The state rights democrat. [volume] (Albany, Linn County, Oregon) 1865-1900, 1880-08-20
wGLLIAM q. TNCLIsu. 'TMR PRIBE OF
TnE HO0slER STATE.

Maj, Gen. Winfield Scott Hancock,
son Of benjamin franklin aud Eliza
beth Hancock. was born in Montgomery
county, Pa. Feb. i, 1924. lie comes
from sound Anglo-Saxon stock, the an
eestral line on the maternal side leading
back to tie English and Welsh. aud on
the paterual TO the English, Iiish and
Scotch His fathers family wcre Epis-
copalians and Friends. and his mother 5
Baptists. His mothers family have re
sided in Pennsylsania from tho timc OF
William Penn. and have bcen living in
what - how Montgomery county for
the past 30 years. In Hatfield town
ship may now be seen the old family
homestead, with tile figures 1894 cn the
gable end 81 the more recent part the
older part, built long before. falling into
decay.
Gen. Iiancocs's father was native
of Philadelphia, and as n 10y OF -
sought the field when the British threat.
ened the city during the war og 1872.
1t was at swede's Ford ou the site Of
Norristown that Washington had Cross
ed the Schuyl.;iIl in his campaign Of
Valley Forge, aud it wss here, in full
view OF these historic hills, that young
IIancock's early years were passed.
Born and raised in patriotic aimos-
l,here, with heroic blood in his veins,
his martial spirit and love Of Justice
soon gaze pFomise of the bFiiiish, fp-
turc lac was ds.stined 10 achieve.
In ls40 be entered the Military
Academy ut West Point, aud WAS there
as a cadet with Grant, Mcclellan,
franklin, John 7. Reynolds (vho vas
killed At Gettysbarg). nnrnside, Reno
(who fell at South Mountain), "Stone-
wall" Jackson, I.ongstreet, A. p. Hill,
d. II. Hill, and other officers Of dis
tinclion on both siles during the late
war Graduating in 1874, be was ap-
pointed brevet second Lieutenant in the
Sixth Infantry. and assigned to duty
on the Western frontier lie laTtici-
pated with his regiments in the war
with Mexico, and was conspicuous fer
his gallantry at San Antonio, Cheru-
busco, MoIino del Rey, and he assault
and capture Of the pitY Of Mexico. lie
served ss either regimsntal quartermas-
ter or adiutapt, fron June, ls+s, to
May, 1895, having been meanwhile
promoted 10 arSt lieutenant. From
June to November Of that year he act
acted as Assistant Adjutant General OF
the Department of the West, headquar-
ters at st Louis. It was there tbas he
had married, few years before, the
daughter Of Samuel Russell, promi.
nept merchant Of that city, Hancock
was promoted 20 captain and assistant
qparfermaster in the fall of 1855, and
serl ed on the staff of Gen. HGrney, in
Kansas and Nrbraska. during the mem
otabl- pnlitie.l lI,'wLl,s II twenty-five
years ago Afterwards he went with
Harney to Utah, and rode across the
continent to the Pacific coast. He was
stationed in California until the out
break Of the rebellion.
HIS RECORD ~ TIE LATE MAR.
When the niissgs Of the firing on Fort
SuInpter reached bis distant post he
sent request ia the IGovernor Of his
State for assignment "a couImand Of
volunteers. There were many discord
ant elements in California at that time,
and manifest sympathy With seces-
sion, which threatened to isoiate the
golden State from the Union. While
awaiting Il reply from the Governor ol
Pennsylvania be tool; an setiYe part 4
encouraging and organlzing ths' loya'
sentiment.
His influence in Southern California
was Of signal serYiea ia saving tb,
State to the Union. Impatient at tn.
delay in hearing from the Governor, b.
applied to Gen. Scott to be ordered
East for active duty His request wa
granted, and he was assigned as ehie
auartermastgr on the staA Of Cen. Rob
ert Anderson, who was organizing Al
army at Louisville, KY, bnt before en-
tering on those duties he was appointes
By AIr. Lincoln ,Brigadier General 0