Handy, Ned S., 1863-1921

HANDY, PELLE

Posted By: Lydia Lucas - Volunteer (email)
Date: 11/4/2016 at 07:33:37

From the Rock Rapids Reporter, January 6, 1921:

N. S. Handy, Pioneer, is Dead

N. S. Handy, one of the pioneer citizens of Lyon County and Rock Rapids, died at his home in this city Sunday evening [January 2] at 10:30 0'clock, after a long period of ill health. Death was due to locomotor ataxia, from which he had been a sufferer for many years, and which for the past several months had confined him to his home.

Ned Seigel Handy, or Ned," as was known to everybody in this section of the country, was born in Bloomington, Illinois, October 22, 1863. His early life was spent there and in eastern Iowa, and forty-five years ago, when he was 13 years of age, the family moved to Rock Rapids. This has been his home ever since that time. He was the seventh, in a family of ten, the children of Mr. and Mrs. H. M. Handy, sr. His mother still is living here, and of the family, Mrs. Kate Shaw, Terry, Montana; Mrs. H. F. Green, Rock Rapids; Mrs. Minnie Curtis, Edgely, North Dakota; Mrs. Anna Gemmill, Galesburg, Ill.; and H. M. Handy, jr., Hawarden, survive him.

Mr. Handy was married to Carrie Elizabeth Pelle, August 13, 1884, and to them eight children were born. Four survive. They are Irene Hanlon, Alexandria, S.D.; Mrs. Catherine Coggswell, Rock Valley; Mrs. Mildred Campbell, and Miss Helen May Handy, who live in Rock Rapids, the latter with the bereaved mother.

Mrs. Handy was widely known all over this section of Iowa and had a host of friends. He was devoted to his family and friends. He was generous to a fault, and no one in distress ever approached him and was turned away, if he had a cent in his pocket. This trait in a measure was responsible for the fact that he did not accumulate more of this world's goods, but it was not to his discredit, and in the final reckoning it will stand as a big mark to his credit.

A few years ago he became afflicted with the disease which caused his death, and it slowly but surely sapped his strength, in spite of the best efforts of many noted physicians. He bore his afflictions with fortitude, and even to the last he was always pleased and cheered by the visit of friends and neighbors.

During his life he was a staunch republican and active in party councils. He served for some time as a deputy collector of internal revenue in this district under the administration of John C. Kelly, the collector for the northern district of Iowa, and also under Mr. Kelly's predecessor, Captain Lathrop.

The funeral services were held from the Handy home at 2:30 o'clock Wednesday afternoon and were largely attended, while a wealth of floral offerings attested the friendship of the old neighbors. The service was conducted by Rev. Thos. Batho, pastor of the Methodist church, and interment was in Riverview cemetery. At the service the out of town relatives who were present were Mrs. Rose Moon, Robert Pelle and son, Sioux Falls; Mr. and Mrs. Glendy, the latter a sister of Mrs. Handy, Clarion, Iowa; Mr. and Mrs. A. B. Williams, Worthington; Mrs. P. J. Hanlon, Sioux Falls; Mr. and Mrs. Tony Hanlon, Alexandria, S.D.; Mr. and Mrs. Irving Coggswell, Rock Valley; Mr. and Mrs. J. F. Curtis, Edgeley, N.D.; Mr. and Mrs. H. M. Handy, Hawarden; Mr. and Mrs. C. A. Green, Sioux City.