ADA ELIZABETH HANCOCK DORR - AUTOGRAPH LETTER SIGNED - HFSID 9001981

ADA ELIZABETH HANCOCK DORR
The granddaughter of Presidential candidate Winfield Scott Hancock signed this handwritten letter she wrote to her “Pa”
Autograph Letter Signed: “Ada”. Dated February 29, 1985. Four pages. 3½x5½. Includes color printed image of a young girl in top left corner of first page. In Full: “My dear Pa, I received your letter and was very glad to hear from you. I thank you ever so much for the lovely valentine you sent me I wish you to be as happy as you make us and I wish you many happy re-turns of your birthday. When you go South be sure to come and see your pumpkins. Gwynn received the purse and the pennies and the knife. Mademoiselle sends her regards. Your loving Ada”. Ada's father Russell Hancock passed away just a few months before his daughter wrote this message. Ada Elizabeth Hancock Dorr (1874-1954) was the oldest of the general's two granddaughters. Both Ada and Almira Hancock were children of Russell Hancock (1850-1884) and Elizabeth Gwynn Dorr (1853-1911). General Hancock and his wife became guardians of their grandchildren when Russell Hancock passed away. Winfield Scott Hancock (1824-1886) was a highly successful Union general during the Civil War and a hero of the Battle of Gettysburg (1863). He became the Democratic Party's candidate for President in 1880, losing narrowly to James A. Garfield by a margin of fewer than 40,000 votes out of 9 million cast (Electoral College vote was 214-155). Hancock had impeccable Unionist credentials but was a strong advocate of states' rights, and was considered for the Party's Presidential nominations of 1868, 1872 and 1876 before securing it in 1880. His command of the Fifth Military District during the Reconstruction Era endeared him to the Democratic Party. Pencil note on verso in unknown hand, possibly the General's notes judging by the content discussing his gifts to Gwynn, his grandson. Lightly toned. Otherwise, fine condition.