cattle, the latter being mostly Red Polled stock. He is a fine butter-maker, his product having brought recently on the Chicago market, where he ships most of his produce, half a cent more than the finest creamery. His mar_ riage with Miss Emily F. Wyatt, daughter of Reuben and Mary (Elsworth) Wyatt, was consummated on the 25th of December, 1858. Mrs. Handsaker was born in Indiana in 1838. Their union was blessed with eight children, seven of whom are still living: John T. (married Miss Margaret Lawman, of this county, and they make their home in Sherman Township; they have three children: Ethel, Ralph and John W.), Mary E. (deceased), William H. (at home), David P. (married Miss Della Cook, and lives on Section 5, this township; they have one child, Howard), Sabina (is now Mrs. Day and resides in this township; she has one child, Leroy), and Horace G., Joshua H. and Nona, all at home. None of these sons use either coffee, whisky, tobacco or bad language, and all of the children have received a good common-school education. Mr. Handsaker is an active Republican in politics, and has served as treasurer of the school funds for a number of years. He belongs to the Farmers' Association. His wife is a member of the Lutheran Church.
George R. Hanks has been an honest tiller of the soil in Story County, Ark., for many years, and is now the owner of a fine little farm comprising eighty-five acres, it being under cultivation and excellently improved with good buildings, fences, etc. He was born in Winnebago County, Ill., October 15, 1842, and a complete history of his parents is given in the sketch of Mrs. Miami Netterfield. His early education was obtained in the common schools of Illinois and Iowa, and he has ever since been an enthusiastic supporter and friend of the public-school system. He commenced the battle of life for himself with no means, but as he had been reared to a thorough knowledge of farm life, he began making that his calling, and always succeeded in obtaining a comfortable living. He was mustered into the service of the United States Army on October 29, 1861, becoming a member of Company B, Thirteenth Iowa Infantry Volunteers, Sixth Division, of the Seventeenth Army Corps, and was assigned to the Western Department, his regiment being under the command of Gen. U. S. Grant, and was actively engaged in the following battles, the first being the bloody combat at Shiloh. During the two days' fight here his regiment was actively engaged night and day, and the battle line was about fifteen miles long. He was also at Corinth, Iuka, the second Corinth, Tallahatchie Bridge (where the Union forces took over forty pieces of artillery and 200 wagons of ammunition and supplies), the battle of Grand Gulf, Port Gibson, Jackson, Champion's Hill (in which the members of the Seven teenth Iowa distinguished themselves under the direct command of Gen. Grant), Black River Bridge, siege of Vicksburg, Black River, Knoxville, the engagements in which Sherman participated on his march to the sea, Chattanooga, Missionary Ridge, Lookout Mountain, Stone Mountain. At Atlanta Mr. Hanks was in the hospital for about two weeks, and was ordered, with other sick soldiers, to Nashville, Tenn., by Gen. Sherman. After recovering he was put on a train and sent to New York, and afterward rejoined his command at Savannah, Ga. He was present at the Grand Review at Washington, D. C., one of the grandest spectacles ever beheld, there being about 350,000 in line, and tattered flags, full martial corps, and war-worn veterans were held up for the Nation's admiration and thanks. From Washington, D. C., the regiment was sent to Louisville, Ky., and after remaining there for two weeks they went to