Arizona republican., 1902-03-25
DEATH OF CAPT. W. A. HANCOCK
A Sketch of the Life of We'll Known
 Pioneer.

Captain William A. Hancock died early yesterday morning at his home on Adams street, just east Of Seventh. of pneumonia. compiicating acute nephritis His illness was very short. as he was taken sick on Friday last. though few of his friends knew of it until the announcement of his death yesterday morr-ng. He was q member of the Grand -Ir.ny and the Odd Fellows and his funeral will De conducted by the first named society. The announcement has not been made yet, pending the arrival of his son. Harry who is now in T0nto basin and who has been sent for.
 With the passing of Captain Han cock Phoenix loses her earliest settler and one of the men who have given the greater part of their lives to the development of tne natural resources of this valley and territory. There were none more deeply interested in the early days in making known the pOssi- bilities of :his region and in later years no one has given more time and at tention to the solving of the problems that have been presented iii the de velopnlent of natural resources. Cap tain H&n,o ock surveyed the Salt River Valley canal. probably the oldest irri- gating ditch in the territory now in use and from that day to inc present he has been foremost in tEe agitation and attempted settlement of irriga ting problems Water stcraSr has for many years been his constant study and though he has often differed in opinion from his associates. no ole mas been in of eral years ne has been the local repre- sentative of the Agua Fria Reservoi, and Canal company. an enterprise that was pushed with vigor for 2 time and which is still awaiting proper Condi- tions for the fulfillment of it's plans fo1 an extensive i.'rieatins system.
 Captain Hancock was a native 1t Barre Mass. and was born May r. 1891. being at the time of his death al most - years of age. He Was Of true American stock. his family ior gener- ations having been Identified witt American history. His proSenitors or his mothers side were from the famous Lee family. which played sucn an i'm portant part in the trying times be- fore, during and after the revolution ary war
 At the age of - Mr. Hancock. witt two brothers, moved u Iowa. and shortly afterward continued their west ward journey across the plain to Cai- ifornia. settling in Sacramento county Mining at that time was the pTjncip9 occupation of all and .dr. Hancocf devoted some time to tEet pursuit ant ranChing.
 In 1856 he returned to Massachusetts via the isthmus. called there by ths death of his father. But as soon as business matters could be arranged h. returned to the gold coast and in 1S64 he enlisted in San Francisco in Com pany K of the Seventh regiment oi California volunteers. IIr. George F. Mowry. also a Phoenix pioneer and al present an employe of the Phoenix postoflice. enlisted in the same company and at the same time. The next year found them in Yuma. where Corpora Hancock was transferred to the quar- termasters department for a time. H. was later stationed at Fort Mcdowell and still later made captain of d com pany of Pima Indian soldiers in thc first regiment of Arizona volunteers The work of this orGaniza tion wa: mostly in campaigns against the hos tile ApaChes. which Were then men