Grant's Medical Bill & Lincoln's Great-Granddaughter (Archive)
An archive of three letters related to the Grant family. The first letter was written between two of the Doctors involved in Ulysses S. Grant's end-of-life care and concerns payment for their service. The second two letters were written from and to Julia Grant and the descendants of Abraham Lincoln. The archive includes:
1. Autograph letter signed by George Elliott to Dr. John Hancock Douglas. New York, 4 November 1887. 2 pages, 8vo. With original envelope.
An important letter between two of Ulysses S. Grant's doctors who provided him end-of-life care. John Hancock Douglas (1824-1892) was Grant's lead physician during Grant's final nine months. Dr. George B. Elliott was the doctor who performed a biopsy and confirmed Grant's fatal diagnosis of throat cancer. Here, Elliott writes to Douglas regarding his compensation for the biopsy: "Regarding the question whether or not I have received any fee for my...examination in the care of the late Genl Grant, I can reply in the negative. No better than to quote from my letter to Mr. W.H. Purrington(?) dated June 6/84 as follows: 'I have never presented a bill to Dr. Douglas, nor to the family and furhtermore do not intend to do so.' Will you kindly omit any opinions which may hint at the contrary."
A noble act of compassion.
2. Autograph letter signed by L.M.C. Grant, on behalf of Julia Grant, to Mamie Lincoln Isham. Cranston's, West Point, New York, [June 1892]. 3 page, 8vo.
3. Autograph letter signed by Charles Isham, to L.M.C. Grant. [New York], 16 June 1892. 2 pages, 8vo. With original envelope.
A fascinating set of correspondence from the descendants of President Lincoln and General Grant. Included is a letter written by L.M.C. Grant on behalf of Julia Grant (1826-1902) to Mary Todd "Mamie" Lincoln Isham (1869-1938), daughter of Robert Todd Lincoln, granddaughter of Abraham Lincoln. Grant writes inquiring about their recently born son. She begins the letter: "Mrs. Grant wishes me to write her congratulations on the arrival of the little one and wishes to know its name, as she has a little souvenir to send." Mary's husband, historian Charles Isham (1853-1919) writes a letter in response: "I presume he will be called Lincoln.'"
Their son, born on 8 June 1892, was indeed named Lincoln Isham. The identity of "L.M.C. Grant" is unknown, not corresponding directly to the initials of the Grant's daughter Nellie, her daughters-in-law, or her granddaughters. Perhaps it is a distant niece or cousin. Regardless, the presumed relative was acting as a secretary of sorts while Julia Grant spent her summer at Cranston's - a fine resort along the Hudson in upstate New York.
A significant archive.
[Ulysses S. Grant, Civil War, Union, Confederate, Generals, Presidents, Presidential History, First Ladies, Julia Dent Grant, Manuscripts, Letters, Documents, Ephemera, Medical History]
Bid on this lot
Estimate
Reserve
Time, Location
Auction House
An archive of three letters related to the Grant family. The first letter was written between two of the Doctors involved in Ulysses S. Grant's end-of-life care and concerns payment for their service. The second two letters were written from and to Julia Grant and the descendants of Abraham Lincoln. The archive includes:
1. Autograph letter signed by George Elliott to Dr. John Hancock Douglas. New York, 4 November 1887. 2 pages, 8vo. With original envelope.
An important letter between two of Ulysses S. Grant's doctors who provided him end-of-life care. John Hancock Douglas (1824-1892) was Grant's lead physician during Grant's final nine months. Dr. George B. Elliott was the doctor who performed a biopsy and confirmed Grant's fatal diagnosis of throat cancer. Here, Elliott writes to Douglas regarding his compensation for the biopsy: "Regarding the question whether or not I have received any fee for my...examination in the care of the late Genl Grant, I can reply in the negative. No better than to quote from my letter to Mr. W.H. Purrington(?) dated June 6/84 as follows: 'I have never presented a bill to Dr. Douglas, nor to the family and furhtermore do not intend to do so.' Will you kindly omit any opinions which may hint at the contrary."
A noble act of compassion.
2. Autograph letter signed by L.M.C. Grant, on behalf of Julia Grant, to Mamie Lincoln Isham. Cranston's, West Point, New York, [June 1892]. 3 page, 8vo.
3. Autograph letter signed by Charles Isham, to L.M.C. Grant. [New York], 16 June 1892. 2 pages, 8vo. With original envelope.
A fascinating set of correspondence from the descendants of President Lincoln and General Grant. Included is a letter written by L.M.C. Grant on behalf of Julia Grant (1826-1902) to Mary Todd "Mamie" Lincoln Isham (1869-1938), daughter of Robert Todd Lincoln, granddaughter of Abraham Lincoln. Grant writes inquiring about their recently born son. She begins the letter: "Mrs. Grant wishes me to write her congratulations on the arrival of the little one and wishes to know its name, as she has a little souvenir to send." Mary's husband, historian Charles Isham (1853-1919) writes a letter in response: "I presume he will be called Lincoln.'"
Their son, born on 8 June 1892, was indeed named Lincoln Isham. The identity of "L.M.C. Grant" is unknown, not corresponding directly to the initials of the Grant's daughter Nellie, her daughters-in-law, or her granddaughters. Perhaps it is a distant niece or cousin. Regardless, the presumed relative was acting as a secretary of sorts while Julia Grant spent her summer at Cranston's - a fine resort along the Hudson in upstate New York.
A significant archive.
[Ulysses S. Grant, Civil War, Union, Confederate, Generals, Presidents, Presidential History, First Ladies, Julia Dent Grant, Manuscripts, Letters, Documents, Ephemera, Medical History]
Estimate
Reserve
Time, Location
Auction House
