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Jim Semler
Princeton Junction, NJ, USA
Posts: 476
 | | twins | | Posted on: 5/20/2010 2:39:00 PM | What Gettysburg notable had a twin named Hilary? (hope my source is correct)
Jim Semler
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...on great fields, something stays...JLC
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| Stan Petestreet
Hatfield, PA, USA
Posts: 90
| | Re: twins | | Posted on: 5/20/2010 4:15:22 PM | Parson,
Your source is correct. I've never seen a photo of the lesser famous twin though? He's buried in the same cemetery as his more accomplished twin although not in the same mausoleum.
They also had another brother named "John" who may, or may not, have signed the Declaration of Independence very boldly and then lent his name to a current a life insurance company. 
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| Jim Semler
Princeton Junction, NJ, USA
Posts: 476
| | Re: twins | | Posted on: 5/20/2010 4:18:03 PM | Stan.....Hilary is in the Norristown cemetery? Have you seen the marker?
Parson
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...on great fields, something stays...JLC
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| Stan Petestreet
Hatfield, PA, USA
Posts: 90
| | Re: twins | | Posted on: 5/20/2010 4:26:06 PM | Parson,
Check out page 214 of the late Norristown native Al Gambone's book on the subject/person in question. The book contains a photo of Hilary's gravesite. I've visited it and it is indeed in Montgomery/Norristown Cemetery. Unless I'm mixing it up with John's grave but I dont think so, plus, that would contradict Gambone's research.
We can check it out when we do the Phoenixville Ironworks tour this summer or fall. You & Kathy game?
Stan
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| unclelooney
Minneapolis, MN, USA
Posts: 244
| | Re: twins | | Posted on: 5/20/2010 5:25:00 PM |
Quote:Parson, Your source is correct. I've never seen a photo of the lesser famous twin though? He's buried in the same cemetery as his more accomplished twin although not in the same mausoleum. They also had another brother named "John" who may, or may not, have signed the Declaration of Independence very boldly and then lent his name to a current a life insurance company. --Stan Petestreet
I think John is buried in Lakewood cemetry in Minneapolis
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| Ed Bell
PA, USA
Posts: 123
| | Re: twins | | Posted on: 5/20/2010 10:55:24 PM | Yes, the twins are interred in the Montgomery Cemetery, Norristown, PA; as are Samuel Kosciuszko Zook, and John Frederick Hartranft.
As I recall, the famous twin has a mausoleum down in the left corner and the not so famous is located further in, and has a tall obelisk as a marker.
Regards,
Ed Bell
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“It's not what you look at that matters, it's what you see.” Thoreau
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| john malone
Cochranville, PA, USA
Posts: 973
| | Re: twins | | Posted on: 5/27/2010 10:19:24 AM | May not be the same cemetery, but I believe Hancock is buried in Norristown also.
John M
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Actions speak louder than words.
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| Ed Bell
PA, USA
Posts: 123
| | Re: twins | | Posted on: 6/3/2010 8:36:09 PM | John,
"Norristown Cemetery" is in reality:
Montgomery Cemetery
1654 Dekalb St.
Norristown
Montgomery County
Pennsylvania USA
Postal Code: 19401
Phone: 610-272-0297
To view Hancock plots:
[Read More]
Almira Hancock (1832 - 1893)
Burial: Bellefontaine Cemetery
Saint Louis
St. Louis city
Missouri, USA
Plot: Block 67, Lot 111-120
[Read More]
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“It's not what you look at that matters, it's what you see.” Thoreau
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| civilwarguyincanada
Southern, ON, Canada
Posts: 1416
| | Re: twins | | Posted on: 6/3/2010 9:56:07 PM | Anyone know why Hancock and his wife are buried in different places?
This has always puzzled me.
Cheers
Ed
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| Ed Bell
PA, USA
Posts: 123
| | Re: twins | | Posted on: 6/4/2010 8:16:53 AM | Ed,
Apparently this is one situation where the "Two Eds Law" does not apply!
I've no clue, But, my obvious tongue in cheek answer would be: incompatability!
EDIT:
Almira Russell was the daughter of a prominent merchant in St. Louis. Winfield Scott Hancock was born on February 14, 1824, in Montgomery Square, Pennsylvania – a small hamlet northwest of Philadelphia – the son of Benjamin Franklin and Elizabeth Hoxworth Hancock. Descended from a long line of American soldiers, he was christened with the name of America's greatest living soldier – General Winfield Scott, the hero of the War of 1812.
Winfield and Almira Hancock were devastated by the deaths of their children and grandchildren – their 18-year-old daughter Ada died of typhoid fever in 1875 in New York City. She was buried in Norristown in the same tomb her father would be buried in years later. On July 13, 1880, their four-month-old grandson, also named Winfield Scott Hancock, died. Son Russell, who was always weakly, was married and had three children – Ada, Gwyn, and Almira – when he died on December 30, 1884, in Mississippi.
When General Hancock died, he left his wife, Almira, almost no money. She didn't even have her own home. Granted, there were many financial burdens on him [his brother Hilary, and the constant (and necessary) expense of entertaining guests] – but given his contacts and his intelligence, he should have made arrangements for her to be taken care of during her declining years.
She apparently had no other recourse but to return home to her family.
Regards,
Ed Bell
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“It's not what you look at that matters, it's what you see.” Thoreau
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| Jim Semler
Princeton Junction, NJ, USA
Posts: 476
| | Re: twins | | Posted on: 6/4/2010 9:17:21 AM | I always thought that Lew Armistead may have had something to do with it. 
Jim Semler
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...on great fields, something stays...JLC
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| Stan Petestreet
Hatfield, PA, USA
Posts: 90
| | Re: twins | | Posted on: 6/4/2010 9:27:53 AM |
Quote:When General Hancock died, he left his wife, Almira, almost no money. She didn't even have her own home. Granted, there were many financial burdens on him [his brother Hilary, and the constant (and necessary) expense of entertaining guests] – but given his contacts and his intelligence, he should have made arrangements for her to be taken care of during her declining years.
She apparently had no other recourse but to return home to her family.
Ed,
That's only 1/2 the story. Almira was well taken care of. Hancock recieved a pension of $2,000 per annum payable to Almira. Grant was the only general with a higher pension. The average generals pension was about $600. Almira also had a trust fund set up by none other than JP Morgan and contributors included the Vanderbilts, Astor and Carnegie enabling her to travel to Europe and live very comfortably. Friends of Hancock and Uncle Sam took care of his wife!
As for the burial story here's my take on it FWIW..........
When Hancock's daughter Ada died at the age of eighteen one of her final wishes was not to be buried but instead be interred above ground. Ada's death so devastated Hancock and his wife Almira that Hancock postponed a run for Governor of Pennsylvania. The Hancock's placed Ada temporarily in the mausoleum of a friend while they had a mausoleum built for Ada. General Hancock made certain that there was also room for his body in the mausoleum. I'm no psychologist but it seems as though Hancock couldn't bear the thought of Ada being entombed alone.
Wife Almira's wishes were for herself and her husband to be buried with her family in St Louis. It appears that Hancock went along with this idea until daughter Ada's untimely death. When Hancock passed away Almira reluctantly granted Hancock's wish and entombed him with their daughter in Norristown, PA. The mausoleum has room for six but only Ada and her father rest there while Almira is buried in the Russell family plot in St. Louis.
Hancock made the front page of the local newpaper, Norristown's Times Herald, last week for services held at the mausoleum during Memorial Day. After years of neglect the tomb has recently been properly maintained and cared for.
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| civilwarguyincanada
Southern, ON, Canada
Posts: 1416
| | Re: twins | | Posted on: 6/5/2010 8:26:57 PM | Thanks Ed and Stan:
It has always struck me as odd that they wouldn't be buried together.
Fascinating.
Cheers
Ed
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| Wynn
Gettysburg, PA, USA
Posts: 18
| | Re: twins | | Posted on: 6/20/2010 1:36:09 AM | Hancock's parents are also buried at Montgomery Cemetery in the same family plot as Hilery and Winfield Scott Hancock (the grandson). The W. S. Hancock Society took control of Hancock's mauseleum years ago (15 years or so) and have done a fantastic job of maintaining it. One year during a tour of the cemetery they actually allowed me to walk inside the mauseleum (not just inside the fenced in area). A slab of marble was the only thing between me and the body of my favorite general. Very exciting! The Hancock Society also took over the entire cemetery, even though the Historical Society of Montgomery County actually owns it. Although in the last few years, the historical society has taken back control of it and is claiming that they are the ones who have restored it (although every ounce of work was done by or through the Hancock Society) with the help of volunteers. Although the cemetery isn't exactly in the best part of town, the cemetery has a very calm, safe feeling about it and I recommend anyone who happens to be in the Norristown/Valley Forge/King of Prussia area go visit it!
Sandy
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| civilwarguyincanada
Southern, ON, Canada
Posts: 1416
| | Re: twins | | Posted on: 6/24/2010 9:30:54 PM | Thanks Sandy:
Knowing you're a fan of The Superb makes it all that much more meaningful.
See you in the fall?
Ed
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