The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1893-04-21
MRS, ALMIRA HANCOCK DEAD
The Widow Of the Late Major General
Passes Away After q Long Illness.
Grief for the loss of Children and Husband
Slapped Her Vital Forces-Nervous Pros
tration the Direct Cause of Death.

NEW YORK. April 20.-After . lingering
illness of many months Mrs. Almirs Han
cock, widow Of Mai. Gen. Winfield 8. Han
cock, died this afternoon at the residence
of the Generals niece. Mrs. Eugene Griffin,
No. 1 Grsmmercy Park. Mrs. Hancock's
strength has been slowly wasting away
under the subtle influence of succession
of sorrows that had subdued her naturally
cheerful disposition and withdrawn her
from society during the later years of her
life. Her only daughter. Ann Elizabeth.
a remarkably beautiful and accomplished
girl. died In this city on the 18th of March.
1875 at the age of eighteen. Her mother.
Mrs. Adeline Russell. died ~ the Generals
official residence on Governors Island on
the oath of April, 1883. Her only son Rus
sell. died in Mississippi on the 80tb of De-
cember, 1884. These bereavements were
followed by the death of her husband, ct
Governors island, on the 9th of February.
1885, Thus. one after another. the imme-
diate members of her family passed away
like dissolvlng views from her ideal home.
In the summer of 1891 Mrs. Hancock went
to Europe, where change of air and scene
soon wrought marked improvement In
her health. During this diverting sojourn
in foreign lands something of the vivacious
charm of her joyous youth came back TO her
now and then. but only for . time. Over
exertion In Europe, and particularly her
preparations for return, had developed .
serious form of nervous prostr alton, which
was aggravated By the winter voyage
home After her arrival in this city last
she 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 af-
lection of her friends and relatives She
had . charming personality. q SUNNY dispO-
sition and q grace of manner that fasci-
mated every one who came within her IN
fuence. Among the conspicuous attributes
intelligence, unselfish regard for others
and that exquisite refinement of nature
which revealed high degree of spiritu.
atty.
Three grsndchildren-two girls and Q
boy, children OF Russell Hancock-her only
brother, Oliver Russell. her cousin. Mrs.
Emma Rouvier of this city. and Mrs. Ward,
wife of Captain Ward. of the army. are the
nearest surviving relatives.
Mrs. Hancock was descended on her
mothers side from two of the Oldest HUI
Ruenot families of the country. Her ma
ternal grandfather was Oliver Dubois and
her maternal grandmother Mario Brown,
the latter being sixth in descent from Paul
Richard, third son of Dean Paul Richard,
Comte de VaiIlac. a captain IN the French
guards and chevalier in honor to Nine. LIE
Duchess d'Orleans Mrs. HancOck's grand.
father. Oliver Dubois. removed from New
York to Ohio, and thence to st. Louis,
which latter place became his home for
many years. and was afterwards the home
of Mrs. Hancock's parents. where she was
born and lived until her marriage in 1850
with General Hancock, then lieutenant in
the Sixth United States Infantry. Her
father. Samuel Russell, had been for many
years o prominent merchant of st. Louis,
and her remains will be taken to that city
for burial