Winfield Scott Hancock was born in Montgomery County, on 14th February, 1824. He joined the United States Army and fought in the Seminole War and the Mexican War (1846-48).

On the outbreak of the American Civil War Howe served with the Union Army. He fought at Antietam before being badly wounded at Gettysburg. Promoted to the rank of major general, he recovered to take part in the Wilderness campaign.

A close friend of Andrew Johnson, he worked as a presidential adviser until 1867 when he replaced General Philip Sheridan as military governor of Louisiana and Texas.

Hancock was active in politics and in 1880 he was selected by the Democratic Party as its presidential candidate. After losing the election to the Republican candidate, James A. Garfield, he returned to military life. Winfield Scott Hancock died in 1886.