Carroll County IAGenWeb

HISTORY OF CARROLL COUNTY IOWA

A Record of Settlement, Organization, Progress and Achievement

VOLUME II ILLUSTRATED

CHICAGO THE S. J. CLARKE PUBLISHING COMPANY 1912

Transcribed and donated by Vance Tigges & Kathy Weaver.

After many years of application as a farmer Judson L. Handley is now practically retired from the active duties of life and is living comfortably in a pleasant home in Maple River township, which he acquired by his wisely directed labors. He was born in Jefferson county, Illinois, April 19, 1844, a son of Jeremiah Washington and Abigail (Andrews) Handley. The father was for a number of years engaged in farming in Jefferson county and in 1848 settled in Linn county, Iowa, where he continued until called to his reward in 1895. There were twelve children in the family, namely: Arby L., now living in Missouri; Judson L., of this review; Axim I., who died at the age of twenty-two years; Louisa L., now the wife of Henry Blessing, of Linn county; George A., of St. Louis; Gertrude, the wife of Cloyd Collyer, of Denver, Colorado; John Q., of Plymouth county, Iowa; P. A., who lives in California; Edward S., of Linn county; Elmer L., also of California; Effie L., who married John A. Baer, of Linn county; and Charles W., of California.

Judson L. Handley possessed advantages of education in the district schools and was a student for two terms at Cornell College, Mount Vernon, Iowa. He continued at home until he was about twenty-five years of age when he began upon his own account by renting a farm of one hundred and twenty acres in Linn county from his father, which he cultivated to excellent advantage. However, he came to the conclusion that more favorable opportunities were presented in Carroll county and in 1874 purchased one hundred and sixty acres of good land in Maple River township where he has ever since lived, except for a year and a half which he spent in Jackson county, Missouri. He has engaged in general farming and stock-raising and being an industrious man of good judgment and thoroughly acquainted with his business, has from the very beginning made a success of it. The farm is well equipped with good buildings and modern machinery and the fields yield abundant annual harvests.

In 1868 Mr. Handley was united in marriage to Miss Melvina G. Collins, a native of Whitley county, Indiana, and a daughter of Isaac and Nancy (Cuppy) Collins. Six children grew up in the home of Mr. and Mrs. Collins: James, who lost his life in the Civil war; Emmeline H., now the wife of William Collier, of Linn county, Iowa; John, who also died in the army; Martha, the wife of Fred Banta, of California, now deceased; Melvina G., now Mrs. Judson L. Handley; and Ella, who married Alvah Hayden and is deceased. The union of Mr. and Mrs. Handley has been blessed by the arrival of six children: William S., now living in Carroll county; Albert J., of Boone county, Nebraska; Abigail, who died at the age of four years; Ernest E., who has charge of the home farm; Robert E., who was called away at the age of twenty-five; and Grace E., the wife of William Ralph, of Carroll county.

In religious belief Mr. Handley gives his adherence to the German Brethren. Politically he supports the republican party and while he has not sought official honors, has served very acceptably as a member of the school board and also as its treasurer. He was early introduced to labor and acquired a competency which is highly creditable as it was honestly obtained. He is a reputable citizen of Carroll county who has contributed his full share toward the development of its important interests and therefore deserves adequate mention among the names recorded in this volume.

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