[Thomas J. Hancock, a native of Indiana, was born July 16,
1841 and] came from Indiana to Iowa about the year 1851 and located with his
parents near Hardin, where his father entered a small tract of government land.
After residing upon it for a short time he sold the property and located on
Suttle creek, where he made his home for many years, his residence being known
as the Linton Hotel. Afterward the family moved to the farm upon which George
E. Hancock resides today and there Thomas J. Hancock continued to live for some
time, making his home there until 1893, when he retired from active life and
removed into Rossville, where he now resides. In early times he used to drive
the stage from McGregor to Waukon, leaving his farm in charge of his sons. At
the beginning of the Civil war he enlisted in Company A, Sixteenth Iowa Volunteer
Infantry, Sixteenth Battalion, and served for three years with credit and
distinction. He was shot through the left shoulder in battle and was taken to
the hospital but five days afterward rode over two hundred miles on a box car.
His wound was not dressed for more than twenty-four hours after he received it
and it was only his unusually strong constitution which saved his life.
Returning from the war, he worked in the employ of others for two years and
then took up his residence on a rented farm, afterward buying the property,
upon which the greater part of his active life was spent. He is today one of
the respected and honored residents of Rossville and although not an office-seeker,
takes a commendable interest in public affairs.
SOURCE: Ellery M. Hancock, Past and Present of Allamakee
County, Iowa, Volume 2, p. 569, abstracted from the biographical sketch of
his son, George E. Hancock.
