My Genealogy Hound

Robert L. Hancock, agent for the “Cotton Belt” Railroad and the Southern Express Company, is a native of Prentiss County, Miss., where he was born on the 15th of March, 1852, being the son of Benjamin Hancock, who was born in Tennessee and reared in Virginia. When a young man he went to Tennessee, where he met and married Matilda Rowsy of that State, and afterward moved to Mississippi, residing on a plantation in Prentiss County until his death in 1854, followed by his wife in 1867. After coming to years of maturity, Robert L. Hancock attended school in Boonville, Miss., receiving a good education, and then clerked for four years. In 1874 he went to Tennessee, and was married there on the 4th of April, 1884, to Miss Delilah Matheny, who was born, reared and educated in Hardin County of that State, being a daughter of James and Eliza Matheny. After their marriage they located in Williamsville, Wayne County, Mo., and for two years he was engaged in teaching school, and the next two years occupied in farming and teaching in Hardin County, Tenn. In 1879 he came to Clay County, Ark., locating on a farm near Greenway, and devoted himself to tilling the soil and pedagoguing up to 1884, when he moved to Greenway and was appointed telegraph operator, depot and express agent, which position he is now filling. He was also engaged in mercantile business for one year, and has served as a member of the town board. He is an active worker for the cause of temperance, and organized the Hancock Temperance Club at Greenway, of which he is president. Mr. Hancock commenced life in Clay County with little or no capital, but is now one of the substantial men of the community, and is the owner of considerable town property and a good farm near Greenway.