James Hand 1864-1953

HAND, DOWDAL, MURRAY

Posted By: Bonnie Hand (email)
Date: 8/10/2008 at 05:44:00

From The Reporter February 10, 1953

Funeral Rites For James Hand

Funeral services for James Hand, 88, well known Palo Alto county resident, who died in the local hospital Wednesday were held at Sacred Heart Catholic church in Ayrshire Saturday, the pastor, the Rev. Thomas Parle, officiating. Burial was in Calvary cemetery. The Martin Funeral home was in charge of arrangements.
Pallbearers were Dan Higgins, Maurice Molloy, Michael Dalley, Joseph P. Hand, K.P. Eagan and William Hand.
James Hand, son of John and Margaret McIntyre hand was born at Lansing, May 13, 1864. At the age of seven he came to this county form Allamakee county with his parents. As early pioneers, they came by train to Algona and by wagon to Palo Alto county, where he had since made his home.
Mr. Hand was married in Wexford county church at Lansing Nov. 23, (date not legible) to Miss Mary Dowdal, the Rev. Fr. Laffan officiating. Seven children were born to the couple. One son, Thomas died in 1917 at the age of five and another son, James L. Hand died in July, 1946. Mrs. Hand died about eleven years ago.
Mr. Hand is survived by four sons and one daughter. They are Clem, Ambrose and Gerald Hand, who lived on the farm with their father, Janet Hand, teacher in the Spencer schools and Victor Hand of Emmetsburg. One brother, Frank Hand of Minneapolis and a sister, Mrs. John Murray of Emmetsburg also survive. There are four grandchildren, John, Mary Kathryn, Suzann and Larry Hand.
Mr. Hand, a former county supervisor, was a trustee of Sacred Heart church at Ayrshire for many years until the last four or five years. He lived in Palo Alto county nearly all of his life and on the same farm for fifty-five years.
He was a devout member of the Catholic church, a kind, generous neighbor and gave freely of his time and efforts in community betterment. The sympathy of a wide circle of friends is extended to the sorrowing relatives.