Samuel Allis, 1805-1883 [RG2628.AM]

HISTORY NEBRASKA MANUSCRIPT FINDING AID

RG2628.AM: Samuel Allis, 1805-1883

Papers: 1834-1882, n.d.
Bellevue, Sarpy County, Neb. and Iowa: Missionary
Size: 0.5 cu.ft.; 1 box

BACKGROUND NOTE

Samuel Allis was born in Conway, Franklin County, Mass., on Sept. 28, 1805. In 1828 he went to Ithaca, New York, where he found employment “with a Mr. Kirkum.” While in Ithaca, he united with the Presbyterian Church and in 1834 went west as an assistant to Rev. Dunbar under the patronage of the American Board of Foreign Missions. In the spring of 1834 he arrived in Bellevue, which was the agency for the Omaha, Otoe, and Pawnee Indian Tribes. Emeline Palmer came west in 1836 on a wagon train headed by Dr. Marcus Whitman, who was on his way to establish a mission at Walla Walla, Washington. Emeline and Samuel were married at Liberty Landing near Kansas City, Missouri, by a Reverend Spalding who was also traveling with Dr. Whitman.

Samuel Allis served as missionary to the Pawnee Indians until 1845, when he built and managed a boarding school for Indians. He kept the boarding school only a short time before moving to Bellevue until 1851. That same year Samuel and Emeline were among the first six members of the Bellevue, Nebraska Presbyterian Church, along with the minister and his wife. From 1851 to 1857 he farmed near St. Mary’s, Iowa, and worked for the government as an Indian interpreter. He went to Washington, D.C. in connection with the Table Creek Treaty in the fall of 1857 and stayed there until the spring of 1858 when the treaty was ratified.

Samuel, his wife, Emeline Palmer Allis, and their son, Henry, are buried in the Wall Cemetery, off the Bellevue Bridge Road.

SCOPE AND CONTENT NOTE

This collection relates to Samuel Allis, the Allis family, and Samuel’s work as a missionary in the Nebraska Territory. The collection includes manuscripts, autograph albums, diaries and miscellaneous.

The manuscripts include both the autobiographical manuscript of Samuel Allis and the dictated statement of his son. Rev. Allis’ manuscript, edited and corrected, was published in NSHS Transactions and Reports, vol. 2 (1887), pp. 133-166, under the title “Forty Years Among the Indians and on the Eastern Border of Nebraska.” Corrective and explanatory footnotes enhance the value of this typewritten copy of the author’s draft. The statement by Otis E. Allis, though a useful supplement to the earlier work, must be used with discretion for much of the information is inaccurate.

Rev. Allis’ manuscript provides a colorful narration of Nebraska’s pioneer history from 1834 to 1876. His description of Indian life among the Pawnee, Sioux and Omaha tribes, and of trader life at the American Fur Company post near Omaha, are written from the vantage point of a frontier missionary. Of particular interest is Allis’ account of his acquaintance with Peter A. Sarpy, the early trader for whom Sarpy County is named.

One of the autograph albums, belonging to Samuel Allis, contains entries ca. 1834. A second album, belonging to Emeline Palmer Allis, includes entries ca. 1834-1836. Both of these albums are original artifacts. The third album belonged to Hattie Allis, who later married Dr. W. R. Wall. It contains entries ca. 1858-1870, and is available only as a photographic reproduction. The original album is not in the collection. Researchers must wear gloves when using the Hattie Allis album.

The diaries of Samuel Allis date from 1873-1882. The original diaries are not in the collection. All but the diary of 1879 are typed transcripts. The 1879 diary is a photocopy of the original. Some diaries have notes by Harriet Anderson, a descendant of the Allis family. The miscellaneous items include two letters; one to Emeline Palmer Allis and the other to Samuel Allis from his cousin, Elliot Allis. Copies of family history information are also present.

Note: See the photo component [RG2628.PH] for 13 photographs relating to the Allis family.

INVENTORY

Box 1
Folder

  1. “Manuscript by Samuel Allis, Missionary and Teacher to the Indians.” 107 pp. Typescript copy with corrective and explanatory footnotes, ca. 1876, c. 1
  2. “Manuscript by Samuel Allis, Missionary and Teacher to the Indians.” 107 pp. Typescript copy with corrective and explanatory footnotes, ca. 1876, c. 2
  3. “Dictation from Otis E. Allis,” son of Samuel Allis. 4pp. 3 typed copies
  4. Autograph album, Samuel Allis, ca. 1834
    Autograph album, Emeline Palmer, ca. 1834-1836
  5. Autograph album, Harriet Allis Wall, ca. 1858-1870 [copy]
  6. Diary, 1873
  7. Diary, 1875
  8. Diary, 1877
  9. Diary, 1878
  10. Diary, 1879
  11. Diary, 1880
  12. Diary, 1882
  13. Letter to Emeline Palmer Allis, 1838; letter to Samuel Allis from Elliot Allis, 1856
  14. Family history materials

 

Subject headings:

Allis, Emeline Palmer, 1808-1883
Allis, Otis E., 1843-1934
Allis, Samuel, 1805-1883
Allis family
Bellevue (Neb.)
Clergy — Nebraska
Diaries
Frontier and pioneer life — Nebraska
Fur trade
Indians of North America — Culture
Missionaries — Nebraska
Omaha Indians — Social life and customs
Pawnee Indians — Missions
Pioneers — Nebraska
Reminiscences
Sarpy, Peter Abadie, 1805-1865
Sarpy County (Neb.)
Sioux Indians — Social life and customs
Wall, Hattie (Harriet Allis), 1847?-1888

 

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES:

Related materials can be found in the John Dunbar collection [RG4302.AM].

Various references and articles can be found in Nebraska History magazine and earlier Nebraska State Historical Society publications [1887; 1892]. Check the Nebraska History index or ask the Reference Staff for assistance.

The following sources are available in the library collection:

“The Dunbar Allis Letters on the Pawnee.” 741 p.
“Samuel Allis: Indian missionary western pioneer.” 28 cm.
“Portraits of Samuel Allis.” 48 p.

Ethnographic items including a basket, beadwork, pipes, wallet and purse; a shotgun; a candle mold; a cup and saucer belonging to Emeline Palmer Allis (wife of Samuel); and a quilt made by Martha Allis Hollins are in the Nebraska History Museum collections. Not all artifacts in the collections are on exhibit; researchers should call for an appointment with the Museum before scheduling a visit.

 

L. Willmore/js 08-26-1964
Revised KFK 06-20-2000
Revised TMM 01-13-2010; 04-06-2022

Become a Member!

Our members make history happen.

Join Now

You May Also Enjoy

The Story of Omaha Police Fingerprint Expert Emily Byram

The Story of Omaha Police Fingerprint Expert Emily Byram

Marker Monday: Cather Childhood Home

Marker Monday: Cather Childhood Home

Yutan Tornado – March 23, 1913

Yutan Tornado – March 23, 1913

About History Nebraska
History Nebraska was founded in 1878 as the Nebraska State Historical Society by citizens who recognized Nebraska was going through great changes and they sought to record the stories of both indigenous and immigrant peoples. It was designated a state institution and began receiving funds from the legislature in 1883. Legislation in 1994 changed History Nebraska from a state institution to a state agency. The division is headed by Interim Director and CEO Jill Dolberg. They are assisted by an administrative staff responsible for financial and personnel functions, museum store services, security, and facilities maintenance for History Nebraska.
Explore Nebraska
Discover the real places and people of our past at these History Nebraska sites.

Upcoming Events

View our new and upcoming events to see how you can get involved.

Become a Member

The work we do to discover, preserve, and share Nebraska's history wouldn't be possible without the support of History Nebraska members.

Latest Hall of Fame Inductee

The Nebraska Hall of Fame was established in 1961 to officially recognize prominent Nebraskans.

Listen to our Podcast

Listen to the articles and authors published in the Nebraska History Magazine with our new Nebraska History Podcast.

Nebraska Collections

History Nebraska's mission is to collect, preserve, and open our shared history to all Nebraskans.

Our YouTube Video Collection

Get a closer look at Nebraska's history through your own eyes, with our extensive video collections.

Additional Research Resources

History Nebraska Research and Reference Services help connect you to the material we collect and preserve.

Support History Nebraska
Make a cash donation to help us acquire, preserve, and interpret Nebraska’s history. Gifts to History Nebraska help leave a legacy and may help your taxes, too! Support the work of History Nebraska by donating to the History Nebraska Foundation today.

Volunteers are the heroes of History Nebraska. So much history, so little time! Your work helps us share access to Nebraska’s stories at our museums and sites, the reference room, and online.