Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1886-02-18

me. ladies, to speak of that good
woman who now is widow, for I
knew her veil; she was the child
herself OF an Ohio lady. Her parents
came from GAINESVILLE, 0. Russell
and Bennett, young men living in
GAINESVILLE, IS boy clerks in store,
found IN two beautiful Creole girls.
descendants from the old French
stock which came over here by reason
OF the revolution of 1889, settled at
Marietta, or Gallipolis, or Beire-
found in them their wives. These two
young men took their girl brides
to st. Louis, and by labor, industry
and thrift rose to great eminence as
merchants. When / went there the
houses of Russell and Bennett, of
which Mrs. Hancock was the orna-
ment, the pride, and Hancock, the
handsomest, the elegant gentleman
those two were all the envy, and that
house was the very abode of happl-
ness and of hospitality such SIS have
never seen surpassed, even if equaled,
From that time on Gen Hancock
rose IN the estimation of his fellows,
and when the war broke out there
was 40 hesitation there not bit.
he was q union man [applausel. He
was a soldier. There was not one
qulver of the eyelid, not one tremble
OF the hand. Hancock was soldier,
man and very splendid mSn, too,
as you who have seen him can bear
testimony. He went into the war
with his whole heart and soul and
carried with it experience, and
the teachings OF West Point, the
army; the teachings of the field. He
knew soldier from the heel up
to the tip of his head, and he sympa-
thizsd with soldier and was himself
soldiar IN every walk of life.
Nov when the time came for bat
ties to be fought, here we had man
who was qualified and capable, sus-
iained by friends at home, encouag-
ed by admlring companions, and
when the battle OF Gettysburg came,
Hancock was the impersonation of
the defense. have stood upon that
very spot, behind the very stone wall
not during the battle, but afterwards,
and there was pointed out to me
where Picketts' divisions came up and
where Hancock's stood and fell; and
If there ever should be a monument
erected on earth to man, there is the
spot for Hancock's monument. But
l will go further and say, that and
others who were with me, gong UP
through Virginia after the war was
over, We went out of our way and we
saw the spot where Hancock's corps
had charged across those parapets,
and saw the trees through which these
men charged with Hancock at their
head. These were the two points
probably the most historic, which
marked him as man in whom con-
fidence could be had. He had the
confidence of Gen. Grant and of every
man who ever had Hancock on his
command, myself included. He was
the most obedient, the most complete
ly satisfactory. Never questioning
an order, loyal to the backbone, gem
erous to a fault, and willing to exc
cut an order whether he approved it
Or not. will go further and say that
knew Hancock on the plains where
there was no chance for glory, no
hope Of fame, no desire to attract
notice, nothing but abuse and bard
ships, the same considerations man,
anxious to do right, anxious to fulfill
the duties Of his government, anxions
to complete 9. job after which he had
been despatched, and generally sue
cessful.
''Now Gen. Hancock is dead. The
big strong, nervous man lies dead Ia
his house on Governors Island: and
we, his companions, may well shed
a tear here tonight. 1t was sad
piece of news which came to us yes
terday. Oh, my friends, when that
woman sat at the gates of paradise,
disconsolate, and appealed to tho
heavens what she should bring tx
aduait her into the gates, she went
back and forth and finally returned
with the expired spirit of a soldier
patriot and the gates IF heaven were
opened to her. If the gates of heaven
will be opened for the poor girl, how
much more will it DE with the manly
soldier. The gates Of heaven will re-
main ajar until he enters it. And
you and l, each and every one of us,
are the better for the life this man
led. Our country is the better for it:
Our bOye IN school are better for it:
You yourselves can point to the man.
born OF humble parents, reared at the
common schools, vino went into life
with very little help aud rose by be-
ing a true, honest and brave man and
soldier; beloved by every body,
mourned by everybody. And say,
Hancock, you are rewarded. I would
not recall his life if I could. He has
filled his life with full measure"
Following Gen Sherman, Gen.
Lew Wallace spoke Of the teachings
and results of the war. Gen. Far
child, of Wisconsin; VIM. E. Strong
of Chicago; Gen. King Of of New
York; General Charles II. Gros-
venor, and Lieutenant Governor
Kennedy, of Ohio also spoke. It
was very late before the very pleas
ant and successful meeting was clos
ed.