St. Paul daily globe., 1893-04-21
HER SUFFERING DER.
Death OF the Widow of Mai. Gen.
Hancock After a Lingering
Illness.
Her Strength Had Slowly Wasted
Under a Succession of Be-
reaVements.

New YORK, April 20.-After linger-
ing illness of many months, Mrs. AL
mira Hancock, widow of Maj. Gen.
Winfield Hancock, died at 4:3O this
afternoon at the residence of the gen.
erals niece, Mrs. Griffin, in Grammercy
Park. Mrs. Hancock's strength has
been slowing wasting away under the
subtle influence of succession of sor-
rows that had subdued her naturally
cheerful disposition and Withdrawn
her from society during the
later years of her life. Her
only daughter, Ada Elizabeth, a
remarkably beautiful and accomplished
girl, died in this city March IS, 1875. at
the age of eighteen. Her mother, Mrs.
Russell. died at the general official resi-
dence on Governors island April 80.
1888. Her only sun, Russell, died in
Mississippi Dec. 80, 1884. These be-
reavementS were followed by the death
of her husband at Governors island
Feb. 9, 1856. Thus one after another
the immediate members of her family
passed away from her ideal home. In
the summer of 1891 Mrs. Han
change of air and scenefy soon
wrought marked improvement in her
health. During this diverting sojourn
in foreign lands something of the vi
vaeiouS charm of her joyous youth came
back to her now and then, but only for
a time. Over-eXertiOn in Europe and
in preparing for her return had devel-
Oped a serious form of nervous prostra-
tiOn, which was aggravated by the win
ter voyage. After her arrival in this
city last November she had relapse
from which she had never rallied. She
continued to grow weaker until death
resulted from complete exhaustion of
the vital forces.
Mrs. Hancock's qualities of mind and
heart commanded the admiration and
affection of her friends aud relatives.
She had a charming personality, a
sunny disposition and grace of man.
ner that fascinated every one who came
within her influence. Among the con-
SpicuOuS attributes of her character
were her fOrtitude, keen intelligence,
unselfiSh regard for others, and that
exquisite refinement OF nature which
revealed a high degree of spirituality.
Three grandchildren, TWO girls and a
boy, the children of Russell Hancock;
her only brother, Oliver Russell, and
her two cousins. Mrs. Emma Bouvier,
of this city, and Mrs. Ward and William
f. Ward, captain of the United States
Army, are her only surviving relatives.
Mrs. Hancock was descended on her
mothers side from two of the oldest
Huguenot families of New York. Her
maternal grandfather was Oliver Du-
bols, and her maternal grandmother
Maria Brown, the latter being sixth in
descent fIom Paul Richard. third son of
Jean Paul Richard, COmte de Wallaic,
a captain in the French guards and
cheValier d'hOnneur to Mme.la DucheSse
dOrleans. Her paternal grandfather,
Steven Richards Brown, grandson of
Charles Dupuy, who commanded COM
pany in this city in 1919, was of French
descent and figured SpicuOnsly in the
colonial history of New York. The
De Bruyns, or Browns, were connected
by marriage with the Kings, Van
Burghs, ClintonS, LivingstOneS and
other old colonial families of New York.
Mrs. HancOck'S grandfather, Oliver Du-
bois, removed from New York to Ohio,
and Themes to st. Louis, which latter
place became his home for many years..
and was arterward the home of Mrs.
Hancock's parents. where she was born
and lived until her marriage in 1850
with Gen. Hancock. then a lieutenant
in the Sixth United States infantry.
Her father. Samuel Russell, had been
for many years prominent merchant
of st. Louis, and her remains Will be
taken TO that city for burial.