Capt. Frederick Hancock 1814 - 1903

HANCOCK, COLLINS, KECK, ALEXANDER, ROBINSON, BROWN

Posted By: Volunteer - Rich Lowe
Date: 1/24/2005 at 10:45:18

Died at his home in Bentonsport, Iowa, on Sunday Oct. 3, 1903, at 1:30 o’clock, a.m., Captain Frederick Hancock, aged 88 years, 9 months, and 20 days. The funeral was held at his late residence on Tuesday afternoon at 2:30 o’clock Rev. Netting, Congregationalist minister from Farmington officiating. The weather was very unpropitious, and not a very large audience was in attendance. The rain fell in torrents during the services, and just when the remains were about being placed in the hearse to take them to the cemetery for burial, a telegram was received from Mrs. Mary H. Keck, of Flandreau, South Dakota, his daughter, stating that she was on her way to attend the funeral, and would be in on the next train. A consultation of relatives and friends was held and it was decided to not burry the body until Mrs. Keck arrived. Mrs. Keck arrived that evening, and as the weather had become clear, and the sun was once more shining brightly the next day, Wednesday, the body was consigned to its last resting place in the cemetery, and Mrs. Keck, the daughter, following the remains as sorrowing mourners. Among the small number of old time friends who were present on this occasion were W. P. L. Muir and wife, and George W. and Jesse Meredith of Bonaparte. Mrs. Mary H. Keck was the only one of the three living daughters who could respond to the summons to attend the funeral. Captain Frederick Hancock was born in Wilkesbarre, Luzern county, Pa., Dec. 13, 1814. He received a good education graduating at the Wilkesbarre Acadamy. When only twenty-one years old, he assumed the responsibility of husband. On the 11th day of Oct. 1835, he was united in wedlock to Miss Anna Penrose Collins, a native of Delaware. Two years later the young couple resolved to brave the hardships of frontier life, and came west. They located on a farm in Washington township, Van Buren county, Iowa, some three miles northeast of Bentonsport, and for ten years cultivated its rich acres. In 1848 the farm was sold, and Captain Hancock removed his family to Bentonsport, and engaged in the mercantile business. While living on the farm Captain Hancock represented this county in the territorial legislature, serving in the sessions 1844 – ’45. He conducted business in both Bentonsport and Vernon and owned and managed the ferry which plied between the two towns for some years. He early espoused the cause of the colored race, who were held as slaves in certain states of the republic, and affiliated with the free-soil party or abolitionists. When the republican party was organized he attended its first convention, and supported Mr. Lincoln for president in 1860. He was a strong adherent of war measures for the preservation of the Union and was by the Great Emancipator appointed as assistant quarter master of volunteers, with the rank of Captain, in May 1864. He was assigned for duty to Fort Levenworth, Kansas, and faithfully did service there until 1866, one year after the war had ended. The wife, whom he married in his early manhood, and who accompanied him to his frontier experiences, died in Bentonsport at the old homestead January 9th, 1863. She left him with a family of six children, four girls and two boys. Paul, the eldest enlisted early in 1861 in company “A”, 7TH Mo. Cavalry, and served faithfully his term of enlistment and was mustered out at St. Louis, Mo. in the autumn of 1864, and died while on his way home from Keokuk. The daughters grew to womanhood’s estate at Bentonsport, and were married from the old homestead. Miss Fannie married Andrew Alexander and with him moved to California some twenty-five years ago. Her husband died some years later and she is now a resident of San Jose. Miss Sallie married Edward A. Robinson and they reside in Lowell, Mass. Miss Mary H. after the civil war was over became the wife of Lieutenant J. Sloan Keck, who was a brave and meritorious office in Company G. 4th Iowa Cavalry. He died some eleven years ago at Bentonsport. Mrs. Keck, some years after her husband’s demise, moved west with her family and settled near Flandreau in South Dakota, where she still resides. Miss Pattie the youngest daughter and Frederick, the youngest son, are both dead. On May 1st, 1873, Captain Hancock was again united in marriage to Miss Martha Brown, of Bentonsport, who faithfully and tenderly cared for him in his declining years. Captain Hancock was a member of the Congregational church, a faithful and respected adherent to that denomination for many years. He was elected to the office of Justice of the Peace in Washington township soon after the close of the civil war, and was continuously re-elected to that office until advancing age and enfeebled health interfered with his capacity to fill the position. For five years more than a half century Captain Hancock had been a citizen of Bentonsport. He came to Iowa sixty-six years ago. He served as one of the law makers in the territorial legislature and witnessed the state of Iowa develop into a mighty commonwealth. He also witnessed the curse of human slavery wiped out and the final triumph of free institutions. Full of years, honored and respected by his fellow men, he ended his work here in the hope of great immortality.