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Hemans, Daniel W. (fl. 1872-1881) to Frances B. Shiras

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Gilder Lehrman Collection #: GLC02429.24 Author/Creator: Hemans, Daniel W. (fl. 1872-1881) Place Written: South Dakota Type: Autograph letter signed Date: 5 June 1872 Pagination: 4 p. ; 20.4 x 25.5 cm. Order a Copy

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 vs. Santee. Indicates he will make a map to answer her question about the spatial relationship between the Santee, Yankton, and Ponca agencies (see GLC02924.03 and GLC02924.04).

Quotes

"We are all well at present, our baby is growing up fast & bright. I & my wife we went down to Santee two weeks ago & see all our relations."
"I saw Paul in the Convocation he lives now at Bazell [Bazille] 12 miles back from Santee he has a claim there now & trying to make a log house on his claim, but he is so weak & can not work"
I met Christian Taope at Santee, he is worse than Paul, he is so thin & poor, his voice is very rough, & he could not read & speak in Church."
"Mr Cook will give me 400 Dollars a year commence last Jan 1872. I thought that will be enough for us for one year, but I found last month nothing left, and I owed $6 Dollars to this month…There are only one store here, but every thin is very dear…nearly double prices here. If I stay at Santee I can buy every thing is cheap…also there four, five stores, both side of the river, so we can buy every thing low prices."
"…the distances between the stations. The Santee Agency is about 35 miles nearer to you than Yankton Agency & the Ponca Agency is 1 miles nearer to you than the Yankton Agency. I will try to make one small map…"

Shiras, Frances B., b. 1814
Hemans, Daniel W., fl. 1871-1881
Mazakute, Paul, 1842-1873

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