Story County >> 1911 Index

History of Story County Iowa
by W. O. Payne. Vol. II. Chicago: S. J. Clarke Publishing Company, 1911.

H

Mrs. Emily Wyatt Handsaker submitted by Dick Barton

Mrs. Handsaker, one of the well known and highly esteemed citizens of Nevada, Story county, was born in Indiana in 1838 and is a daughter of Reuben and Mary (Ellsworth) Wyatt, the father being a native of Virginia and the mother of Ohio. The parents left Indiana and settled in Illinois when Mrs. Handsaker was a child and after about eleven years' residence in the latter state they again removed, this time locating in Story county. 

Emily Wyatt was united in marriage to William Handsaker, who was born in England in 1826 and lived in that country until he was twenty-five years old. In 1851 he decided that the United States afforded better opportunities for ambitious young men than the old world and, crossing the ocean, landed in New York. He made his way across the continent to Iowa and on arriving in Story county he bought eighty acres of land in Richland township, upon which he located. He added to his holdings from time to time until he was quite an extensive landowner. He was a very capable man and met with a fair degree of success in his various agricultural pursuits and was able to live retired during the latter years of his life. Before he retired in 1893, he sold all of his realty holdings to his sons and bought a residence in Nevada, where he lived until he passed away March 31, 1907. 

Mr. Handsaker was an ardent republican and his popularity in the community in which he lived was indicated by his repeated reelection to the various township offices. He was a very public-spirited man as well as most upright and high principled and was highly esteemed and respected in the township where he spent almost his entire life. He was a member of the Grange and a communicant of the English Lutheran church. 

Mr. and Mrs. Handsaker were the parents of eight children, of whom six are living, as follows: John Thomas, a resident of Sherman township; William Henry, who lives in Milford township; David, deceased; Horace Greeley, living in Richmond township; Joshua Harvey, residing in New Albany township; Sabina Day; Mona, the wife of James Hines; and Mary Ellen, deceased. 

Mr. and Mrs. Handsaker became residents of Nevada in 1903 and there she continues to live. She came to Story county when a girl and has spent the greater part of her life in Richland township, where she is highly esteemed and has many friends. She is one of the pioneers of the county and has been as interested observer of the development and progress of the community and can relate many entertaining incidents of the early days before the advent of the railroads.

Horace Greeley Handsaker submitted by Dick Barton

Among the native sons of this county whose close application and industry have been rewarded by a comfortable competence is Horace Greeley Handsaker. He is the son of William and Emily Handsaker and was born on section 22, Richland township, on the 3d of January, 1870. The mother was born in Indiana and was reared in Illinois but the father was an Englishman by birth and came to the United States when he was a young man, settling in Richland township, this county, where he met and married Emily Wyatt. Of the eight children born of this union six are living. 

The boyhood and youth of H. G. Handsaker differed but in detail from that of the majority of boys who are reared in the rural districts. It was the usual routine of school, work about the farm and such sports as are usually enjoyed by strong and energetic lads. His education was acquired in the district schools of the township in which he was born and reared. On laying aside his text-books he assisted his father in the work of the home farm until he had reached the age of twenty years, when he began life for himself. For two years he served in the capacity of a farm hand, but at the end of that period he was able to become somewhat more independent and rented a farm from his father, which he continued to cultivate for five years. His thrift, good management and hard work were rewarded during that period to the extent that he was able to become a property owner and he bought two hundred and forty acres on section 22, Richland township, where he still resides. Later he invested in one hundred and sixty acres of land in Worth county and he has more recently acquired three hundred and twenty acres in the Panhandle of Texas. Thus the aggregate of his realty holdings is seven hundred and ninety acres, all of which is valuable land. His home farm is well stocked, its fertile fields yield abundant harvests and it contains a comfortable residence and commodious barns. 

Mr. Handsaker was united in marriage to Miss Emma Cook, a daughter of the late Michael Cook and Rose Cook. To this couple have been born four children, three daughters and one son, as follows: Eva, who died in infancy; Lulu, who is attending school; Bertha and Harold. 

Ever since he attained his majority Mr. Handsaker has given his political allegiance to the republican party. He was never been particularly active in politics, not aspiring to public office, but always discharges his duties as a citizen by casting a vote at each election for the candidates of the party of his choice. He has always been an active, progressive, energetic man, who has met with more than average success in his life work and at the same time has won and held the esteem and good-will of those who have known him from childhood. 

J. T. Handsaker submitted by Dick Barton

Among the large landowners of Sherman township should be named J. T. Handsaker, who has spent his entire life in this county, attaining marked success both in agriculture and stock-raising. Upon his farm is to be seen the only steam plow in Story county and in other respects he is fully abreast of the times, making use of the best modern facilities and applying up-to-date methods, thus producing the most satisfactory results. He was born in Richland township, December 18, 1859, a son of William and Emily (Wyatt) Handsaker, the former born in Staffordshire, England, April 6, 1828, and the latter in Indiana, August 7, 1838. The father emigrated to America n 1854, landing at the port of New York, and soon afterward he came west to Illinois. Not satisfied, however, with the conditions as he found them east of the Mississippi river, he started in 1855 for Story county, Iowa, walking from the river with George Hyden, who took up his residence in Richland township. Mr. Handsaker engaged in farming in this county until 1893, when he retired and removed to Nevada. He passed away March 31, 1907, but his wife is still living and has arrived at the age of seventy-two years. There were eight children in their family, namely: J. T., the subject of this review; Sabina, now Mrs. Daly; and Nona, now Mrs. Hynes, both living five miles south of Nevada; W. H., of Grant township; H. G., now living on the old homestead; J. H., a farmer of Richland township; D. P., who died in 1894 at the age of twenty-eight years, leaving a wife and two children; and Mary Ellen, who died in infancy.

J. T. Handsaker received his early education in the common schools and became so proficient in the text-books that he taught school very successfully for eight terms. He learned the carpenter's trade and while in the employ of D. B. Paddleford assisted in the erection of the Lutheran church at Johnson's Grove in 1880. This building has since been removed to Fernald. Subsequently he engaged in the tiling business. In 1883 he settled upon his present farm in Sherman township and for many years devoted his attention closely to various branches of farming, becoming recognized as one of the most successful agriculturists in the county. Recently he retired from active labors, leaving the work of the farm to his sons. Father and sons have gained a wide reputation as breeders of red polled cattle and Poland China hogs.

They have also engaged quite extensively in the dairy business and are now regularly shipping one hundred and twenty pounds of high grade butter per week to New York and Brooklyn.

On the 11th of March, 1882, Mr. Handsaker was united in marriage in Richland township to Margaret Lawman, who was born in Canada, April 17, 1864, a daughter of John and Violet (Elliott) Lawman. Her parents came to America in 1858 and were married in New York state. After several removals they settled in Richland township, Story county, where they have lived for the last thirty-seven years. Four children came to brighten the home of Mr. and Mrs. Handsaker, namely: Ethel M., born February 9, 1885, was educated in the common schools and in the School of Music at Ames, and is now living at home. E. Ralph, also on the home farm, was born November 30, 1886, and was educated in the common schools, also taking a course in engineering at Charles City, Iowa. John W., born October 25, 1887, is now living on the old homestead. Thomas L., born November 25, 1892, is also living at home.

Mr. Handsaker, ever since reaching his majority has given his support to the republican party. He has not sought the emoluments of office but has served with great acceptance as township clerk and secretary of the school board for sixteen years and as township trustee for eight years.

He is a man of unusual intelligence and keeps fully informed of the progress of everything pertaining to his calling, to which he has applied with great success the best efforts of his life. He has witnessed many changes in Story county. Land when his father came to this county was being sold by the government at one dollar and twenty- five cents per acre. As late as 1880 Mr. Handsaker of this review bought one hundred and sixty acres in this county for seventeen hundred dollars, being a little over ten dollars and fifty cents per acre. The same land now commands one hundred and fifty dollars per acre, and the tendency in price is still upward. A worthy representative of a family which has performed as important part in the development of the county, Mr. Handsaker now enjoys in comfort and ease the results of his wisely directed efforts and at the same time is accorded the confidence and respect of the entire community.