Description:

William McKinley
[Canton, OH], June 30, 1896
William McKinley TLS Re: Republican Convention Nod, To Fellow Buckeye & Civil War Veteran Who Commanded Black Troops at Palmito Ranch - The War's Last Battle!
TLS
A 1p typed letter boldly signed by American politician William McKinley (1843-1901), future 25th U.S. President, as "W McKinley" near center. June 30, 1896. [Canton, Ohio.] On stationery with "William McKinley, / Canton, Ohio" letterhead, once bifold but now neatly trimmed along the left margin and hinged to a larger piece of stock. Expected wear including flattened paper folds, and even toning. Else very good. The overall size of the letter and mount is approximately 5.5" x 8.5."

McKinley wrote this thank-you note to a fellow Buckeye and Civil War veteran named Stanton Weaver (1841-1916), in part: "Please accept my warmest thanks for your congratulations and good wishes…"

McKinley had ended his second term as 39th Governor of Ohio six months earlier, in January 1896, in order to begin preparing for his Republican Party presidential bid. McKinley was nominated on the first ballot at the Republican National Convention held in St. Louis, Missouri between June 16-18, 1896. He would be elected president five months later, on November 3, 1896.

McKinley's correspondent, Stanton Weaver, is a very interesting historical figure deserving of further research. According to some newspaper accounts, Weaver was the first cousin of U.S. Secretary of War Edwin M. Stanton. Born in Salem, Ohio, Weaver enlisted with various Union Army volunteer regiments over the course of the Civil War, including outfits attached to Kansas, Ohio, and Missouri. While an officer in the 1st Missouri Colored Infantry Regiment, Weaver participated in the last battle of the Civil War: the Battle of Palmitto Ranch, near Brownsville, Texas, which took place between May 12-13, 1865. Weaver attained the rank of brevetted lieutenant colonel and finally captain. After discharge from the army, Weaver worked as a newspaper editor and publisher for a Republican newspaper in Minerva, Ohio before securing a War Department clerkship in Washington, D.C. While in Washington, Weaver was active in Grand Army of the Republic events and leadership.

William McKinley enlisted as a private of the 23rd Ohio Infantry in June 1861. McKinley was promoted to the rank of brevet major after participating valiantly in Western campaign battles like Antietam. His Civil War service provided McKinley with a large special interest group and potential voting bloc.

This item comes with a Certificate from John Reznikoff, a premier authenticator for both major 3rd party authentication services, PSA and JSA (James Spence Authentications), as well as numerous auction houses.

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  • Dimensions: 5.5" x 8.5"
  • Medium: TLS

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