BOOK - HISTORY OF GOODHUE COUNTY, MN. PUBLISHED IN 1909. William B. Hancock, deceased, was one of those heroes who gave the best of the young manhood to the cause of their country, having come out of the nation's great civil struggle badly crippled, and doomed to suffer more or less pain for the remainder of his natural days. He was born at Orford, N. H., January 26, 1832, son of Joseph and Lydia (Peck) Hancock, both natives of New England. The father was a farmer and blacksmith all his life. I-e went to Vermont in early manhood, but in his declining years returned to New Hampshire, where he died in 1876. His wife died many years before, in 1832. William B. received his education in Vermont, and after leaving school farmed with his father. At the outbreak of the Civil War, when the Green Mountain boys were rallying to the support of the Union and the flag which the sons of that state love so well, he enlisted, in August, 1861, at Montpelier, Vt., serving in Company IT, 6th Vermont Volunteer Infantry. lie was wounded at Lee's Mills. in April, 18f2, in both limbs, as the result of which he was left crippled for the rest of his life. In the early days he came to Featherstone township, this county, bringing with him his family, ready to establish a home in this new and rich country. lie first bought eighty acres, to which he added from time to time until he owned 200 acres, on which he carried on general farming with much success. In 1.899 he retired and moved to Red Wing, where lie died, November 24, 1907. le was a Repblican in politics, and a believer in the religious doctrines set forth by the Universalist denomination. Mr. Hancock was married, December 13, 1855, at Berlin, Vt., to Laura B. Smith, a daughter of Abner and Rebecca (Carr) Smith, natives of the Green Mountain, state. Her father was a carpenter and joiner, a vocation lie followed until the beginning of the war. He joined the Union army, serving in Company B, 1st Vermont Volunteer Infantry. At the battle of Cold Harbor, June 1, 1864, when the New England regiments were being mowed down like grass, he gave up his life in defense of his country and the principles in which he so thoroughly believed. To Mr. and Mrs. Hancock were born four children. Eugene A. is the capable manager of the family estate at Featherstone, having taken charge of the home farm in 1899. He lives at 1208 Twelfth street, in Red Wing, with his mother, driving to and fro to attend to his duties on the farm. Fred L., the second son, died in infancy at Worcester, Vt. Arabella R. married Hiram Watson, of Red Wing. The youngest child, N. Maude, married Gustave Kunze, an insurance agent, of St. Paul.