Hancock, William A
lawyer, jurist, civil engineer, was born May 17, 1831, in Barre, Mass. He received his education in the public and private schools of his native city and at Leicester academy. In 1853 he moved to Iowa, and subsequently crossed the plains with a band of cattle, settling in Sacramento valley, Cal., where he engaged in the dairy and cattle business. During the civil war he enlisted in the seventh regiment California volunteer infantry; and was subsequently commissioned second lieutenant of the first regiment Arizona volunteers, and was honorably discharged as first lieutenant.
In 1871 he was appointed district attorney of Maricopa county, which position he filled until 1875, when he was appointed probate judge for four years. In 1884 he was elected district attorney; and now practices his profession at Phoenix, Ariz.
He surveyed and located many of the irrigation canals of the valley; was the promoter and organizer of the Agua Fria Water and Land company; and has been its secretary, chief engineer and general superintendent since the organization of that company.