Sedgwick County KSGenWeb

Portrait And Biographical Album of Sedgwick County, Kan.

Chapman Brothers 1888

Pages 918 - 919

JONATHAN HANDSON, of Viola Township, occupies a frame residence, a portion of which was the first structure of the kind erected south of the Ninnescah River. In view of this fact it is hardly necessary to state that he was one of the earliest pioneers of Sedgwick County, and he has made such good use of his time during the period of his sojourn here that he is now numbered among the leading men along the southern line of the county. His property lies on section 15, and comprises 560 acres of land, with substantial buildings, and all the other appliances of the first-class country home.

            Our subject, a native of Lincolnshire, England, was born April 15, 1825, and is the son of Jonathan, Sr., and Elizabeth (Gowsheall) Handson, who were also of English birth and parentage. In 1828, when onr subject was a child three years of age, the family crossed the Atlantic and settled in Henry County, Ohio, where the father followed farming until 1844. In that year he removed from the Buckeye State to Monroe County, Mich., where the parents spent the remainder of their lives. Of their five children the record is as follows: Frances, now deceased, was the wife of John Cullun; Edward continues a resident of Monroe County, Mich., where he is engaged in farming; Emma is the wife of G. W. Williams, and resides near Kalamazoo, Mich.; Henry maintains his residence near the old homestead in Monroe County; Jonathan, of our sketch, was the youngest child.

            Mr. Handson, upon reaching manhood, was employed on canals and railroads in Ohio until 1852, then migrated to Edgar County, Ill., where he resided for a period of ten years, engaged mostly in farming. After the outbreak of the war, however, he enlisted in Company G, 116th Illinois Infantry, and served until the Confederates laid down their arms. He participated in many important battles, including the siege and capture of Vicksburg, the conflict at Mission Ridge, and marched with the troops of Gen Sherman to the sea. He also went with that division of the army up through the Carolinas, and was present at the grand review at Washington, after which he received his honorable discharge and was mustered out.

            Mr. Handson, upon laying aside the accoutrements of war, returned to his old haunts in Illinois, where he followed agricultural pursuits until coming to this State in the year 1872. He first stopped in the city of Wichita, where he invested in town property, and for a few years was engaged in the wholesale and retail grocery trade. He removed from the city to his farm in 1884, although he had purchased the land twelve years previously. In the meantime he disposed of his city property, and is now living comparatively retired from active labor, his land being operated by a tenant.

            Our subject was married in Hancock County, Ill., in 1872, to Miss Ella, daughter of Silas and Hannah (Wynn) Henderson, who were natives respectively of Indiana and Ohio. Mrs. Handson was born near Lawrenceburg, Ind., June 18, 1852, and was deprived of a mother's care when a little girl of seven years, that affectionate parent having died in 1859. Her father only survived his wife five years, at which time the family were residents of Macon County, Ill. Mrs. H. after the death of her parents was taken into the family of William Lapham, of Decatur, and received a fair education in the public schools. She was visiting with friends in Hancock County at the time of her marriage. There were but two children in the family of her parents, and her sister Emma, now the wife of C. W. Vandervoort, is residing in Sumner County, Kan.

            Mr. and Mrs. Handson have two children only, both daughters, Nina and Genevra, who are bright girls of fifteen and twelve years respectively. The elder was one of the first white children born within the city limits of Wichita. Our subject uniformly votes the Republican ticket, but has steadily declined becoming an office-holder. His estimable wife is a member in good standing of the First Methodist Church, in Wichita. Their home, the abode of peace and plenty, forms one of the most attractive spots in Viola Township.

[ Home ]