Pioneer, Here since 1857, Is Paralytic Victim-E. J. Hancock 97 Years Of Age, Dies December 4th In Blair

The life of Washington County’s oldest pioneer, Rev. E. J. Hancock, came to a close last Friday, December 4, when death took its toll at the age of 97 years, 3 months and 7 days. Death came at his home on East Lincoln Street following a stroke with occurred about three years ago.

With his parents he came to this county in 1857 with the Quincy Colony which settled in Fontanelle. On the trip from Illinois which was made by covered wagon, he drove a herd of cattle thus making a good portion of the trip on foot.

In Fontanelle he attended school and later became a student at the Nebraska University at Fontanelle, the first school of higher learning in the state. This school was later purchased by the Congregational Church, and was moved to Crete, Nebraska, and is the present Doane College.

Rev. Hancock became a minister early in life. At the age of eighteen years he held a pulpit and later at the age of twenty-nine he entered the conference of the Methodist Church and from then on he gave his time to the ministry.

He was married twice. By the first marriage, a son and a daughter survive, Dr. B. G. Hancock and Mrs. G. W. Ballard, both of Sacramento, California. The first wife died in 1918, he married Mrs. Matilda Weyrauch who with the children survive him; also surviving are a number of nephews and nieces.

Funeral services were held on Sunday, December 6, at the Methodist Church in Blair with Rev. John P. Brooks, assisted by Rev. Burress, officiating, and interment was made in the Fontanelle Cemetery.

Find a Grave Memorial #30150390

Obituary courtesy of the Washington County Genealogical Society. Newspaper clippings on file at the Blair Public Library.