Untitled From Commemorative Biographical Record of the Counties of Rock, Green, Grant, Iowa and Lafayette, Wisconsin, publ. 1901 - page 228-229

ADDISON HANDY. Prominent among the early settlers of Grant county is this well-known farmer of Wyalusing township, whose home is in Section 9, and who dates his residence here from Nov. 21, 1855. He was born in the town of Stockton, Chautauqua Co., N.Y., May 30, 1832, a son of Samuel and Rosetta (CLARK) HANDY, also natives of the Empire State, while the former was of Irish and Scottish descent, the latter of Scottish and French extraction. The paternal grandfather, Obed HANDY, was also born in New York.

About 1834 Samuel HANDY, accompanied by his family, moved to Branch county, Mich., where the wife and mother died four years later. Soon after her death the family returned to New York, and Addison grew to manhood in the town of Pomfret, Chautauqua county, near the village of Fredonia. In 1853 the family again came West, this time locating in Freeport, Ill., but a year later took up their residence on Blake's Prairie, Grant Co., Wis., which county has been regarded as their home ever since. The father passed away April 16, 1888, at the age of seventy-eight years, his last days being spent at the homes of his children. He had two sons and one daughter, all of whom grew to mature years; Addison and Juliette, widow of William BARR, survive; Mr. BARR was a soldier in the war of the Rebellion, and died at Glen Haven, Grant county, Jan. 17, 1865. Jefferson HANDY, the only brother of Addison, died in March , 1886.

On Dec. 13, 1853, Addison HANDY was united in marriage, at Jamestown, Chautauqua Co., N.Y. to Miss Sylvania McKNIGHT, who has born April 27, 1835, in the same town as her husband, a daughter of David and Jemima (ELLIS) McKNIGHT, natives of Massachusetts and Connecticut, respectively. For many years her parents made their home in Chautauqua county, N.Y., where the father, who was born Jan. 6, 1789, died in April, 1863, and the mother, who was born Sept. 9, 1791, died in September, 1862. In their family were seven children, four of whom are now (1901) living: Mrs. Pricilla LITTLE, Mrs. Sally MALLORY, Mrs. Melvina YOUNGER and Mrs. Sylvania V. HANDY. Those deceased were Mrs. Jemima CARR, David W. and William. Mr. and Mrs. HANDY have three children: Fred, born Aug. 27, 1855; Frank, born Jan. 11, 1857; and William Eugene, born Feb. 8, 1860. The eldest and youngest are residents of Grant county, Wis., while Frank is now in Iowa.

For almost half a century Mr. and Mrs. HANDY have resided in the immediate vicinity of their present home in Wyalusing township. He possesses a remarkable strong constitution and has ever led an honorable and industrious life. In their declining years he and his worthy wife are enjoying the fruits of their former toil in peace and contentment, respected and esteemed by all who know them. In public affairs Mr. HANDY has taken no deep interest. In early life he affiliated with the Democratic party, being a Democrat by inheritance, but since Abraham Lincoln's second election has voted with the Republican party.




This biography generously submitted by Carol Holmbeck