St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1884-04-20
HANCoCK's FIRST LOVE.
The Beautiful Girl Who Captured the Var
Tior's Heart.


Tior's Heart.
New York Journal
The name of the gallant soldier General
Winfield Scott Hancock, is familiar to mil
lions of Americans. But few know of the
many and great hardships which he labored
under before attaining his present honorable
position. He was born in Montgomery
county, Pennsylvania, February 18th, 1924.
His father was the owner of a well paying
farm there. Unlike most of farmers, Mr..
Hancock made up his mind to give his son
all the benefits of good education. At the
age of six years he was sent to an academy
for young gentlemen in the neighborhood.
He remained there until he was sixteen years
of age, when he graduated with high honors.
His parents wished then to place him at
work in large wholesale dry goods house in
Philadelphia. He had different views for
himself, however, and asked that he might
be permitted to go to West Point to study for
the army.
Mr.. Hancock placed no obstacles in the
way of his son. He was admitted to West
Point in 1910. He devoted himself entirely
to his books, and was thus enabled to gradu
ate after four years with lieutenant's COM
mission. He returned to his fathers home,
but he was of too active temperament to
remain long inactive. With a party of
army men he started out to explore the great
West. Their first stopping place was st.
Louis, where they remained.
General Hancock at the time made it a
practice to take a ride on horeback every
morning.
While taking his usual daily constitutional
through the streets of st. Louis early one
morning his attention was attracted by the
sight OF handsome young lady standing in
the window of one # the most fashionable
houses in the city. Up to this time he had
remained heart-whole, notwithstanding that
numerous young society ladies were only too
eager to become Mrs. Hancock. But the
lovely cOuntenance at the window gave him
his first heart fiutter. Almost involuntarily
he stopped his charger and DOTTED his hat
The young lady blushed divinely, waved one
fat hand toward him in token of farewell and
then let the window curtains fall. He rode
toward his hotel blushing like school boy,
thrilled with a new and sweeter sensation.
After returning to his hotel he became so alb
stracted as to excite the attention of his com
rades. The vision of a fair young girl stand
ing at the window kept continually in his
mind. He could not resist temptation to
go again and take look at the house where
his divinity lived. As he reached the place
she was just leaving the house on the arm of
a tall, handsome, gray whiskered gentleman.
The young lady apparently recognized him,
Tor rosy bushes chased one another in rapid
succession over her fair countenance. With
her companion she entered a handsome car
riage standing in front of the house and was
driven away.
The brilliant young officer determined at
all hazards not to let this opportunity of find
ing out who she was. He hailed cab, and
giving the driver handsome ''tip'' directed
him to keep the carriage in sight. Who can
describe his feelings when after an hours
riding he saw the carriage containing his
charmer draw up at the door of house of
one of his old army comrades. In a moment
his mind was made up. He dismissed his
cab and walked slowly in the direction of the
house. He knocked for admission and was
at once ushered in by his friend in person.
With many bushes of hesitancy he made
known tie whole affair to him, and begged
to be introduced to the young lady. His
friend laughingly complied with the request
and led him into the parlor where the lady
and gentleman were already seated. He was
introduced to Miss Mary Russell and the gen
tleman with her as her father, one of the
merchant princes of st. Louis. Before leav-
ing the house that afternoon he had received
a cordial invitation from Mr.. Russell to visit
his house. He availed himself of the invita-
ton and thereafter became constant caller.
The sweet-faced young lady appeared to
be as deeply in love with the young soldier
as he was with her, and six months after
their romantic acquaintance was formed
they were happily married. The lady has
proved herself devoted wife. They have
had two children, a boy and girl. The boy,
now man thirty-three years old, is
wealthy planter in Mississippi but the
fondly loved daughter died in 1875, in this
city, at the age of twenty years.
This was the generals first and only love.
He has served with distinction in the Mexi-
can and Civil wars and was rapidly promoted
from grade to grade until at present his IT,
tie is Major General. His nomination and
grand race for the presidency is also afresh
in the memory of all.
The soldiers under his charge on Govern
or's Island love him as father and not one
of them but would be willing to lay down his
life to save the general moments anxiety.
His wife is sincerely adored for her many
charming and lady-like qualities.
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