Michael Handley, one of the leading merchants of Centre Town, Mo., is a native of Ireland, but came to this country with his father, Patrick Handley, when but an infant. The father settled in Canada, remained there five years, and then moved to Missouri, when the Missouri Pacific Railroad was building out of St. Louis. He came as far as Moniteau County, entered eighty acres of land, on which he settled, and to which he has since added 160 acres. He is in his eighty-second year and his wife in her seventy-first, and they are now so pleasantly situated that they can spend the sunset of their lives in comparative comfort. They are the parents of nine children, all living with the exception of one brother, who was accidentally killed in the year 1881 on the Kansas City, Fort Scott & Memphis Railroad. Of these children Michael Handley was the fifth in order of birth. He left home in 1865, went to the plains, where he drove teams during the building of the Union Pacific Railroad, hauling for the Government on one trip which lasted nine months and twenty days, after which he loaded at Fort Leavenworth, Kan. Later, with ox teams, he crossed through Kansas, part of Nebraska, Colorado, Wyoming, and was also in Montana. In 1868 he was called home on account of the ill health of his mother, remained there some time with the intention of returning to the plains, but soon became interested in business in Centre Town. He bought out a saloon, ran it until 1878, when he sold the store to M. Pare, and directly afterward built the fine two-story brick which he is now occupying, and put in a fine stock of general merchandise, which business he has continued since. The store building is the finest in the county outside of Jefferson City. Besides his business property Mr. Handley has built him a nice residence in the village, and is also the owner of 160 acres of land, which he has improved since buying in 1881. In addition to this he is interested in business in Vernon County, Mo. He married Miss Maggie Cronin, a native of Ohio, and the daughter of John Cronin, who was born in Ireland. To Mr. and Mrs. Handley were born three children: Thomas J., Lillie May, Katie Agnes. Mr. Handley is postmaster at Centre Town, being appointed under President Cleveland's administration, and it is hardly necessary to add that he is Democratic in his political views. He and wife are members of the Catholic Church, and hold membership in California, Mo.

Transcribed from:
History of Cole, Moniteau, Morgan, Benton, Miller, Maries, and Osage Counties, Missouri, Goodspeed Publishing Company (1889).