Mexico weekly ledger. (Mexico, Mo.) 1855-1956, 1880-07-22
The CANDIDATES.!
Sketches of the Democratic
Nominees for President and
Vice-PreSident.
Gen. Winfield Scott Hancock, the Soldier
Statesman.
William ii. English, "The Pride of the
Hoosier state"

Maj. Gen. Winfield Scott Hancock,
son of Benjamin Franklin and Eliza
beth Hancock, was born in Mont
gomcry county, Pennsylvania, Feb.
ID, 1924. He came from the sound
Anglo Saxon stock, the ancestral line
ON the maternal side leading back to
the English and Welsh, and on the
paternal to the English, Irish and
Scotch. His fathers family were
Episcopalians 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 Mont
gomcry county for the past $50
years. In Hatfield township, may
now be seen the old family home
stead, with the figures 17G4 on the
gable end of the more recent part;
the older part, bsilt long before, fall
ing into decay.
Gen. Hancock father was a native
of Philadelphia, and as hoy of ID
s""4ht the field when the British
.atcncd the city during the war of
2. 1t was at Swcsle's Ford on
site Of Norristown that Washing
had crossed the Schuvlkill in his
paign Of Valley Forge, and it was
in full view of the historic hills,
young Ilancuck's early years
passed. Born and raised in Il
otic atmosphere, with heroic
Il in his veins. his martial spirit
love of justice soon gave promise
Ie brilliant future he was destined
'iIieve.
1910 he entered the Military
s,cmy at West Point. and was
e as n cadet with Grant, MrCicl-
Franklin, John f. Reynolds (who
killed at G.ttyshurg). Burnside,
%. (who fell ut South Mountain), ,
oncwal' Jackson, Long-trceI, a.
ILL, ID. II. Hill, aud other officers
Ct distinction OH both sides durinG
the late war. Graduating in l%4i.
he WAS appointed i'cvet second lieu
tenant in tlir Sixth Infantry, and a.
signed to duty on the Western from
tier. He participated with his rcgl-
ment in the war with Mexico, and
WAS con>!,icuous for his Iailautry al
san Antonio. Chcrui,usrr, Nclinl
del Rry, and the assanIt and caltur,
of the city Of Mcxlco. lie serves
either rs rcgiIHcital qhartermastcr ol
adjn,ant, from June, 1913, to May
ted To first lieutenant. From Jnnt
TO November of that year he acted as
Assistant Adlutant General of thu
Department of the West. hcadquar
,ers at st. Louis. 1t was there tha
he had married few years before
the daughter OF Samuel Russell,
prominent merchant of that city
Hancock WAS promoted to captain
and assistant quartcrmastcf IN tn
fall of 1855. and served on the stat
of Gen. Harney, in Kansas and Ne
braska during the memorable politi
cal troubles of twenty five years ago
Afterwards he went with Ilarney Il
Utah, and rode across the cOntincn
to the Pacific coast. He was station
ed in California until the outbreak
I the rebellion.
HIS RECORD IN THE LATE WAR.
When the news of the firing OF
Fort Sumpter reached his distan
most, he sen: request to the Cover
nor of his state for assignment to
command of volunteers. There wer
D mapy discordant elements in Califor
| MIA at that time, and a manifes
$ sympathy with secession, whlc
j; threatened to isolate the Coded Stat
: from the Union. While awaiting
reply from the Governor Of Pennsyl
yania he took an active part in en-
!, couraging and organizing the loy'
|, sentiment.
His influence in Southern Californl
was of signal service of saving tn
State to the Union. Impatient
delay in hearing from the Governor
he applied to Gen. Scott to be order
I ed East for active duty. His reques
was granted, and he was assigned
chief quartermaster on the stall
Cen. Robert Anderson, who was O
J. eanizing an army at Louisville, Ky
70 bni before he entered on those duti'
4 he was appointed by Mr.. Lincoln
Rriqadier General of volunteers, an
ASSIGNED to command in the Arm
: of The Potomac. The four regimen
composing his brigade were the Fir
!. wisconsin, the Sixth Maine, the Fo
y tv-ninth Pennsylvania, aud the Fort
third New York. In the spring
. lasa be accompanied The Army Of Il