Hemans, Daniel W. (fl. 1872-1881) to Frances B. Shiras
High-resolution images are available to schools and libraries via subscription to American History, 1493-1943. Check to see if your school or library already has a subscription. Or click here for more information. You may also order a pdf of the image from us here.
Gilder Lehrman Collection #: GLC02429.12 Author/Creator: Hemans, Daniel W. (fl. 1872-1881) Place Written: South Dakota Type: Autograph letter signed Date: 8 December 1871 Pagination: 4 p. ; 24.7 x 19.2 cm. Order a Copy
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 baptisms of chiefs, preaching and translating. Comments on the log house and furnishings they bought with money received (likely from Shiras).
Quotes
"I am very glad to know that you have not forgotten your friend."
"We have plenty of snow out here, we have a fearful storms in last week. I am very sorry to tell you that our brother Rev. Philip Johnson, deacon was frozen to death on 21 Nov. He was hunting deer on that day and he was lost it more than a week."
"Mr Cook & I we went down to Santee on Saturday & we stay over Sunday there. I preached on Sunday morning & Mr Cook have preached in the afternoon. And we have a funeral Service on Monday morning"
"about our Yankton Mission, our Services now well attended, our Chapel was full on every Sunday. About more than 200 persons came to baptized now since I have been here in this Mission. I baptized four babies in short time ago. One the chiefs came to baptized now His name was White Swan, & two other chiefs would like to come to be baptized on next Christmas They are Frank Deloria, a half-breed, & Mr Mad-Bull. Three or four came to baptized on every Sunday, I hope this tribe all come church soon."
"My health is far better than in last Fall, but you know well that I am not very strong, so I always ti[r]ed out on every Sunday, because I have much to do on Sundays: We have four services on Sundays, I sometimes preached in the Morning Service, & I talk to the children in the children's church. And in the afternoon Mr Cook have preached & I I translated to the people because Mr Cook is not speak Dakota yet, then I read the Evening Service in the English in the night. And I play the organ in very service."
"Our log house is very comfortable, we have two stoves...We bought some furnitures, such as a stove, Dining table, clock, Table spread, a large lamp, & one dress for my wife, plates, Knives, forks, &c."
Citation Guidelines for Online Resources
The copyright law of the United States (title 17, United States Code) governs the making of photocopies or other reproductions of copyrighted material. Under certain conditions specified in the law, libraries and archives are authorized to furnish a photocopy or other reproduction. One of these specific conditions is that the photocopy or reproduction is not to be “used for any purpose other than private study, scholarship, or research.” If a user makes a request for, or later uses, a photocopy or reproduction for purposes in excess of “fair use,” that user may be liable for copyright infringement. This institution reserves the right to refuse to accept a copying order if, in its judgment, fulfillment of the order would involve violation of copyright law.