Evening star., 1941-11-09

ward. The Post Office Departm
Monument may be seen.
of heart disease at his home, No 1884
Pennsylvania avenue. About half-past
/ o'clock he complained Of feeling un-
well, and, going upstairs, lay down upon
bed. A few minutes before o'clock
his wife heard him breathing rather
heavily, and went to him, and before
she reached him he had stopped breath
Ing. DR.. Smith Townshend was imme-
diately summoned, but arrived too late.
He decided that the death resulted from
heart disease.
The deceased was 49 years of age, a
native of this city and the son of Andrew
H. Hancock, who established the famous
Hancock restaurant, in the management
of which he succeeded his father. He
leaves a wife and two children. He was
in comparatively good health, appar-
emily Recently he had complained of
indigestion and had been under treat
ment by DR.. Townshend for that COM
plant"
&C uds o4lCl il1o uCdlll 4llC Sldi
told of his burial and the respect shown
the dead. 1t said:
Funeral of John Hancock.-The fu-
neral of the late John Hancock took
place yesterday afternoon from the FAM
lily residence, 1884 Pennsylvania avenue,
the Rev. DR.. Naylor of Foundry Church
officiating. The remains were inferred
in Oak Hill Cemetery. The pallbearers
were Messrs. w. S. Roose, Thomas NJ.
Steep, Thomas j. Russell, George Glib
son, H. C.. Coburn and Walter D.
Wyvill"
Andrew w. Hancock succeeded his
father in business, and was of the third
generation of the name of Hancock to
run the same business at the same place,
which from outward appearance was by
no means as attractive place as a
number of others in the city and yet
this place succeeded and even gained
fame when others failed and went out
of business entirely. Nor is it probable
that the refreshments sold there eXcelled
those dispensed by other firms engaged
in similar business. Perhaps, after ALL
it was due to the personalities of the
several proprietors and the display of
mementos and relics, each telling its
own silent story of some particularly
notable person or event.
Van Ness Residence
Because of these relics the place be-
came known as The Old Curiosity
Shop" restaurant and the collection on
display there included many interesting
specimens. There was a wine glass and
small tumbler which were labeled as the
identical glasses" out OF which jeff
Davis was wont to take his regular
toddy at Jost's liquor store, No. 1902
PENNSYLVANIA avenue. A small strip of
blanket was taken from the one which
inclosed Booths body when it was de-
livered to his friends. A huge iron key,
rudely made, used to lock and unlock
a smokehouse on Washingtons West
moreland County plantation, and host
of other curios.
Around the corner from Hancock's
place, on the south side of D street, be-
tween where formerly stood the engine
house, at the corner of Twelfth street,
was another historic building, much
older than the one on the Avenue. 1t
was built in 1904 by Gen. John P. Van
Ness as his residence, and the corner
building was erected by him at the same
time and rented for business purposes
The latter has undergone considerable
remodeling since it was first built, but
the former is substantially as it was
when built.
The Van Ness residence, at 1902, was
occupied by the general and Marcia
Burnes Van Ness, his wife, until the
mansion house at Seventeenth and B
streets NV. was completed and occupied
by them in 1916. 1t seems quite likely
that Ann Burnes, wife of David, the orig
inal proprietor, died in the D street resi-
dence.
Van Ness was always a good enter
tainer, and loved to have distinguished
company around him, and it was while
living on D street that he was visited by
Washington Irving, one Of Americas
most celebrated writers and the son Of
a Scotsman who had emigrated to this
country before the Revolution. Irving
in January, 1911, wrote to friend:
'I am delightfully."- moored, head and
stern in the family Of John P. Van Ness,
brother of William P He is an old friend
of mine, and insisted on my coming to
his house the morning after my arrival
The family is very agreeable. Mrs. Van
Ness is a pretty and pleasant little
woman, and quite gay; then there are
two pretty girls likewise, one a Miss
Smith, clean from Long Island, her
father being member of Congress. She
is a fine, blooming country lass, and a
great belle here. You see, am in clover
happy dog!"
And again in the following month we
find him writing:
ITO show you the mode of life lead,
give you my engagements for this
week: On Monday dined with the mess
OF officers at the barracks; in the evening
q ball at Van Ness. On Tuesday with