Autograph Letter Signed de COAN, Lydia Bingham (1834-1915)

The principal of Kawaiahao Female Seminary in Honolulu was the second wife of Titus Coan (1801-81), a Connecticut minister known as "The Bishop of Kilaueau," long-time Christian missionary in Hawaii, and she worked alongside him and aided in his writings; her brother was Hiram Bingham II (1831-1908), son of the famous Christian missionary in Hawaii and himself a Congregationalist minister who followed in his father's footsteps and spent much of his life doing missionary work in Hawaii. ALS, 3pp (lettersheet), 8" X 5", Honolulu, HI, 6 December 1909. Addressed to Reverend Oliver Huckel (1864-1940). Near fine. Coan's brother died in Baltimore at age 77 in October 1908, and apparently this Baltimore pastor tended to him in his last days. Coan here writes Huckel to "express the thanks that have filled my heart ever since the day, when on the return of my nephew... from Baltimore, he told me of the part you had taken in showing honor to the remains of my beloved brother, Hiram Bingham.... how deeply I was touched by the courtesy, the respect and the love of several of the ministers of Baltimore, headed by yourself, shown in the precious services at the funeral of my saintly brother. He was very dear to me. In the kind and tender providence of my Heavenly Father there had been granted me much comradeship for nearly seventy four years with this faithful servant of his. And he had come to be my all. Parents and sisters and husband had passed on. For over twenty years Hiram's home was my home. I had been eyes and hands often times for him -- eyes for reading -- hands for writing.... I have wanted much to know if you had converse with my brother while he was at the Hospital. I was in New York waiting for his restoration when together we were to cross the Continent and to return to our island home...." A touching, unusual letter attractively penned in black ink.