Rev. Elias Handy, 1860-1934

1934 Yearbook 
of the Iowa-Des Moines Annual Conference

of the Methodist Episcopal Church

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Rev. Elias Handy

Served Jerome and Mystic 1892-1896

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  Elias Handy, son of William and Elizabeth Handy, was born in West Bromwich, Staffordshire, England, March 21, 1860. He entered into the life with God, at Boone, Iowa, Thursday, March 1, 1934.

  He was dedicated to God, in infancy, by pious parents. At the age of nine years, he was received in a class of children into memberhsip with the Methodist church, in Dudley, England. He was licensed as an Exhorter, by the Dudley Circuit, in 1877; and as a Local Preacher, the year following. His religious experience began under the preaching of the American Evangelist, Dwight L. Moody, in Dingley Hall, Birmingham, England. He knew God by a personal knowledge and felt called to devote his life to the work of the Christian ministry.

  His education was in the Dudley Schools, where he took the required studies and passed the examination entitling him to a Teacher's Life Certificate, good throughout Great Britain. For three years, he served as Head Master in the Oskamoor Mills Schools. On account of failing eyesight, he gave up teaching, and came with his family to Ontario, Canada, where he spent five years on a farm in Glengarry county, and two years in Maitland and Irofquois, in the employ of the Grand Trunk Railway.

  Coming to the United States with his family in 1890, he supplied the Lebanon Circuit. In 1891, at Muscatine, he joined the Iowa Conference, on trial; and was returned to the same charge. He was ordained as a Local Deacon, by Bishop Cyrus D. Foss, at that Conference. He was admitted into full connection, at Mt. Pleasant, in 1893. His ordination as an Elder took place at Ottumwa, in 1895, by Bishop Randolph S. Foster. He served the Mystic charge four years; Newton circuit, three years; he was elected Professor of Pedagogy in Iowa Wesleyan college, 1902--serving a charge and doing his work in the college at the same time. In 1904, he graduated in Iowa Wesleyan college, receiving his degree of A.B., at the same time he was honoured by Cornell College conferring upon him the degree of Master of Arts. By a unanimous vote of the Board of Trustees he was elected to the Chair of English in 1904, which he very gracefully declined, believing that his life work and his duty called him to the ministry of the Gospel rather than teaching.
  He served What Cheer charge three years; Washington, two years; Grinnell, five years. Bishop Edwin H. Hughes, transferred him to the Des Moines Conference, and he was stationed at Atlantic, 1912-16, he had the labor of building a church and entertaining the Conference; Creston, 1917-20; Corydon, 1921; Carroll, 1922-24; Valley Junction, 1925-26; Elliott, 1927-28. His health breaking through the exposure incident to his work, he was retired in 1929. His entire ministry had been that of a successful preacher, a popular pastor, a faithful and zealous worker for the Church of God, a booster for the town and community where he lived. He made friends for the Kingdom of our blessed Lord wherever he was appointed, and won many souls for God.
  He appeared to the best advantage in his domestic circle which he called and loved as home. On July 17, 1882, in the Wesleyan church, in Dudley, England, Reverend Henry Scholfield united him in marriage with Miss Anna Maria Southall, of Dudley. Five daughters and four sons were born to this happy union. One son, died in infancy. All the rest have received special training educationally above High School. At his death the family who mourned his departure, consisted of his widow, Miss Alice Elizabeth , a teacher in Boone; Rev. W. S. Handy, pastor at Goldfield, Northwest Iowa Conference; Donald J. of Norwood, New York; Miss Mary Louisa, at home; Mrs. Dillon Manchester, of Leon, Iowa; Mrs. D. C. Henry, Missionary of Sayo, Africa; Mrs. Frank Hanson, Peoria, Illinois; and Walter Newton Handy, of Cedar Rapids, Iowa.
  Brother Handy and his good companion were privileged on July 17, 1932, at Boone, to celebrate the fiftieth Anniversary of their wedding. It was a most joyous occasion to all concerned.
  The funeral services for Brother Handy took place from First Methodist church, in Boone, and were in charge of the family pastor, Rev. Frank G. Bean. A goodly company of ministers of the Conference were present. The funeral liturgy of the church was read; while the "Pastoral Symphony" from the "Messiah" was played by the organist. The Superintendent of Boone District offered prayer. Rev. William A. Longnecker, of Sigourneyh, a fellow classmate in the Conference, paid a beautiful tribute to his memory. At its close the body was by six of his brother ministers borne to a shady nook and laid to rest in the beautiful Linwood Park cemetery, East, Boone, Iowa. 

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Anna Maria Southall Handy

  Mrs. Anna Maria Handy, widow of the late Rev. Elias Handy, died Wednesday night, September 5, 1934, at the home in Boone, Iowa. She fell in the morning, fracturing her hip, suffered greatly all day and passed away in the evening. The funeral was held on Friday afternoon, in charge of Rev. Frank Bean, assisted by Rev. C. M. Edmundson, and the interment was made beside her husband in Linwood Park cemetery, East Boone.

  Ann Maria Southall, daughter of William and Emma Eliza Southall, was born in Dudley, England, October 9, 1859. In her childhood she became a member of the King Street Methodist Church of Dudley. On July 17, 1882, she was married to Elias Handy. Their first home was in Oakamoor, England. In the spring of 1885, they emigrated to Canada, and spent the next five years in Ontario, the first three years, on a farm in Glengarry county, the last two in Maitland and Iroquois. During these last years Mr. Handy was in the employ of the Grand Trunk railroad.

  In August 1890, Mr. and Mrs. Handy and family came to Iowa, and Mr. Handy entered the Iowa Conference. During the past 44 years, Mrs. Handy shared the fortunes of the parsonage and served the churches along with her husband. Her devotion to the Kingdom of our blessed Lord never wavered; a true mother in every sense of the word; a woman fitly described in the last chapter of the book of Proverbs. Of the eight children who grew to maturity, all but two are college graduates, and these two have had three years of special training in their chosen fields of service.

  Since his retirement in 1929, they have made their home in Boone, Iowa, where she endeared herself to many friends, who shared the closing days of her life with earnest friendship and kindly regard. Hers, was truly a life well spent.