Theodore A. Handel
Theodore A. Handel, a pioneer of Marion township, was born in Granville, Ohio, May 1, 1834, and died May 28, 1904, having just passed his 70th birthday. He was a son of Nicholas and Myla (Hays) Handel.
John Handel, the paternal grandfather, was the founder of the family in America. For generations the family occupation had been milling, and as a young man in his native land John Handel was employed as a traveling grain buyer. While on one of his purchasing trips, he was accompanied by four assistants and the entire party were seized by the military authorities, being impressed into the service of King George lll, of England, who was then engaged in his struggle with the American Colonies.
On the arrival of the vessel at Boston harbor, John Handel and his companions evaded the vigilance of their captors escped to an American vessel by swimming, and enlisted with the patriot forces. Grandfather Handel proved a valiant defender of American liberty and fought throughout the Revolutionary War. After the close of the struggle, he settled in Baltimore and engaged in milling. He married there and then moved to a point on the Shenandoah River, Virginia, about 20 miles above Harper's Ferry. There his first child, Nicholas Handel, was born, and the only other record is of the birth of a daughter, Elizabeth. John Handel probably died in the locality mentioned aged about 80 years. It is a family belief that the great musical composer Handel, was of the same original stock as John Handel.
Nicholas Handel, father of our subject, adopted the family calling, and in early days he also dealt n grain and other products all along the Potomac River, as far as Alexandria. He enlisted as a soldier in the War of 1812, when a youth of 18 years. The date of his coming to Ohio has not been recorded, but is is known that for 40 years he was chief miller in the Fassett mills, on Raccoon Creek, near Granville, Licking County, where he was a grain contractor and a large shipper of flour.
Nicholas Handel married Myla Hays, who was a daughter of Alanson and Rhoda (Slater) Hays, both of English descent, but natives of New York. The Hays family consisted of seven children, the mother of our subject being the fifth in order of birth. Her father came to Allen County in 1848. The latter part of the life of Nicholas Handel was spent at the home of his son, Theodore A., but just prior to his death he returned to Granville, Ohio, and there passed away at the age of 86 years. For a long period he was a worthy member of the Baptist Church.
Theodore A. Handel attended the common schools at Granville, Ohio, until he was 10 years old, when he came to Allen County. From the age of 14 until he was 21, he worked on the farm of his uncle, Ormond Kephart, in section 4, Amanda township. At the age of 23 he married and settled on a farm of 40 acres in that township, which property proved the nucleus of the property that afterward was increased to 200 acres. He continued to farm until 1861, when he loyally offered his services to his country. At the close of the war he resumed agricultural pursuits in Allen County, continuing to reside on his farm until the time of his death and to increase its value through many substantial improvements.
When Mr. and Mrs. Handel settled on the present farm it was almost a wilderness, very little of the land having then been cleared, and their first home was a small, windowless log cabin. Mr. Handel used his original capital of $500 to such good advantage that at the close of his life he was one of the most substantial men of his township. During his early days he dug ditches, chopped wood, split rails, and was always one of the foremost not only to improve the roads, but to promote education and religion.
On August 8, 1861, Mr. Handel enlisted for three years in Company I, 34th Reg., Ohio Vol. Inf., and served until he was honorably discharged at Columbus, Ohio, in September, 1864. He took part in 35 regular engagements and many skirmishes, chiefly in Virginia and West Virginia, a partial enumeration being: Chapmansville Gap, Fayetteville, Louisburg, Trenton, Fayetteville (2), Charleston, RedHouse, Mud Bridge, Cloyd Mountain, Greenbrier, James River, Lynchburg, Stauntin, Paw Paw Station, Stone Spring House, the Shenandoah Valley campaign, including Winchester; Martinsville, the two battles of Fredericksburg, Monocacy Junction, Charlestown and Cedar Creek, the closing battle being a fiercely contested engagement in the vicinity of Winchester. Mr. Handel was wounded in his first battle while humanely supporting an injured comrade. The shot was in his ankle, and he was the second unfortunate in the company. In spite of his painful wound, he refused to leave the battle-field and did not even enter a hospital. He was promoted to the rank of corporal, for more that two years performed the duties of a deputy sergeant, and at all times was a reliable, loyal and courageous soldier.
On April 5, 1857, Mr. Handel was married to Angelina Harris who was born October 13, 1836, at Lockland, Hamilton County, Ohio. She is a daughter of Calvin Harris, who was born at Olean, New York, a son of Samuel Harris, of English descent. Calvin learned the trade of a wagon-maker, his father being a boat-builder. His parents settled in Hamilton County, Ohio, when he was six years old. At the age of 24 he married Edith Dunn, a Daughter of Beracha and Mary (German) Dunn. In 1847 Mr. Harris sold his shop at Lockland and bought and operated a boat on the Miami and Erie Canal, subsequently trading the latter for 120 acres of partly cleared land in section 20, Amanda township, this county. His son now resides on the place. Mr. Harris was township trustee, township clerk and filled other public offices. He was a deacon in the Baptist Church and for many years a trustee. The four survivors of his nine children are: Mary Angelina, widow of our subject; Roscoe B., wife of David Ditto, of Marion township; and Clarence Blake, residing on the Harris Homestead. The mother of these children died December 9, 1881, aged 68 years, 9 months and 16 days. The father died on the farm on January 28, 1892, aged 81 years, 8 months and 28 days.
Mr. and Mrs. Handel had no children of their own. They reared and educated four other children, and one of these, Ernest Handel, has proven a son indeed to those who took pit on his helpless infancy. During the long sickness which preceded the death of Mr. Handel this adopted son's filial devotion was so genuine that no child of the blood could have been kinder or more helpful and loving. He was deeded 45 acres of land, lying opposite the old homestead. He married Lydia Heisler, who died in April, 1905. They had these children: Myrtle Angelina and Burtin Alfred (Twins); Gladys Gail, Bessie Nelore, and John. Myrtle Angelina, one of the twins, born in 1884, is the wife of E. Humphreys and resides with Mrs. Handel, who adopted her when she was four weeks old.
Mrs. Handel lives just north of her father's old home, the farms adjoining. She has 120 acres in section 17, Marion township, and rents the farm to her adopted grandson. Her residence is beautifully situated in a grove. The property will finally revert to Mrs. Humphreys.
Mr. Handel was baptized in the Marion Baptist Church, on November 17, 1867, having been converted in the preceding October by Rev. D. D. Spencer, assisted by Father Bryant. At the time of his death he was the oldest member of this church, a position now filled by his venerable wife. He was deacon and trustee for several years. Mrs. Handel comes of a long line of Baptists. She was converted in the winter of 1854, was baptized by Elder Freyer and first united with the Amanda Baptist Church. Although for the past seven years Mrs. Handel has been an invalid from rheumatism, she always found time to devote to religious and charitable work.
For a number of years Mr. and Mrs. Handel were members of the Patrons of Husbandry, and he served as overseer and lecturer of his grange. He also was a member of Reul Post, No. 95, G. A. R. of Delphos.