Reverend Daniel W. Hemans and indicates that his mother is not well enough to write. Explains that they had a hard winter, his little sister died, mother was sick, and he had to come back from Hope School in...

GLC02429.53

to Alexander Shiras

Explains that he is in school, that his sister died over the winter, and that his mother was sick (but getting better). Notes that they had a picture of Shiras. Mentions the saddle he received from them long ago. Tells him they never forget them...

GLC02429.54

to Mrs. Murray

Answers her letter noting the hardship they have had this year and his hopes for God's guidance. Comments that it is spring, they are planting and the birds are singing.

GLC02429.55