Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1880-07-02

| tary DIVISION OF the Atlantic, Hancock, who
resented the revocation of one of those or
ders by General Grant, who assumed to do
so in his quality as General-in-chief treated
General Grant with scant courtesy. The
latter resented 1t subsequently, by placing
Hancock's juniors in rank in commands 10
which he was entitled. A sharp and volu-
minous correspondence subsequently on
sued between General Hancock and Gen
eral Sherman on this subject, General Sher-
man being then General-in-chief, but acting
under the orders of President Grant
POLITICAL HoNoRs.
| In the Democratic National Convention
held in New York in July, 1868, he was u
candidate for the Presidential nomination,
receiving 33t votes on the first ballot out of
3l7, which number gradually increased to
144a on the eighteenth ballot, this being, with
the exception of 145i cast for Pendleton, on
the twelfth ballot, the greatest number of
votes given to any candidate until the TWEEN
| ty-second ballot, when IIoratio Seymour re-.
ceived the unanimous vote of the conven-
ton. General Hancock was freely men
toned for the Presidency again in 1S72,when
Horace Greeley was nominated. In 1869
the Democratic nomination for Governor of
Pennsylvania was rendered him, but he de-
clined it.
HIS ANCESTRY.
| General Hancock comes from Anglo
Saxon stock the ancestral line on the ma
| ternal side leading back to the English and
Welsh, and on the paternal to the English,
Irish and Scotch. His fathers family were
originally Episcepalians and Friends, and
his mothers Baptists. His mothers family
have resided in Pennsylvania from the time
of William Penn, and have been living in
what is now Montgomery county for the
last 100 years. In Hatfield township, in
that county, may now be seen the old family
homestead, with the figures 1894 on the
gable end OF the more recent part; the older
part, built long before, falling into decay
Among the incidents related of his mothers
family is one illustrating the dangers TO which
the early settler were exposed. During the
French-lndian wars before the revolution
in the absence of the men on "a campaign, the
Indians attacked the house in which they
then resided and drove the women to the
attic, which they defended with spirit, chop
ping the fingers Of the savages with hatchets
as they climbed up to kill or capture them.
The Indians finally set fire to the dwelling,
but the neighbors came 10 the rescue, extin-
gushed the flames, and saved the family.
The General is direct descendant Of the
early period of its settlement, and during
the revolutionary war his ancestors on both
sides were engaged, either on sea or land, in
the struggle for liberty and independence.
His grandfather on his fathers side was cap
tured ut sea, claimed as British subject,
and imprisoned in Dartmoor prison, Eng
land. His great-grandlather and grand
father ON his mothers side served in the con
tinental armies. The former died soon after
the end of the revolutionary war in consc-
quence Of exposure in the field. The latter
went into the revolutionary ranks when
boy Of fifteen years Of age, and five times,
as u member of different regiments, returned
to the field, During the war, when at fancy
town, Md, his command was called upon
to escort Burgoyne's prisoners, captured at
Saratoga, Valley Forge For his services in
the Revolution he received n pension until
his death. General IIancock's father was
native Of Philadelphia, and rs boy Of
fifteen sought the field on the banks of the
Delaware when the British threatened the
city during the war of 1912. He was after
wards known as II lawyer of reputc and
citizen Of sterling character in Montgomery
county, Pa, having moved TO the county
seat at Norristown when the subject of this
sketch was only four years old. 1t was at
Swede's Ford, on the site of Norristown,
that Washington had crossed the Schuylkill
in his campaign Of Valley Forge, and it was
here, in full view Of the historic hills, that
young Hancock's early years were passed.
Born and raised in patriotic atmosphere,
with heroic blood in his veins, his martial
| spirit and love Of justice soon gave promise
Of the brilliant future he was destined 10
command. AS II boy he was noted for his
impartialty when appealed 90 as the arbiter
in school-boy disputes, and his native pride
of character
General Hancock was married in st Louis
in 1856 to Miss Almira Russell, the daugh-
ter Of n merchant Of that city.
HIS CHILDnES.
General Hancock had two children, Rus.
sell and Ada Elizabeth Hancock. The lat
ter died in New York, of typhoid fever,
when 10 years Of age She was n young
lady Of great promise. Russell Hancock,
the generals only son, Is a planter in Mis-
sissippi.
General Hancock is the senior Maor Gen
eral Of the army, his commission dating from
July 20, 1866 The commission Of GEN
eral Schofeld dates March 4, 1869, and that
Of General Mcdowell November %, 1872.
OF the six Brigadiers, Generals Ord, Augur
and Crook were made such after Hancock
became Major General
Il. N.