WILLIAM ARCHER HANDY WEDDING

CLARK COUNTY HERALD

8-JANUARY-1908

 

   On December 31, 1857, William Archer Handy and Miss Sarah Jane Hull, both of Melrose Township, were wedded at the home of Mr. and Mrs. Adam Hull.   The fiftieth anniversary of this event came around on Tuesday of last week and found the couple still living and both enjoying excellent health, and the events of this anniversary brought almost as much joy to this worthy couple as was theirs fifty years ago.   Gathered at this couples comfortable farm home near West Union were all their children and their families and the dear old lady, Aunt Mary Hull of West Union, who prepared the feast on the day of the wedding.   As is the custom at such affairs, a very important feature was the dinner at which all lingered long.  

   William A. Handy was born in this county on May 19, 1837, and the more than 70 years of his life have been passed on the same farm.   His father’s family was the pioneer settlers of this county and his mother’s family, the Dixons, were early settlers of Vigo County, Indiana.   His parents, Stephen D. Handy and Margaret Dixon, were married at Old Fort Harrison, near Terre Haute about 1813 during the time of the war of 1812 when the Indians were troublesome in Indiana and Illinois.   Soon after his marriage, Stephen D. Handy, together with his father and brothers, founded the first permanent settlement in this county and erected a fort, the only one that was ever constructed in Clark County, about a half mile South of West Union.   The family, once very numerous, now number but a few of the name in the county.   Mrs. Handy is the daughter of Daniel Hull, who came to this county from Licking County, Ohio, in 1850 and settled on a farm near the Handy homestead.   She is past 69 years of age and comes from a family that lives to a mature old age.

   Mr. and Mrs. Handy had 5 children born unto them.   The youngest, a son, died in 1888 at the age of 15 years.   Those living are Mrs. Leonard Walker of west Union,  William W. Handy of Oliver, Sol Handy of this city, and Mrs. Charles Prevo of West Union.   There are but 3 grandchildren.   This worthy couple have had an industrious and useful life and by thrift and economy have accumulated a competency that would enable them to retire from the farm and pass their remaining years in ease, but nothing can induce them to leave the old homestead where a half century ago, they began life together in a humble way but with willing hands and brave hearts that have brought to them the full fruition of the radiant hopes and promises of the future held out to them 50 years ago.

   This paper congratulates them on their good fortune in being spared to each other for so many years and joins there many friends in the home that many more years of happiness may be theirs.      

Submitted by;
Cindy McCachern