January 1945

Fairfield lost one of it’s best known physicians last week when Dr. W.A. Hancock passed away in the Deaconess hospital at Evansville following a short illness. Death occurred about noon Wednesday, January 16th. He was 74 years old.

Dr. Hancock had continued with his large practice here until three weeks ago when he and Mrs. Hancock went to Vandalia for a visit with their son and family.
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Returning to Fairfield on January 8th, he appeared to be in the best of health. Three days later he was stricken ill at his home here. On the following Monday his condition became worse and he was taken to the hospital where he was found to have suffered a cerebral hemorrhage. Death occurred two days later.

The body was returned to the family home here in the Nale funeral car. Funeral services were held at the First Mothodist church at two-thirty o’clock Friday afternoon by Dr. C.L. Peterson with burial in the Maple Hill cemetery.

After finishing the rural educational training of his day in his home community, he enrolled as a medical student in Marion-Simms Medical College, St. Louis, Mo., now better known as St. Louis University. He graduated March 18, 1895 and came to Enterprise, Wayne county. His coming to this county was the result of a chance meeting on a train of one of his classmates with the late L.P. Jordan, of Enterprise. Mr. Jordan told the young man of the splendid opening for a physician at Enterprise. The boy promptly informed Dr. Hancock of the opening and it was only a short time later that he opened his practice in Enterprise.
Practiced at Cisne, Geff.

He remained in Enterprise until 1913 when he moved to Cisne. There he remained until 1915, when he made Geff his home until 1919, thence to Cisne and finally in 1927, he permanently located in Fairfield. Thus for over fifty years he faithfully, efficiently gave himself to practice of medicine in Wayne county.

On April 22, 1945, the Medical Society of Wayne County honored him with a banquet and through Dr. Andy Hall, of Mt. Vernon, as counselor of the Illinois State Medical Association, he received a medal and certificate in recognition of his fifty years of active medical service.

He was a member of the First Methodist Church, having brought his certificate of transfer from Cisne soon after moving to this city under the pastorate of Rev. J.M. Adams.

He leaves to mourn him a wife, a daughter, Mrs. Stanly Wood, Wayne City; two sons, Lowell A., of this city, and Walter, of Vandalia; and several grandchildren.

Card of Thanks
The many kind expressions  of sympathy extended by our friends during our recent bereavement are gratefully acknowledged.
MRS. W.A. HANCOCK
AND  FAMILY