Biography of William A. Handley, Randolph, Alabama http://files.usgwarchives.net/al/randolph/newspapers/wahandley2.txt ============================================= USGENWEB PROJECT NOTICE: In keeping with the USGenWeb policy of providing free information on the Internet, this data may be used by non-commercial entities, as long as this message remains on all copied material. These electronic pages cannot be reproduced in any format for profit or for presentation by other persons or organizations. Persons or organizations desiring to use this material for purposes other than stated above must obtain the written consent of the file contributor. The submitter has given permission to the USGenWeb Project Archives to store the file permanently for free access. This file is copyrighted and contributed by: William Fischer, Jr. ============================================= September 2001 INTERESTING SKETCH ---------------------------- Captain William A. HANDLEY, one of the most distinguished private citizens of Alabama, who died yesterday morning at his home in Roanoke, after a long illness, was probably the wealthiest citizen of East Alabama, and he had given more money to charitable and philanthropic causes than any man in that section of the State. Captain HANDLEY had been a member of Congress, a State Senator, a member of the House and he was a member of the Constitutional Convention of 1901, but his greatest successes were achieved as a private citizen. Some of his friends said that Captain HANDLEY in his successful business life had probably accumulated a million dollars, but that he gave so freely to charitable purposes and especially to the cause of education that he had reduced somewhat his large private fortune. He has been one of the noted citizens of the State. What public offices he filled were given to him unsought. He was a farmer and business man who was drafted into public service. He was distinguished by an unfailing common sense, a remarkable tenacity of purpose and by an integrity of character that never came under suspicion. Captain HANDLEY was born in Heard County, Ga., December 15, 1834, and was therefore not quite 75 years of age when he died. He came as a child with his parents to Randolph County. The schools of Randolph County in those days were primitive, but he took every advantage that they offered. In later life he remembered the unfavorable school conditions of his youth and he labored in many capacities for the upbuilding of the public schools of Alabama. He was a school mate of Major J. D. BARRON, of The [Montgomery] Advertiser, and they remained life-long friends. He was a mail rider for awhile as a youth. Then he went into the mercantile business in which he had a special aptitude. He prospered in this beyond his fellows. But when the war broke out he entered the 25th Alabama Regiment organized at Wetumpka as a captain. He served with distinction until he was wounded at Murfreesboro. In later life it was his special pleasure out of his own bountiful store, to help in any way he could his less fortunate comrades of the Confederacy. He was an uncompromising Democrat and was elected to the Legislature shortly after the war. In 1870, without any effort or solicitation on his part, he was nominated and elected to a seat in Congress. Major HANDLEY at that time had never delivered a public speech. He called on General John W. A. SANFORD, of Montgomery, who stumped the district with him in his interest and to the day of his death he remembered and talked of the favor. General SANFORD was a friend and admirer of Captain HANDLEY, and he said yesterday that he was one of the noblest and most useful citizens that Alabama had ever had. Early in the history of Birmingham Major HANDLEY realized its great future commercial possibilities. He invested heavily in Birmingham property, and he appreciated the importance of the hardware trade to a city like Birmingham in the mineral district. He entered the hardware business there and succeeded in it as he did in all else. His life was most useful and beneficent to the people of his home county of Randolph. It is said that he more than any one else was responsible for the settlement and growth of Roanoke. The schools of that section were his particular and special care. He was instrumental in founding the Roanoke College and he was a leader in the movement that put a cotton mill in Roanoke. It is said of him that his death deprives Alabama of one of its strongest and most valuable citizens. [Originally published in The Montgomery Advertiser on 24 Jun 1909] [Reprinted in The Roanoke Leader (Randolph County, Alabama), 30 Jun 1909, p.3] --------- [A photograph of W. A. HANDLEY is front and center on the first page of both the 5 May 1909 and 30 Jun 1909 issues of The Roanoke Leader. W. A. HANDLEY was commander of Camp Aiken-Smith, No 293, of the United Confederate Veterans at the time of his death. The Handley Manufacturing Company textile mill in Roanoke was razed in 1990]