The daily gazette., 1880-06-25
THE CANDIDATES.

THE CANDIDATES.
GENERAL
Winiald Scott Hancock,
The Democratic Standard
bearer.
Major-G General Winfield Scott
Hancock, the son of BENJAMIN
Franklin and Elizabeth Hancock,
was born in Montgomery county,
Pa, February ID, 1924, so that he is
now in his fifty-seventh year. He
comes from sound Anglo-Saxon
stock, the ancestral line on the
material side leading back to the
English and Welsh, and on the
patcrnal to the English, Irish, and
Scotch. HIS iather's family were
originally Episcopalians and Friends,
and his mothers Baptists. His
mothers family have resided in
Pennsylvania from the time of Will
liam Penn, and have been living in
what is now Montgomery county for
the last $50 years. In Hatfield
township, in that county, may now
be seen the old family homestead,
with the figures 1854 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 settlers were exposed. During
the French-Indian wars before the
Revolution, in the absence of the
men on a campaign, the Indians at
tackled The house in which they then
resided and drove the women to the
attic, which they defended with
spirit, chopping the fingers of the
savages with hatchets as they climbed
up to kill or capture them. The In.
dians finally get fire to the dwelling
but the neighbors came to the res
cue, extinguished the flames, and
saved the family.
The General is a direct descendant
of the Hancocks who came to this
country in the early period of its set.
tlement, and during the Revolution
airy his ancestors on both sides were
engaged either on sea or land in the
struggle for liberty and independ
ence. His grandfather on his fathers
side was captured at sea, claimed az
a British subject, and imprisoned il
Dartmoor Prison, England. Hi
great-grandfather and grandfather
on his mothers side served in thu
Continental armies. The former
died soon after the end of the Revo
lutionary War in consequence of ex
posure in the field. The latter wen
into the Revolutionary ranks whel
a boy of fifteen years Of age, AM
five times as a member of differen
regiments returned to the field
During the war, when at Taney
town, Md, his command was callet
upon to escort Burgoyne's prisoners
captured at Saratoga, to Vale,
Forge. For his services in th'
Revolution he received a pension
until his death. General Hancock
father was a native of Philadelphia
and a boy of fifteen sought the fielt
on the banks of the Delaware wher
the British threatened the city dur
ing the war of 1872. He was after
wards known as lawyer of reputt
and citizen of sterling character il
Montgomery county, Pa, having
moved to the county seat at Norris
town when the subject of this sketch
was only four years old. 1t was al
Swede's Ford on the site of Norris
town that Washington had crossed
the Schuylkill in his campaign O
Valley Forge, and it was here, il
full view of the historic hills, thai
young Hancock's early years were
passed. Born and raised in a pa
triotic atmosphere, with heroic BLOOD
in his veins, his martial spirit ant
love of Justice soon gave promise o.
the brilliant future he was destined
to command. AS a boy he wat
noted for his impartiality when ap
pealed TO as the arbiter in school
boy disputes, and for his native
pride of character.
EARLY MILITARY CAREER.
In 1910, when sixteen years of age, hi
entered the United States Military A .ad
emy at West Point, and was there as 1
cadet with Grant, Mcclellan, Franklin
John F. Reynolds (who was killed al
Gettysburg), Burnside, Reno (who fel
al South MouEtain), ''Stonewall" Jack
son, Longstreet, A. p. Hill, and othel
officers of distinction on both sides dur
ing the late unhappy war. Graduating
in 1914, he was Immediately appointed
breyet second lieutenant in the 9th In
fantry and assigned on the Western
frontier. After a few years. service In
the Indian Territory he was promoted
to second lieutenant. He participated
with his regiment in the war with Mex
leo. and was conspicuous for hiAgallant
ry at San Antony, Cherubusco, Moline
del Rev, and the assault and capture o
the CITY of Mexico. He was brevetteC
first lieutenant for "galant and merltor
ions conduct in the battle of Contera
and Cberubusco," where he commanded
a company. The official report of BIZ
commander states that on this occasion
be obebayed in the handsOmest manner
He served either as regimrntal quarter
master or adjutant from June, lS48, t,
, NAV, 1855, having been meanwhile pro
moied to first lieutenant. From Jun,
to November of that year he acted a
Assistant Adjutant General of the De