Husband James Denton Hancock, LL. D. 1 2 3
Born: 9 Jun 1837 - Wyoming Valley, Luzerne Co, PA 1 4
Christened:
Died: 11 Oct 1929 5
Buried: 14 Oct 1929 - Franklin Cemetery, Franklin, Venango Co, PA 6
Father: James Hancock (1793-1880) 1 7
Mother: Mary Perkins ( - ) 1 7
Marriage: 1873 - Mt. Carmel, New Haven Co, CT 8 9
Other Spouse: Ella C. Hitchcock ( -1871) 8 9 - 1865 8 9
• Additional Image: James Denton Hancock, LL.D.
• Additional Image: James Denton Hancock, LL.D.
Wife Mary Kate Hitchcock 8 9
AKA: Catherine Hitchcock 10
Born: - Washington, Washington Co, PA
Christened:
Died: 1 Jan 1929 - Franklin, Venango Co, PA 5
Buried: 4 Jan 1929 - Franklin Cemetery, Franklin, Venango Co, PA 6
Father: Lawrence Peres Hitchcock (1811- ) 9 10
Mother: Elizabeth Johnston ( -1848) 9
Children
1 F Ella C. Hancock 8 9 11
Born: 21 Jun 1874 9
Christened:
Died: Aft 1929
Buried:
Spouse: Frederick Lee Williamson (1866-1915) 9 11
Marr: 5 Feb 1903 - ? Venango Co, PA 9
2 F Mary Elizabeth Hancock 8 9
Born: 22 Jul 1876 9
Christened:
Died: Aft 1929
Buried:
3 M James Denton Hancock 9
Born: 19 Oct 1880 9
Christened:
Died: 18 Dec 1885 9
Buried: 3 Dec 1885 - Franklin Cemetery, Franklin, Venango Co, PA 6
Spouse: Did Not Marry
4 M Philip Gaylord Hancock 9
Born: 11 Jun 1883 9
Christened:
Died: 20 Dec 1885 9
Buried: 9 Dec 1885 - Franklin Cemetery, Franklin, Venango Co, PA 6
Spouse: Did Not Marry
General Notes: Husband - James Denton Hancock, LL. D.
He was reared in his native county, obtaining an academic education at Wyoming Seminary and other local institutions, and graduated at Kenyon College, Gambier, Ohio, in June, 1859. In 1861 he became a tutor at the Western University of Pennsylvania, where he was elected professor of mathematics in the following year. In 1863 he was admitted to the bar at Pittsburgh, and was engaged in the practice of his profession in that city until 1865, when he removed to Franklin and has resided there continuously thereafter. In 1877 he was appointed attorney for the Allegheny Valley Railroad Company; he was appointed attorney in Pennsylvania for the Pittsburgh, Titusville and Buffalo Railroad Company in the following year, continuing in that capacity until 1888, when he became general solicitor for the Western New York and Pennsylvania Railroad Company with headquarters at Buffalo. He was appointed a trustee for Warren Insane Hospital in 1881 by Governor Hoyt, and continued in that position by successive reappointments, serving as president of the board in 1888. Politically he was a Democrat after 1861, and prominent in the movement for tariff reform. In 1883 he delivered a lecture upon the subject of "Petroleum versus Protection" at Franklin and other places; it attracted wide attention and was awarded a silver medal by the Cobden Club, of which the author was elected an honorary member. He was chairman of the sub-committee and drew the original draft of the resolu-tions passed at the Tariff Reform Convention at Chicago in 1885, and in 1889 was chairman of the committee on resolutions. He was the author of numerous articles upon various economic questions relating to the tariff. [HVC 1890, 806]
He was born in the Wyoming Valley, in what was afterward Plains Township, Luzerne County, PA, grew up there and acquired his early education in the common schools and Wyoming Seminary. In 1855 he entered Kenyon College, at Gambier, Ohio, graduating therefrom in 1859 with the degree of B. A., and subsequently having conferred upon him the degree of M. A. and the honorary LL. D.; he delivered the Phi Beta Kappa address in 1872 and the alumni address in 1899. Becoming a tutor in the Western University upon the completion of his college course, he became the professor of mathematics until 1861, and while engaged in teaching took up the study of law with William Bakewell, of Pittsburgh. Having gained admission to the bar in Allegheny County in 1862 he practiced in Pittsburgh for about three years, in 1865 removing to Franklin, where he made a permanent location. He applied immediately for permission to practice at the Venango County bar, which he received the fourth Monday of January. For ten years he was solicitor for the Allegheny Valley Railroad Company, appointed in 1877, and in 1878 he was appointed attorney for the Pittsburgh, Titusville & Buffalo Railroad Company, serving as such until 1888, when he became general solicitor for the Western New York & Pennsylvania Railroad Company, with headquarters at Buffalo, New York. He resigned the latter in December, 1891. Mr. Hancock had cases in almost all of the courts of western Pennsylvania, as well as in many in the eastern portion. Although he retired from active busi-ness in 1896 he retained a number of important associations, owning valuable oil lands in Venango County and being a director of the Fayette Gas Company and of the Pittsburgh, Youngstown & Ashtabula Railroad Company; for some years he was a director of the Exchange Bank of Franklin. He was the owner of the Hancock block, located at the corner of Twelfth and Liberty streets, Franklin, originally known as the Plumer block and later as the Savings Bank block until it came into Mr. Hancock's possession. He was the first tenant in that block, having his law offices there for many years.
In 1881 Mr. Hancock was appointed by Governor Hoyt one of the trustees of the State Hospital for the Insane at Warren, Pa., and served thirteen years, being president of the board in 1888. He was a loyal Democrat since 1861, and in 1892 was nominated by the party for Congressman from his district, losing that year by a small number of votes, as he did also in 1894, when nominated for Congressman-at-large. In 1896 he was nominated for elector-at-large, but declined to be a candidate then on account of his opposition to the policy of the party on the silver issue. After-ward he went as a delegate to the Indianapolis convention of 1896, which nominated Palmer and Buckner.
Mr. Hancock was prominent in the tariff reform movement. In 1883 he delivered a lecture on the subject of "Petroleum versus Protection" at Franklin and other places, which attracted wide attention, and was awarded a silver medal by the Cobden Club, of which he was elected an honorary member. He was chairman of the sub-committee and drew the original draft of the resolutions passed at the Tariff Reform Convention at Chicago in 1885, and in 1887 was again chairman of the committee on resolutions. He was the author of numerous articles upon various economic questions relating to the tariff. In 1893 he wrote a paper entitled "The Evolution of Money," which was adopted and published under the auspices of the National Board of Trade of the United States. He is a member of the Civil Service Reform Association. For a number of years he was an active member of the Pennsylvania Society of the Sons of the American Revolution, has served as president of the State organization, and was national president general in 1904-05. He affiliates with the Foresters. He was a trustee of Kenyon College, his alma mater, and never allowed his interest in educational projects to lapse. In Franklin he was the founder of the public library and made the first contribution given toward its establishment. Mr. Hancock was formerly a communicant of the Episcopal Church and served as vestryman, but his religious association was later with the Unitarians. [CAB, 450]
General Notes: Wife - Mary Kate Hitchcock
Unk newspaper,
Recent Deaths
Mrs. James Denton Hancock.
Mrs. James Denton Hancock died on Tuesday evening at the family home on Elk street, following an illness of several weeks.
She was born at Washington, Pa., the daughter of Lawrence Peres and Elizabeth Johnson Hitchcock. She spent her early life in Burlington, Conn.
Mrs. Hancock was a graduate of the Pittsburgh Female College and, being gifted as a musician, she was organist for a volunteer choir of the Shadyside Presbyterian church during Dr. Beatty's pastorate there. Following her marriage to James Denton Hancock at Mt. Carmel, a suburb of New Haven, Conn., she spent the rest of her life in this city,
Mrs. Hancock's life is a record of high aims and noble service. She was a valued member of the many organizations to which she belonged. She was a member of St. John's Episcopal church, a charter member of the Wednesday Club, the First Registrar and a Past Regent of the Venango chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution, a member of the Mary Washington Society and of the Colonial Dames, and a life member of the Audubon Society.
Deeply interested from its beginning in the Franklin public library, she was a liberal friend and supporter of that institution, as well as of every other effort for the betterment of Franklin. She retained almost to the last those characteristic traits which endeared her to all. As a citizen, her memory is revered; as a neighbor and friend, she holds a large and enduring place in the hearts of those who were privileged to know her well.
She is survived by her husband and three children: Lawrence P. Hancock, of Buffalo, N. Y.; Mrs. Frederick Lee Williamson, and Miss Mary Hancock, of Franklin. Also by one granddaughter, Mrs. Robert G. Allen, of Columbus, O., and one great granddaughter, Katherine Hancock Allen.
The funeral services are to be held on Friday afternoon and will be private. Friends are asked to omit flowers.