William Augustus Hancock facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
William Augustus Hancock
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| Born | May 17, 1831 |
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| Died | March 24, 1902 (aged 70) Phoenix, Arizona, US
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| Burial place | Phoenix's Pioneer and Military Memorial Park | ||||||||||
| Education | Leicester Academy | ||||||||||
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William Augustus Hancock (May 17, 1831 – March 24, 1902) was an American pioneer, lawyer, and politician. He moved to Arizona Territory during the American Civil War. He settled in the Salt River Valley. There, he helped create the city of Phoenix by doing survey work. He also held many important jobs in the city and county government.
Contents
Early Life and Moving West
William Augustus Hancock was born on May 17, 1831. His family were farmers in Barre, Massachusetts. He went to local schools and then to Leicester Academy.
In 1853, William and his two brothers bought farm animals in Iowa. They then moved their animals all the way to California. In California, William worked on ranches and in mines in Sacramento County. After visiting his hometown in 1857, he came back to California. He brought a special horse called a Thoroughbred stallion and other horses with him.
Military Service
In 1864, during the American Civil War, Hancock joined the army. He was part of the 7th Regiment California Volunteer Infantry. His group was sent to Fort Yuma in February 1865.
At Fort Yuma, Hancock was moved to the 1st Arizona Volunteers. He became a second lieutenant. From Fort Yuma, he went to Fort McDowell, Arizona. There, he led a group of Pima Indians who were fighting in the Apache Wars. Hancock left the military in September 1866 as a first lieutenant. People often called him "Captain" Hancock after that, which was a common tradition back then.
Building Phoenix
After leaving the army, Hancock ran a trading post. In May 1870, he moved to the Salt River Valley. On November 10, 1870, a group called the Salt River Valley Town Association hired him. His job was to survey and map out a townsite for a new city, which would become Phoenix.
By December 10, Hancock had finished enough surveying. This allowed the first plots of land to be sold in the eastern part of the new town. The next year, Hancock built Phoenix's first adobe home. This building was very important. It served as his home, a general store, a butcher shop, the town hall, a county office, and a meeting place for everyone.
Public Service and Later Years
Hancock continued to do survey work and civil engineering in the Salt River Valley. He finished the initial town site. He also helped build several irrigation canals and drainage ditches.
He took on many other jobs too. In 1871, Hancock became Phoenix's postmaster, a job he held for eight years. When Maricopa County was formed, he was made the sheriff. Around the same time, he was appointed to be the district attorney for four years. When he became a probate judge, he also became the superintendent of the county school board. He was a partner in a law firm for several years. In 1886, Hancock was elected again as the county attorney.
When the Maricopa and Phoenix Railroad reached Phoenix in 1887, Hancock drove the very last spike into the new rail line. He was also involved in several projects to bring water to farms. In 1900, Hancock suggested a company that would build dams to control floods. This company would also provide water for a large area of land in the Salt River valley. This idea eventually led to the creation of the Salt River Valley Water Users' Association. In his final years, he also worked on another dam project on the Agua Fria River.
Hancock passed away in Phoenix on March 24, 1902. He was buried in Phoenix's Pioneer and Military Memorial Park. Many people respected and mourned him when he died. Hancock Butte, a mountain near the Grand Canyon, is named in his honor.
Images for kids
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Grave site of William Augustus Hancock
See also
History of Phoenix, Arizona Pioneer and Military Memorial Park
