Henry Hancock

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Major Henry Hancock was born April 11, 1822, in Bath, New Hampshire, of which state his father, Thomas, was also a native, the paternal grandfather, Henry, having emigrated from Somersetshire, England, during the colonial period of our history. His mother, Lucy (Smith) Hancock, was also a native of Bath, New Hampshire, and a daughter of Jonathan Smith, the representative of an old New England family; for many years he was connected with hotel interests in Bath.

Henry Hancock entered Norwich Military Academy, where he became a student of the law department of Harvard University. Following his graduation, in 1846, he went St. Louis, Missouri, where he took up a job as a surveyor. His first employment in that city was in the capacity of private tutor, in which occupation he continued until his enlistment for service in the Mexican war, when he was commissioned quartermaster under General Donovan. Upon the close of hostilities he returned to his old home in New Hampshire, where he spent a part of the ensuing year.

During his service in the southwest Major Hancock, decided to join the westward trend of emigration. In Boston, Mass., he took passage on a vessel bound for San Francisco, and in September, 1849, reached that port – then but the rude beginning of a frontier town. Instead of seeking the mines he opened a law office in San Francisco and began the practice of his profession. He later abandoned his practice and was soon located on Mormon Island, on the south branch of the American river, where he engaged in gold mining. In 1850 he moved to Los Angeles and was elected to the state assembly on a Democratic ticket, 1st District, 1858-60.

Henry along with Benjamin D. Wilson bought Rancho Beverly Hills, California in 1854.

Before and after his public service Major Hancock engaged extensively in government surveying. He sectionized many of the lands of Southern California and surveyed all of the large ranches of Los Angeles and San Bernardino counties, through his familiarity with the Mexican customs and Spanish language being considered an expert in the settlement of their grants. He was called upon to subdivide and settle the squatters’ claim on the Rancho Chino ranch (near Chino) consisting of thousands of acres, and when this matter was cleaned up in 1866 it was with the entire satisfaction of both squatters and Gen. John Bidwell, the owner of the property.

For many years he served as city surveyor of Los Angeles and many of the lines and corners established by him remain to the present day. In 1858, United States Deputy Surveyor Henry Hancock, and a prominent local surveyor, surveyed the lands confirmed to the City by the United States Land Commission Patent of 1856. He ran the boundaries setting markers at the corners referring to landmarks, and using compass courses and distances on the ground. The original patent boundary can be easily seen on a map of the City; bounded by Hoover Street on the west; on the north, Fountain Avenue produced to Indiana Avenue except where it deviates from a straight line by following the channels of the Los Angeles River (formerly the Porciuncula) and the Arroyo Seco. On the east, Indiana Avenue; on the south, the line of Exposition Boulevard produced from Hoover Street. Quite noticeable within the area described is the orientation of the streets running several degrees from cardinal direction.

He selected for a home an old Spanish grant consisting of about four thousand acres, which was known a the La Brea ranch that for many years had been devoted to the raising of sheep and cattle. After the war he commenced the commercial development of the asphaltum deposits on the Rancho La Brea, These deposits had been known and used from the earliest days indeed, the roofs of the adobe houses built by the first settlers of Los Angeles were covered with asphalt from “the Brea Springs.” Major Hancock developed its use for sidewalk and paving purposes, shipping considerable quantities to San Francisco by schooner. The brown asphaltum was also used as fuel by Los Angeles manufacturing establishments during the ‘80’s.

Major Hancock married in 1865 the daughter of Col. Augustin Haraszthy. They became the parents of two sons, George Allan and Bertram, the latter deceased. Major Hancock, died January 9, 1883 He identified himself with the Masonic organization.

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