27 April 1875

Hemans, Nancy A., 1843-?

Autograph letter signed

Title: 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

19 June 1875

Hemans, Daniel Wright, fl. 1872-1881

Autograph letter signed

Title: 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

27 August 1875

Hemans, Daniel Wright, fl. 1872-1881

Autograph letter signed

Title: 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

January 20, 1878

Hemans, Nancy A., 1843-?

Autograph letter signed

Title: 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 Bazille Creek, where they heard a church service in Dakota.

GLC02429.41

14 March 1878

Hemans, Nancy A., 1843-?

Autograph letter signed

Title: 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

3 April 1878

Hemans, Nancy A., 1843-?

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Alexander Shiras

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

GLC02429.43

5 June 1878

Hemans, Nancy A., 1843-?

Autograph letter signed

Title: 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 Insurance League the, distribution of clothes, and supplies sent. Notes plans to get her son's picture taken and that he does not look like his father. Explains her son's reaction to the death and her inability to leave to live with a sister.

GLC02429.44

8 September 1878

Hemans, Nancy A., 1843-?

Autograph letter signed

Title: 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 like to move away and notes that her niece has consumption.

GLC02429.45

January 18, 1879

Hemans, Nancy A., 1843-?

Autograph letter signed

Title: 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

January 15, 1880

Hemans, Nancy A., 1843-?

Autograph letter signed

Title: 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 away (Rigg's School) but explains that she is not able to spare his help around the house. Notes a collection for a headstone for her late husband. Discusses her insurance money from the Bishop. Thanks Mrs. Shiras for a dress she sent and hopes she is well.

GLC02429.47

4 June 1880

Hemans, Nancy A., 1843-?

Autograph letter signed

Title: 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 need for his own saddle. Discusses her garden positively, noting her sister's aid. Indicates she will send a picture, and describes how time and grief have transformed her from fleshy and plump to thin. Notes that Allie is now eight years old, can copy letters but not write sentences, and only studies at school. Discusses money she received from…

GLC02429.48

2 December 1880

Hemans, Nancy A., 1843-?

Autograph letter signed

Title: 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

21 April 1881

Hemans, Nancy A., 1843-?

Autograph letter signed

Title: 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 necessity, noting that her fiancé is a good Christian who will treat her children as his own.

GLC02429.50

27 November 1881

Hemans, Nancy A., 1843-?

Autograph letter signed

Title: 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 unnamed woman for money. Indicates that she has not moved from her home, as Daniel and her deceased children are buried there. Inquires about Mrs. Shiras and discusses her own health, which has improved with the coming of winter. Notes that her new husband would like to write a long letter, but cannot write well in English. Two short notes on separate…

GLC02429.51

circa August 1880

Hemans, Nancy A., 1843-?

Autograph letter signed

Title: 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 her late husband as her protector, and how now she feels alone. Notes her plans to talk to the Bishop about insurance money. Comments on her garden. Discusses her plans to go to Flandreau, Dakota, in the fall to sell the acre of land her sister gave her there.

GLC02429.52

12 March 1893

Hemans, Daniel W., fl. 1878

Autograph letter signed

Title: 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 Springfield, South Dakota. Notes his father is also sick. Indicates he has two other younger sisters, one of whom is in school. Informs Shiras that they will have their picture taken and send it.

GLC02429.53

21 March 1893

Hemans, Joseph A., fl. 1892

Autograph letter signed

Title: 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. Notes that he plays the organ in church. Provides other family news.

GLC02429.54

16 March 1894

Hemans, Joseph A., fl. 1892

Autograph letter signed

Title: 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

circa 1873

Hinman, Samuel D., 1839-1890

Manuscript letter

Title: 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

1861-1865

Book

Title: Mission of the Church to the Yankton Sioux Indians

Apparently a section extracted from a book.

GLC02429.57

1861-1865

Hemans, Nancy A., 1843-?

Autograph note

Title: 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

1861-1865

Hemans, Nancy A., 1843-?

Autograph note signed

Title: 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

1861-1865

Autograph document

Title: [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 Phild [Philadelphia] of which Uncle Shiras had charge - "

GLC02429.01

circa 1871-1881

Ephemera

Title: [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

circa June 1872

Hemans, Daniel Wright, fl. 1872-1881

Map

Title: [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 agencies in GLC02429.04. Apparently a draft of GLC02429.04.

GLC02429.03