Ellery M. Hancock
Ellery M. Hancock
With the exception of brief periods spent in Milwaukee,
Chicago and Decorah, Ellery M. Hancock has been a resident of
Waukon for fifty-seven years and he has long been numbered among
the leading and representative citizens of Allamakee county. He
has been a prominent factor in the public life of the county but
since 1906 has continuously devoted his attention to the
insurance business.
His birth occurred at Winchendon, Massachusetts, on the 11th of
July, 1850, his parents being Moses and Sally L. (Alger) Hancock.
The father, who was born at Templeton, Massachusetts, on the 1st
of Decmeber, 1808, became a merchant and manufacturer of
woodenware at Winchendon, that state. He was one of the selectmen
of Winchendon, and at one time represented that town in the
Massachusetts legislature. Leaving Winchendon in the spring of
1856, he made his way to Iowa and reached Waukon on the 9th of
April. Here he embarked in the mercantile business in partnership
with L.T. Woodcock, who had taken up his abode at Waukon two and
one-half years before. Moses Hancock was called upon to serve the
public in varous capacities and acted as chairman of the first
county board of supervisors in 1861. When he passed away in the
year 1872, the community mourned the loss of one of its most
respected and influential citizens. In 1832 he had wedded Miss
S.L. Alger, by whom he had ten children, all of whom are deceased
except the two youngest, namely: Ellery M., of this review, and
George A., who is now a resident of Chicago.
One of the sons, Frank E., enlisted in 1861 in Company B, Twelfth
Iowa Volunteer Infantry, one of the three regiments to hold the
"hornet's nest" during the first day's fighting at
Shiloh - April 6, 1862. He was surrendered with his regiment, and
after spending six and one-half months in southern prisons passed
away at Annapolis, Maryland, on the 26th of October, 1862, the
first night after having been exchanged.
George Alger, the maternal grandfather of our subject, was a
farmer by occupation and a captain of militia in the War of 1812.
He was a descendant of Thomas Alger, who settled at Tauntion,
Massachusetts, from England, about 1665. His daughter, Mrs.
Hancock, died in the year 1877.
Ellery M. Hancock, who was a little lad of about six years when
brought to this state by his parents, has resided in Waukon
continuously since, with the exception of brief periods spent in
work at the printer's trade in Chicago, Milwaukee and Decorah
prior to 1873. His education was obtained in the common schools.
In the spring of 1868 he entered the office of the Waukon
Standard to learn the printer's trade, working under the
direction of R.L. Hayward & Company. A.M. May was at that
time the editor of the paper. In 1873 Mr. Hancock purchased a
half interest in the journal, Mr. May owning the remaining half.
Business was carried on under the firm style of May &
Hancock, for about nine years or until 1882, when Mr. Hancock
retired because of ill health, and turned his attention to
insurance.
It was about this time that he compiled a history of Allamakee
county. He became secretary of the Waukon independent school
district, serving in that capacity for many years. He likewise
served as township clerk of Makee township for several terms, and
at the time of the incorporation of Waukon in 1883, was elected
city clerk, acting as such until 1895. In 1894 he was chosen
recorder of deeds for Allamakee county and served in that
capacity throughout the following twelve years, being five times
reelected by flattering majorities. His record as a public
official, characterized by unusual efficiency and faithfullness,
is one of which he has ever reason to be proud. In 1906 he once
more entered the insurance field and has since successfully
conducted business along that line in connection with abstracts
of title.
In 1881 Mr. Hancock was united in marriage to Miss Charlotte M.
Wedgwood, a daughter of Rev. John M. Wedgwood, who was for many
years a loved pastor of th Waukon Baptist church and at one time
superintendent of schoos of Winneshiek county. The demise of the
Rev. Wedgwood occurred in 1891. Mrs. Hancock is an alumna of
Northwestern University, having previous to her marriage, won the
degree of M.D. from the Woman's Hospital Medical College, now
affiliated with the Northwestern. She served for two years as an
interne in the Chicago Woman's Hospital and spent a similar
period at the Rockford (Ill.) Seminary as instructor in
mathematics and as graduate nurse. Prior to that time she taught
in the Waukon school and also in Winneshiek county, and was
deputy county recorder the twelve years her husband occupied that
office.
Mr. and Mrs. Hancock have two daughters, both of whom are
experienced teachers, beginnning with country schools. The elder,
Clara L., received the degree of Master of Didactics from the
Iowa State Normal School in 1906, and graduated from the Iowa
State University in the Liberal Arts class of 1913. The younger,
Harriet A., after preparatory work at the State Normal, has since
taught in the graded schools of Decorah and Osage, Iowa.
Mr. Hancock has been actively interested in various fraternal
societies, including the Iowa Legion of Honor, the Modern Woodmen
of America and the Modern Brotherhood of America. He became one
of the first members of the Waukon Military Company and was for
many years a leading spirit in the organization, which has become
a credit to the county. His religious faith is indicated by his
membership in the Waukon Baptist church, to which his wife and
daughters also belong. He is interested in all that pertains to
progressive public movements and both in citizenship and in
provate life has manifested the sterling traits of character
which everywhere commmand respect and regard.
-source: Past & Present of Allamakee County; by
Ellery M. Hancock; S. J. Clarke Pub. Co.; 1913
-transcribed by Sharyl Ferrall