The Portland daily press., 1886-02-10
Wintield scott Hancock was born in .

Winfield Scott Hancock was born in
small village in Montgomery county, Penn
svlvania. called Montgomery Square, Febru-
arv IA. 1924. He was the son of Benjamin
Franklin and Elizabeth Hancock, ana had
two brothers, Hilary, his twin brother, and
John, who was some years younger Inc
family line of which General Hancock was
member was noted one. John daheocK'
the earlier of the name, was born III looS'
died in 1850, aged 80 years, and was HILLS
ter at Lexington, Mass. John Hancock,
second, was born 1903, died 1744, aged Al
wears. He was minister at Braintree,
Mass John Hancock, the third, LID, was
born in 1877, died 1898, aged 56 years. he
was the first of the signers of the Declara-
tion of American Independence. He was
native of Quincy, Mass, graduated at Har-
ward College in IVA, member OF the House
of Representatives from Boston in l766,
President of the Provincial Congress OF
Massachusetts in 1744, President OF Contl-
mental Congress in 1775, Governor OF Massa-
chusetts from 1870 to 1874 and 1877 to 1192.
BENJAMIN f. Hancock, the father OF Cen
eral Hancock. was son of John Hancock,
LID, signer of the Declaration OF Ameri-
can Independence; was lawyer at Norrls-
town, Montgomery county, Pa, In 1873; was
a member of the Baptist church ana super
Winfield S. Hancock received his early
education at the Norristown (Penn) Acad-
envy, and made such advance In his studies
that when 10 years of age he was selected Dy
the townspeople to read in public the Declare
alton of Independence on the Fourth OF
July. Even in those days he had decided
military turn of mind, and as captain drilled
the lads of the village as boyish soldiers. AS
youth he was described by his old teacher
as proud-spirited and amiable, never selfish
o1x e1,f ff1tl nf a
feelings of others. July /, 1910, came the
turning point in his life, for on that date he
entered upon his student life at the west
Point Military Academy, having been ap-
pointed by Hon. Joseph Fornance, Repre-
sentative from his district. Grant, McClel-
Ian, Franklin, Reno and Burnside were his
schoolmates, but were in other classes. Gen.
VIM G. Peck, Gen. Alexander Hays and
Gen. Pleasanton were his classmates. Han
cock was the smallest boy in his class, and
in rank stood eighteenth among twenty-five
at graduation.
Hancock graduated in 1914, and was bre-
yeted Second Lieutenant in the Sixth In
fantry He had asked Gen. Scott, after
whom he was named to be assigned to tnat
regiment (which is stationed farthest
VEST Lieut.. Hancock served in the South
west until the breaking out OF the Mexican
war. when his regiment was ordered to JOIN
the army of Gen. Scott Not until near the
close of the struggle did he see actual hght-
ing, but then ne participated II tue pd1Gl0o
of Contreras, Churubusco, Molino del Rey
and Chapultepec Hancock received honor
able mention and a brevet for merltorious
service in these contests.
In 1861, when the civil war broke out,
Hancock was serving in the West, but at his
urgent request was transferred to the East.
In short period he received the commission,
on recommendation of Gen. Mcclellan, of a
Brigadier General, and was assigned to duty
in the division of Gen. w. f. Smith.
The career of the General during the war
is well known. He was with Gen. McClel--
Ian through the campaign in Virginia, and
subsequently, under Meade, he was at the
battle of Gettysburg, where he greatly dis
tinguished himself. For conspicuous bravery
at this battle he received the thanks of Con-
gress He was disabled on account of
wounds for active service for some months,
but in March, 1864, he returned to his conf
mand, and was before Petersburg, when the
breaking out of his wound prevented him
from taking an active part. He was in COM
mand of the Department of the Gulf. In
1869 the Democratic nomination as Governor
of Pennsylvania was rendered to him and
declined He was nominated for President
in 1880, and for several years he has had his
headquarters in New York