Corporal Harvey James Hiestand (1833-1864)

HIESTAND, HEISTAND

Posted By: Dorian Myhre (email)
Date: 5/17/2021 at 16:53:11

From Story County Aegis March 16, 1864 (page 3)

DIED,

In general hospital, at Keokuk, Iowa, HARVEY J. HEISTAND, 1st Corporal of company A, 23d Regiment Iowa Volunteer Infantry.

The following letter from the Chaplain of the 23d to Mrs. Heistand, accompanied the above notice with a request for publication.--ED]

KEOKUK, IOWA, Feb. 25th
MRS. HEISTAND:
Dear Madam:--When sorrow comes, what a blessing is it that the Savior of sinners offers us the heart-healing consolation of the Gospel.--There is "no sorrow that Heaven cannot heal." You need religion now. It is to you an hour of sorrow. He whom you once call husband has fallen a victim to disease. He died early this morning, as I understand. His disease was called typhoid pnumonia [sic]. During his sickness, his mind was wandering much of the time, at least for a day or two past. On Thursday evening I saw him, and he knew me. He said he had a dream of friends at home. He said he hoped to serve God if he lived. On Wednesday evening he was wandering. I spoke to him to be calm, while his comrade sat by keeping him in bed, and caring for him. It will be a comfort to you to know that he was in a comfortable room, under the care of a good physician, and I think received kind attention. I can mourn with you in this loss, and pray God to lead your sorrowing heart to Jesus, the best of friends, the savior of sinners, who will be more and better than the best of earthly relations.

May the Lord comfort and bless you and yours, and all the bereaved friends.

Yours truly, C. A. WILLIAMS.
Chaplain.