Hancockj
Transcribed from "History of North Washington, an illustrated history
of Stevens, Ferry, Okanogan and Chelan counties", published by Western
Historical Publishing Co., 1904.
JOHN HANCOCK has spent the major
portion of his life under the occidental stars, having been brought hither
when he was four years of age. He is now one of the respected and
influential residents of the Methow valley and has made a good success
in general farming and raising stock.
John Hancock was born in Van Buren county,
Iowa, on September 6, 1848, the son of Charles and Elizabeth J. (Saunders)
Hancock. In 1852 the family took the weary trip across the plains
and in due time landed at the mouth of Sandy river in the Willamette valley,
only to be met by the monster death, who snatched from the little group
the father and support. The widowed mother made her way to Oregon
City and there later married Samuel Waldron. They settled on a farm
about six miles south from Oregon City. Young Hancock remained with
his parents until sixteen, gaining his educational training from the early
schools of that vicinity. Then he enlisted in Company E, First Oregon
Infantry, and was stationed with his company at Fort Colville until the
discharge of the Volunteers in 1865. A short visit to the Willamette
valley and then Mr. Hancock sought gold at Auburn until 1873, when he went
to handling a quartz mill in Gem City, Union county, Oregon. Two
years later, we find him in Seattle whence he went, after one winter's
stay, to Walla Walla and operated a saw mill engine. Later he accepted
a position as engineer on the Walla Walla & Columbia railroad and drove
the first engine that pulled freight into Walla Walla. One year in
that capacity and he took charge of the shops at Whitman. Next we
find him near Rock Lake in Whitman county where be farmed and raised stock
for about eight years. In 1896, Mr. Hancock bought the place where
he now resides, about seven miles southeast from Twisp on Fraser creek.
He has a good farm and raises considerable hay and handles one hundred
head of stock each year. The farm is well improved, with orchard,
buildings, fences, and so forth, while in his labors he has been abundantly
prospered.
At Gem City, Mr. Hancock married Miss Julia
Elliott, in 1872. Her parents are both dead. Six children have
been born to Mr. and Mrs. Hancock; Clarence, the first child born in Gem
City; Arthur, married and living in this valley; John, Ella, Ivy and Myrtle,
twins. Little Myrtle, the pride of the home was called hence by death
on Thanksgiving day, 1903.