My Tree

Deeply Rooted

Draper, Hannah P.

Source 027 – Personal Letter by Valeria L. Nelson and Nancy

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Author: Valeria L. Nelson [age 25]
Title: Letter to “Aunt” [Hannah P. Draper]
Date: 02 December 1862
Curator: Christine Fisher
Note:

Springport
02 December 1862

Dear Aunt:
I thank God for loving friends; my words comforted you, and yours in turn gave me comfort. Hope had well nigh died in my heart, it seemed as though light would never come. Your letter was as a gleam of sunshine as Nellie said. And that sweet little poem is a treasure. Oh! is it not a blessing that the thoughts of one heart, will meet the wants, and give joy to another.

I have been burdened with the care of unraveling the mystery which hangs over my brother’s fate. I felt that I could not rest until I had searched out the matter. But God has shown me that it is his will I should leave the matter with him. And there I have left it trusting him for the result. Knowing that his name shall be glorified and that is enough. Marcus wrote us a letter on a sheet of paper which you sent him. He said in the letter, keep it till I come home, for I wish to preserve it as a momento of Aunt Hannah’s kindness. Need I say it is preserved. I must close to leave space for mother.

Your neice Valeria (age 25)

Source 026 – Personal Letter by Helen E. Nelson

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Author: Helen E. Nelson of Home Springport, MI
Title: Letter to “Aunt” [Hannah P. Draper, age 41] of Westmoreland, Oneida Co, NY
Date: 30 November 1862
Curator: Christine Fisher
Note: [confirm the signature as being “Nellie”, confirm the “sent from” location, too]

Home Springport, Michigan
30 November 1862

Dear Aunt:
Since last I wrote to you change after change has taken place, and tonight I am seated by my brothers little stand trying to write to you. Excuse me for not writing to you before, for after I heard that Marcus had enlisted I felt as though I could write to no one else, my mind was so absorbed in thoughts of him both day and night. I could not possibly compose myself to write, but now I am alone, no welcome letters shall I again receive from him for he is gone perhaps forever. God alone knows and into his hands do I commit him. Sad indeed is my heart tonight. Today father got a letter from Leut. Lusk Commanding Co D. Western Sharp Shooters. He writes that he found Marcus severely wounded in the head by a musket ball. He wished to put him in an ambulance but the driver refused as there was no hope of his recovery, however the Leut. insisted on his being placed there saying that where there was life there was hope. He then, assisted by others, put him in the ambulance and started him for the hospital. The next day the Leut. with a company of his men went in search of him. They searched every hospital in and around Corinth and could neither find nor hear any thing from him and he says there is no doubt in his mind but what he is dead and that he died the day he was wounded which was the 4th. I cannot see as there is much chance for hope, yet I have not given him up. You say aunt there is no use of weeping. I was the only one that wept, not when the intelligence first came, my faith in God was so strong I felt that it could not be so and not until we received your letter could I bring myself to believe it possible then I thought it certain and wept for a little season but then I thought as you say that weeping would do no good. I felt that there were others left who needed my care and attention and that even though he was taken from us that he was better off than those who were left behind and that we had better rejoice than weep for him as we had every reason to believe that he was an heir to the throne of grace and that he was singing the new song in that bright and beautiful home to which we are all journeying there with those loved brothers to welcome us an unbroke family to our never ending home there to sing praises to God forever and ever. I am reconciled to God’s will whatever it may be. For I know that he is watching over him if he is alive and still on earth and that he will raise him up to glorify him both in this world and in the world to come, but I must close. Remember me to God and may his blessings rest upon you and all that trust in him. with much love I remain as ever your affectionate niece. Nellie

Helen E. Nelson (age 16)
Otter Creek
Jackson Co, MI

Source 025 – Personal Letter by Willard E. Draper

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Author: Willard E. Draper
Title: Letter to “Cousin Hannah” [Hannah Parmer Draper]
Date: 13 October 1862
Curator: Christine Fisher
Note:

Corinth, Mississippi
Camp of S. Shooters
13 October 1862

Cousin Hannah:

I sometimes think a soldier’s duty is one of the most burdensome of all duties; but I am about to perform a duty now that is painful in the extreme. I suppose you have heard before this of the great battle at Corinth. Marcus and myself was in the thickest of the fight; we fought as if our beloved Country depended upon our exertion. After hours of hard fighting we succeeded in driving the rebels from the Town. I was among the first who followed up the retreating rebels across the battle field. I found Marcus stretched upon the ground, he had received a mortal wound. The ball entered his head at the top and lodged. I helped bare him to an ambulance; I shed a tear on his memory, that one so brave should fall. I could not leave the field and I have not seen him since, and I suppose he is now numbered among the Cold Clods of the Valley.

Your letter to him came to the Regt. in due time, and I took the liberty to open and answer it thinking I was doing a Soldiers duty. His folks the last time I heard was well; but this will be a severe blow. My folks is well, or was the last I heard. I do not know your opinion of the war; as you did not mention the subject in your letter. I don’t know as I have any relation of my name in the war, I have not heard as there was.

Well, I must attend to duty’s call, so I must close. If you deign to answer this direct as you did to him.

Yours Truly
Willard E. Draper

Source 005 – Personal Letter by Sarah Draper

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Author: Sarah Draper
Title: Letter to Unknown in Butternuts
Date: 29 October 1821
Curator: Christine Fisher
Note:

Butternuts
October 29, 1821

[this letter is missing some pieces]

Affe…I am permited one more opportunity to…to you to let you know that…mercy of God our unprofitable liv… now and I hope that these lines will…your family all well. Last night we had a verry hard thunder shower and Ebenezer was ought in it he was a walking a long the road and a flash of lightning blinded him so that he got ought of the road and fell on to a sharpe stump and cut his under lip clear thru and it is a great wonder to me that it had not a kild him but I am in hopse that it will soon git well a gain. October the 7 we had a daughter born and it was as poor a child as ever I see and it apeard to be…we had not mutch idea of it living but…well now and grose as fast as enny ….not what a day may bring forth …ought to be willilng to trust my…in the hands of God for I believe he…for I never found him to be a baron …to my sole when I put my trust in him. I received your letter on Friday 21 of September. Uncle Edward and Olive got hear the 30 …you do not know how glad I was to see them and to from you all and to hear that you was all in the land living..to see you more then I can express but…the Lord only knows but I hope by …we shall all be permited to…of time I believe if we do it…meeting dear Sister if you ever pray …that I might be willing that the will of the Lord should be done. I have not heard one word from farthers folks sens uncle Edward went from hear. It is 3 [unclear] weaks to day sens my babe was born and I think I have not enjoyd my health so well in a year as I do now. O what a blessing health is. I do not know of enny thing more of importance to wright. Pleas to remember me to your husband and to all inquiring frends. We call our babe Hannah Parmer.

Sarah Draper