Siblings not listed

William Hancer
(1836 - 1913)

George Hancer
(1839 - 1859)

Samuel Hancer
(1843 - 1845)

________________________________

History of James Hancey

"Seldom has a community paid a finer tribute to a man than the people of Hyde Park paid to the memory of Dr. James Hancey, when practically the whole community was in attendance at his funeral services.

"There was sincere grief in every heart, for there was not many in this peaceful little village who were not indebted to the deceased empire builder for some kindness or consideration that came to them in their hour of need, and more than likely without asking and without price.

"It is such men as he that makes the building of substantial communities in the desert possible. He was a real pioneer, and a Christian of the highest type. One will seldom find a worthier citizen, or a more splendid type of man. Always optimistic, always encouraging some crest-fallen soul who found it hard to stand up under the rebuffs of an unkind fate, he was a priceless treasure to any community. He was her best citizen."

The above statement is a tribute to James Hancey taken from the Logan Journal April 11, 1913, at the time of his death. In order to preserve the memory of this great man, the family records the following brief history of his life of service. Most will admit that such a history cannot adequately report his dedicated service to mankind, but perhaps it will give his descendants a little information and appreciation of their rich heritage.

James Hancey was born September 1, 1835, in Chediston, Suffolk County, England, the second son in a family of seven boys and one girl. His parents were George Hancer (Hancey) and Hannah Reynolds Pipe. His father was an agricultural laborer, hiring out to the farmers to provide the necessities of life for his family. James went to school for only six weeks in England where he learned to read and write. As school was not compulsory, it was not considered important. Henry Ford said "an educated man is one who accomplishes things," and on this basis James Hancey was indeed an educated man.

As a boy, James showed an inclination to make, mend or repair things around the home and farm to make them more useful and handy. Sometimes he would hire out to other farmers for day's wages which were very small. He enjoyed the farm work except for milking cows. He particularly disliked this task to the point that he devised a scheme so he would not have to do this chore. His children remember him laughing as he would tell the story of when assigned to milking cows, he would pull the hairs on the cow's udders making her kick over the milk. The farmer, not knowing what caused it, would not tolerate this loss, so would have someone else do the milking and assigned James to care for the horses or other chores. Even in later life he wanted nothing to do with cows.

James demonstrated his ability in doing his work with neatness and dispatch, and exhibited tact in working with others so in later years when he grew to manhood he was made foreman, overseer or headman on the farm where he worked. He was always a natural leader among men. He often came in contact with people of different ideas, abilities, and genius, and was quick to make use of many of their experiences throughout his life.

From family records available, it is noted that James was the only one of his family who embraced the Gospel of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. He was baptized 15 December 1855, his parents having been baptized in 1851. He was married on October 11, 1855 to Rachel Seamons in the Parish Church at All Saint's St. Nicholas, Suffolk, England, according to the rites and ceremonies of the Established Church after Banns by Joseph J. Jenkell, Curate.

He and his wife left their native land February 18, 1856, to come to Zion. His brother John Reynolds and wife Lucy Seamons came in the same company to America and they settled in Iowa. Another brother Frederick came in 1866. His mother and father, brother Horace and sister Betsy came in approximately 1872 and they all settled in Iowa. So far as it is known, his brothers William and George never came to America. Another brother Samuel died in England as a child.

James and wife Rachel sailed on the good ship Caravan with William Sands as Captain. There were 454 saints on board under the direction of President Daniel Tyler and two counselors. The company was divided into 5 wards with a president and two counselors to each ward. Included in this company besides James Hancey and wife, his brother John Reynolds and wife, were the following who came and settled in Hyde Park: Henry and Mary Seamons and their children Samuel, Jemima, Lydia, and Eliza; James Thurston and wife Mary; William Beddingfield and wife Louise.

While on the ocean voyage the first child, a son, was born to James and Rachel Hancey whom they named James Sands, after the captain of the ship.

They landed in New York on March 28, 1856, after being on the ocean five weeks and two days. From New York they went to Castle Gardens, New York, and stayed a short time and then went to Williamsburg where he with others obtained work with Jerry McWiggins. They stayed her for a few months and then went to Monmouth, New Jersey, where they stayed for three years. From New Jersey they went to Omaha, Nebraska, traveling by steamboat from St. Louis up the Missouri River to Omaha. They stayed here for 15 months and he worked in a steam sawmill. He also worked with a Dr. McClellan, an army surgeon, and here he purchased a set of dental instruments and some medical equipment which he brought with him across the plains to Utah.

In the spring of 1860 they began to prepare to come to Utah. It is reported that he made the statement " I am going to Utah; how I do not know, but the Lord will open up a way." James Hancey and James Thurston together had one yoke of oxen, one yoke of cows, some young steers and one wagon. Traveling in this wagon were James Thurston, his wife and 3 children, James Hancey, his wife and 2 children and a young woman whose name is not recorded. They left Omaha May 25, 1860, in the Captain Franklin Brown Company and they arrived in Salt Lake City on September 4, 1860. Rachel S. Hancey records in her history that she remembers her husband saying to the oxen when he would unyoke them at night, "Well done, old Nigg and Dave, we are one day's march nearer home." They stayed in Salt Lake City only a few days and then travelled to Cache Valley where they joined the families of Griffith, Molin, Mack, Ashcroft, Higginson, Nelson, Rogers, Seamons, Thurston, Bloomfield, and located in Hyde Park. They endured the hard ships of pioneer life, including drought, famine, Indian and grasshopper wars.

His natural genius and ability in the use of tools soon made him the leading carpenter and builder of the town and county. In 1865 he supervised, with John Turner and others, did the carpenter work on the rock meeting house in Hyde Park, later used as a school house, and still later used as the U.I.C. railroad station. (This building was on the corner of Center and 1st West and was razed in 1962 to make room for the new U.S. Post Office.) All finishing lumber, moldings, flooring, doors, and window sash were planed by hand, put together with square nails and so constructed that it stood for almost 100 years. His son, James S. Hancey makes the following statement about the construction of the building: "I watched two of his sons work for an hour replacing a step between two rooms that had practically worn through. Extracting those worn, crossed, five-inch square nails was almost impossible."

James Hancey also contracted and built the frame hall or meeting house in Hyde Park in the year 1892. This later burned down. He and Thomas Hillyard of Smithfield built the first sawmill in Hyde Park which was run by water power and used from the canal when the farmers were not using the water in it. He and his son Jesse did the carpenter work on the west section of the Central School House still standing in Hyde Park in 1964. About the year 1864 and 1865, He and John Turner built one of the first granaries in Logan for Apostle Ezra Taft Benson, Sr. He built or assisted in building the majority of the first homes built in Hyde Park.

His talent did not stop with construction of buildings, but he also built chairs, cupboards, tables, beds, cradles, washing machines, and even toys for the children. These were constructed in a work shop on the lot now owned by Golden and Manila Hancey Cook (1st North and Main, Hyde Park, Utah). A part of the home still standing (1964) is the one he built for his first wife Rachel.

The machinery and turning lathe in his shop were also constructed by him as were some of the hand tools. The turning lathe was run by a waterwheel placed in the old canal. When the water was low, there was a large wheel in the shop to be turned by hand. Sons and grandsons well remember being assigned to this task, an assignment that none of them thought too enjoyable. His son James writes: "No one will ever know the joy of visiting that shop. It was a house of mystery with the law of "hands off" to us children. Today (1920) I have in my home two tables and a chair so securely built that they are just as solid as any new furniture. Perhaps it was that thick, dark brown paint, mixed by himself, that helped preserve all surfaces and bind the construction." Even today in 1964 furniture he constructed is still in homes of his children and grandchildren.

The farmers brought their farm machinery and equipment to him for repair. Two months before grain harvest the lot around the shop would be crowded with grain binders, threshing machines and horse powers to be repaired for the harvest season. The grain binders were first to be repaired, then the big job was the threshers and horse powers. With the help of the owner, he would replace the broken slats on the conveyors. The bearings that were worn out would have to be rebabbitted which he did by melting babbitt and running around the shaft. The broken teeth in the concave and the cylinder would have to replaced.

The horse power seemed to take a lot of hand work, especially the master wheel. This is the large wheel that carried the sweeps and equalizer that six teams of horses pulled traveling in a circle to provide power for the thresher. During the threshing season some cogs would break off. With a hacksaw and files he would cut a slot or keyway where the cogs had broken off. Then by hand he would form a new cog and drive in the slots. By doing this it saved the owners the cost of a new master wheel.

The ladel used to melt the babbitt for running the bearings, and some of his drill bits, wooden hand planes, and other tools used by him are treasured today (1964) by one of his sons.

Caskets for the dead were built in this shop, lined with cloth and padded with cotton batting. He worked far into the night many times for some bereaved family, planning the light pine boards by hand with a prayer in his heart that all would be satisfactory.

The accounts for the work done in the shop were kept on a board which he kept at the back of his shop. When one would pay, a line was drawn through his name. When one side of the board was filled, he would go over the list of those who had not paid and decide who could or would pay and record their names on the other side of the board. If the record could be reviewed today, one would probably find just as many unpaid bills as were paid.

Not only was James an expert cabinet maker, machinist, as well as a wheelwright, but his talents ran also to inventions. One of his early inventions was a washing machine. Two models are particularly remembered by members of the family. The first machine was a wooden, round tub with a sloping curved bottom. A rod across the top was connected to a slatted swing on which the clothes were placed. As the rod was moved back and forth by hand, the swing with the clothes swished through the water. It cleaned the clothes, but was heavy and hard to operate, and was almost as much work as doing the washing on the wash board.

The second model was a round tub with a wheel that turned paddles. About ten egg shaped wooden balls would be placed in the tub with the clothes and when turning the wheel the paddles would whirl the balls to clean the clothes.

Another of his early inventions was a self-waiter table. It was oval in shape and large enough to seat 10 or 12 people. In the center was a revolving round tray-like device about 2½ or 3 feet across. The food was placed on this revolving tray and those seated at the table would turn the tray to get the food desired passed to them. There were several tables of this type used for many years in the pioneer homes, but James built one of the very first ones.

Wooden potato mashers, rolling pins, and churns were made for many of the housewives in the community. Some people thought he could build anything they wanted. One boy came to him and asked him to make a violin. However, this is one area he did not attempt as he never built any musical instrument so far as is known.

One of the inventions of James Hancey that was highly successful and contributed to the agriculture industry in Cache Valley was the spill gate that he designed and installed in the Logan Richmond Canal. Part of the canal is along a mountain side. During the year, water from higher elevations would seep down the hillside washing debris and dirt into the canal causing it to break and flood the area. This resulted in much damage as well as loss of water before the water could be shut of the canal. Several days would be required to repair the break and again get water into the canal. The spill gate designed and installed by James Hancey alleviated this problem by relieving the canal of the excessive water as the water pressure would operate the spill gate and let the excess water go into the drain ditches prepared for the overflow.

A newspaper clipping dated March 27, 1899, reports as follows:

"To Whom it May Concern:

I have examined a hinge overflow gate, operated by means of the pressure of the overflow water on the second gate, designed by Mr. James Hancey, Sr. of Hyde Park, and hereby testify that when properly constructed will serve the purpose of automatically relieving any canal wherein it may be set from and excessive rise of water due to any cause whatsoever. Its advantage over the common overflow wier is that it drops the head any desired amount immediately when overflow begins.

Respectfully, Jos. Jenson, Professor
of Mechanical Engineering, Director
of the Agricultural College of Utah

"These gates can be set above any dangerous point, and are fully guaranteed. For particulars write or call on James Hancey, Hyde Park, Utah."

A large crowd of dignitaries including engineers from Salt Lake City and Logan gathered the day this spill gate was put into operation as there was doubt in the minds of many as to its success. It was a happy day indeed as the water rushed down through the spill gate into the waste and drain ditch prepared for the overflow.

In 1906 a second spill gate was built by James Hancey and his sons and also installed in the Logan - Richmond Canal. In 1964 it is still in operation there. A newspaper clipping concerning this reports as follows:

"Hancey and Sons have the contract for putting in a new spillgate in the Logan and Richmond Canal on the sidehill near the mouth of said canal. By the bye, James Hancey, Sen., is the original inventor of that self-acting spillgate and the Logan and Richmond Canal Company was the first to use Mr. Hancey's spillgate. A few years ago one was put in and it worked so well that the directors have decided to put another in higher up. It is a pity that Mr. Hancey did not take out a patent for his invention and by so doing reap the benefits of his genius."

James Hancey supervised the construction and installation of this spill gate, but his sons James S., Jesse, Alma, Horace, Alfred and George and grandson Clive Hancey did much of the work on it.

James Hancey also contributed to the social and amusement activities of the community. One of his innovations used for community celebrations on the public square was a merry-go-round. This was made with a wagon wheel used for a center with wooden arms extending outward on which bench-like seats were attached. This merry-go-round allowed from 25 to 30 children to ride while others pushed by hand, walking in a circle pushing on the extending arms. In the center or hub of the wheel the American Flag was displayed on a pole. Later this merry-go-round would be dismantled and the lumber used for a more useful purpose. The next year he would build another merry-go-round for the young people to enjoy.

The story is told of a flowing well being drilled so a pump could be placed in the kitchen of a new home being built. Everything seemed all right until one day there was no water. Two or three men started to dig down to find the trouble. After carrying much dirt out through a window and toiling for hours, the water started to fill the hole they were digging. They did not know what to do so called for "Brother Hancey." In a few minutes James appeared on the scene, looked over the situation, picked up a bucket, filled it with water and while pouring it in the pump said, "Now any darn fool ought to know you have to prime a pump." The pump was started and the men got to work to fill up the hole. The pump never stopped again until the Hyde Park water system was brought in and the pump was removed.

James Hancey's abilities were not just as builder, inventor, but deep down in his heart he loved the work he started in Omaha with Dr. McClellan. The pioneers needed his help as a doctor and dentist and he showed his love for God though service to his fellow men in this line of work. He was blessed with ability and inspiration to relieve the sick and dying. His home became a pioneer drug store, dental office and doctor's laboratory. He visited the sick, prescribed simple medicines, set broken limbs without X-ray so perfectly that later the break could not be detected.

In the early 1860's he was assistant surgeon to Dr. O.C. Ormsby of the Cache County Militia. He was registration agent and health officer, reporting all contagious diseases and his son James says "I can see him now as he donned a long tan linen duster to go into a home that was suspected of some disease. The duster would be hung out in the sun after the call until it was considered safe from germs, then put away for the next call." The night was never to dark or stormy, or cold when sickness was in a home that he did not answer the call, sometimes risking his own life. Dr. D. C. Budge of Logan made the statement that if the opportunities of his day had been given to Dr. Hancey when he was a young man, he would have been an eminent physician that the world would have heard from.

The following story is told by his daughter Lettie Hancey Rich. "One night Dr. Hancey was called to Benson Ward to attend the son of a Mr. Griffith. It was in the dead of winter and they had to travel on horseback to get to him. The boy had mangled his fingers and was bleeding severely. Mounting Mr. Griffith's horse, Dr. Hancey rode to Benson, amputated the fingers and stopped the bleeding. He examined another sick child that was in the room, decided he had pneumonia, so doctored him. He stayed until 4:00 a.m. and then told the family he must leave as he had a small casket to make for a burial the following afternoon. They brought the horse and told him to take it home and they would call for it later. No thanks, no pay. All went well until he reached the vicinity of the railroad west of Hyde Park. The horse fell down and father sustained a broken nose. He walked the rest of the way home and went to work on the casket and had it ready for the funeral. About this time the U.S. Deputy Marshals were in the valley arresting all polygamists they could find and this same Mr. Griffith testified against father for a few paltry dollars. As father left for his trial, he shook his fist at Mr. Griffith and said, "I would rather be in my shoes than in yours, because mine are honorable."

Not only did he labor for mankind, but when the horses or cows got sick, he responded just the same.

The precious dental instruments now resting in the Pioneer Memorial Building in Salt Lake City tell a story of James Hancey's early dental practice. One of the first dental instruments Dr. Hancey used in pulling teeth was a turn key - a swivel claw that fitted down under the side of the tooth, was attached to a metal handle with a cross section at the end for a firm grasp. Three different sized claws made it possible to extract adult and children's teeth. This instrument was the first used for tooth extraction. Later different sized forceps replaced this simple but effective device. Small, lances, files and elevators completed the set. Alcohol, cotton and needles were kept in a round tin can, a relic from England, but a lovely mahogany hardwood box, lined with green velvet and containing a green grooved tray held his precious instruments.

Anesthetics were unknown, but the Lord blessed him with the gift of removing teeth with very little trouble. A firm believer of cleansing with soap and water followed with steam or boiling, he had very little infection to combat.

The gums were carefully cut away from the teeth before extraction took place. The patient's hands firmly grasped the seat of the ordinary pioneer kitchen chair, one of Dr. Hancey's making, where he was seated for the ordeal. In hot weather a porch was selected for this but in winter time the family was ushered out of the living room for the occasion. In case of faintness, brandy in hot water was administered to the patient. The third wife of Dr. Hancey, Annie Marie Christopherson Hancey, being a nurse, was usually at his side to watch the patient and buoy him up with cheerful words.

The filling of teeth in early days was not as popular as extractions. The people, generally speaking, were very poor and the price being just twenty-five cents for pulling the tooth, and usually the tooth had gone to the aching point and decayed too badly for filling, more extractions took place. The teeth that Dr. Hancey did fill were ground out with hand instruments, sterilized with alcohol and filled with silver foil. This was bought in thin sheets put together in book form with tissue paper separating each sheet. Precious beyond all things - even a look at this silver was a treat for the children. Just to watch him clean and gently lay each piece in its green velvet bed gave a feeling of owning something out of this world. Billy Wilkinson, who died at the age of 75, still had fillings in his teeth placed there by Dr. Hancey some 30 years before.

When a patient became frightened, the popular words of this pioneer doctor were "Darn it all, wait ‘till yer hurt before you start hollering."

James Hancey was a polygamist having three wives. He and his families endured the persecutions resulting from the laws passed prohibiting polygamy. His third wife, Annie Marie Christoperson, took her family and went in hiding and his second wife, Louisa Purser, was living in Idaho. In the spring of 1888, James was ill for several weeks suffering form pneumonia and complications therefrom. He was homebound during this period and was discouraged and worried over the circumstances and welfare of his wives and families. Eliza R. Snow made a visit to Hyde Park and was scheduled to speak in church. He made it known that he was anxious to attend church to hear Sister Snow, so friends called for him and took him to church. This proved to be a wonderful occasion for James that he never forgot and spoke of often to his family. During the course of Sister Snow's talk, she spoke in tongues to "Brother Hancey." Her message to his was words of consolation in the hymn "Peace Troubled Soul." From that time this hymn became a favorite of the Hancey family and was sung at the funeral services of both James Hancey and his wife Annie Marie. They hymn is not included in the current L. D .S. song book so is recorded here to be remembered by his descendants:

PEACE TROUBLED SOUL

Peace, troubled soul! thou need'st not fear;
Thy great Provider still is near;
Who fed thee last will feed thee still
Be calm, and seek to do His will.

The Lord, who built the earth and sky
In mercy stops to hear they cry
His promise all may freely claim
"Ask and Receive, in Jesus' name."

His stores are open all, and free,
To such as truly upright be;
Water and bread He'll give for food,
With all things else when He sees good.

The ravens daily doth He feed,
And sends them food as they have need;
Although they nothing have in store,
Yet as they lack He gives them more.

Then do not seek with anxious care
What ye shall eat or drink or wear;
Your Heavenly Father will you feed;
He knows that all these things you need.

Without reserve give Christ your heart;
Let Him His righteousness impart;
Then all things else He'll freely give
With Him you all things shall receive.

Thus shall the soul be truly blest,
That seeks in God his only rest;
May I that happy person be
In time and in eternity.


In the fall of 1888, his wife Annie Marie and family were able to come out of hiding and return to Hyde Park. His health improved and he continued his labors and service to his family and the community.

James always had a sense of humor and enjoyed good jokes and stories. Many stories can be told by members his family of the pranks and jokes he played on friends and neighbors on Halloween or New Year's Eve, such as whitewashing turkeys, tying mules to front doors, etc. This is mentioned to remind us that his was not all work and service, but he had his fun and he joined the other community members in their activities and celebrations. One night he whitewashed one neighbor's mule and the next morning the neighbor turned it out of his lot as he didn't recognize it and was sure the white mule belonged to someone else.

As a young man in England, James had a serious sick spell that caused him to lose all of his hair, and from then on he always wore a wig. In later life, he often would remove his wig to surprise or startle young people and played many jokes and pranks with it. A neighbor, who was an older gentleman, often came to the shop to pass the time of day. James was building a casket one day when he saw him coming. He decided to play a joke on him so took off his wig and climbed in the casket and was lying there with his eyes closed when the old gentleman came in. This was such a scare to the neighbor friend that he left the shop calling for help.

James always raised a vegetable garden and was meticulous in the care of it, as he was in all things that he did. He planted the straightest rows possible and hoed and cultivated it regularly so a weed could not be found. The care that he took of his tools and implements is shown in the fact that a garden cultivator he bought at the turn of the century is still in good condition and being used in 1964 by one of his sons.

Inasmuch as James was an early settler of Hyde Park, he owned some property including 5 acres just north and east of the cemetery. His work in the shop and a community doctor, dentist, veterinarian, and builder did not permit him to do much farm work so he sold this land. Family members report that he sold this 5 acres for $5.00 and a hive of bees.

During the last illness of Francis Purser, one of Hyde Park's townspeople in approximately 1902, Dr. Hancey prescribed and cared for him. Payment for the services was a horse and buggy. This was the first and only horse and buggy ever owned by James Hancey. However, he seldom hitched the horse to the buggy or drove it, but always had one of his children do this for him.

On October 10, 1906, James met with an accident. He was standing on a corner of Main and Center Streets in Logan talking to C. C. Shaw when a runaway team of horses came down the street. He attempted to jump behind the telephone pole, but failed to get more than the upper part of his body to a place of safety and the runaway horses ran over him. His left leg was broken just below the knee and the right leg just above the ankle. He also had broken ribs and a dislocated finger. He was in the hospital for four months and was never able to walk without the use of canes.

After this accident and during his declining years he spent many hours sitting on the large east porch of his home. As evening came he would study the solar system. He could name the different stars and planets and understood and knew much about them. An electrical storm fascinated him and nothing pleased him more that to have an old neighbor friend Billy Cook join him and they would discuss the possibility of the planets being populated.

On September 1, 1907, the children of Doctor James Hancey gathered at his home to celebrate his 72nd birthday. On this occasion the Logan Journal printed the following: "The Journal extends congratulations to Dr. Hancey, the Hyde Park humanitarian who has just passed his 72nd year. No one in this section has been more useful in community life than has Dr. Hancey. He has ministered to thousands in charity, but today his is a rich in its wealth of kindness as ever. He is a splendid old man with a splendid record and his posterity rightfully honors him. May the remainder of years be peaceful and happy."

The Journal also reports the activities of the celebration as follows: "A very nice dinner was served and after partaking of it, there was some speechmaking by the older folk while the young people sang, played and recited. Over forty people were present." The following poem, written by his son James S. Hancey, was dedicated to him on this occasion:

TO OUR FATHER

Our Father in Heaven, we honor Thy Name,"
Was the prayer that Christ taught unto men,
That father above, you have honored we know
And that honor will never grow dim,
To the man who has kept while here below
The Seventh Commandment given to him.

"Honor thy father and thy mother"
That thy days may be long in the land
And to honor and obey, and to love one another
Is inspiring, is noble, it is grand.
If it were only to make our days longer
We gave honor to them here below
We think ‘twould appear rather selfish
And but a poor sense of gratitude show.

We honor you not only, that our days may be long
But more for the good you have done,
In Teaching and guiding our footsteps aright,
For food, and for clothing, shelter by night,
For teaching us honesty, truth and the right
And showing us how to be men,
To shun evil temptations with spirit and might,
That we may have not lived in vain.

Your labor is not yet completed,
There is much more good you can do,
For your large and growing posterity
We will yet rise up and bless you.
They need your advice, and your counsel
To guide them on life's stormy sea,
And if they will heed your instructions
A blessing to them it will be.

"Everybody work but father,"
Was the song the poet sang,
But it wasn't that way with our father
Before this accident came,
For he labored and toiled for others,
Tried to banish all pain and distress,
After doing so much like a brother
God willed that he now take a rest.

He toiled in love, uncomplaining,
Was always content with his lot
Tho' some times a poor grudging "thank you"
Was the only pay that he got.
To him praise was not always given
He sought not for honor or fame
But among the rewards up in heaven
On one there is written his name.

"These are they" that the Savior of't spoke of,
They that love God, on them He'll bestow
A reward, but few will receive it
Unless they loved men here below.
You have proven your right to that blessing,
And you sure will receive a reward,
For having been kind to your neighbors
You have done that much for the Lord.

In behalf of your family I thank you,
For the kindness and good you have done,
For your wives, your sons, and your daughters
Grandchildren and all, everyone,
For many shall yet call you blessed,
In days that are now far away,
And now we all gladly wish you,
Many happy returns of the day.

As has been mentioned, James Hancey was thrice married. His first wife was Rachel Seamons whom he married in England on 11 October 1855. To this union were born 8 sons and 3 daughters. He married Louisa Purser on 9 April 1865 in the Endowment House in Salt Lake City and to his union were born 3 sons and 6 daughters. He married Annie Marie Christopherson October 10, 1879 in the Endowment House in Salt Lake City and to this union were born 6 sons and 5 daughters. Thus, he was the father of 31 children.

On April 4, 1913, James Hancey suffered an apoplexy stroke and early the next morning, April 5, 1913, passed away. His funeral services were held in Hyde Park on April 8, 1913, and the newspaper reports them as the "largest and most impressive in the history of Hyde Park." Many friends and sympathizers came from far and near to pay a tribute of respect to his memory. It is interesting to note that ten speakers at the funeral service extolled his virtues, and praised his life of service.

Yes, indeed, James Hancey was a real pioneer, a real community builder, a Christian of the highest type, and a ancestor whom we can honor and respect.

From book "James Hancey and His Family"
printed by the James Hancey Family Organization 1988
and sent to me via e mail by Heather L. Ekstrom : THANK YOU HEATHER !
______________________________

Captain Franklin Brown Company
June 1860 - 4 Sept. 1860
Horace William Hancey infant
James Hancey 24
James Sands Hancey 4
Rachel Seamons Hancey 26
____________________________
He is listed on the Hyde Park Settlers Marker along with :
William Hyde
Robert Daines
Anthony Metcalf
Armenius Neeley
Elijah Seamons
George Seamons
Samuel Seamons
Mary Seamons
Patison Griffeth
Lydia Wilkinson
Thomas Rogers
James Thurston

Information sent to me via e mail by Heather L. Ekstrom