Legislator Details

Image of Sherman  T. Handy
Image Description:
Portrait of Sherman T. Handy scanned from Men of Progress p.345.

Sherman T. Handy
AKA:
Number of sessions served 2
Gender: Male
Age at election: 31

Vital Records Information:

Birth
Date: 4/3/1867
City: Morpeth, ON
County: Chatham-Kent Municipality, ON
Country: Canada
 
Death
Date: 4/18/1939
City: Lansing, MI
County: Ingham County, MI
Country: US
Type of Burial:
Burial
Date: 4/20/1939
City: Lansing, MI
County: Ingham County, MI
Country: US
Cemetery: Evergreen Cemetery

Marital Information:
married Miss Leora A. Anderson, dau. of Rev. D. R. Anderson at Oconomowoc, WI on 12/31/1895; children: 1, Theodore A.

Number of Children: 1


Background

Religion:
Military Service:
Occupation: lawyer
Race: Caucasian or White

Education:
public school; Ridgetown Collegiate Institute; graduated from Stratford University in 1889; graduated from University of Michigan Law Department in 1891

Biographical Sketch:
Son of Collins [or Rollins] and Elizabeth (Watson) Handy. He went to several schools to support this goal. He worked summers to pay for tuition in the winter. He came to the US in 1891 and was naturalized in 1898, in Iron Co., MI. Practiced with W.F. Cairns in 1892. Bought out his partner, and then partnered with Fred H. Abbott in 1895. Partnership lasted for 2 years. Mr. Handy practiced solo after that. Elected circuit court commissioner in 1894, and prosecuting attorney in 1896. He was practicing law in Sault Ste. Marie in 1910 and working in Lansing by 1920 [working for the Public Utilities Commission]

Notable Facts:
Noted as one of the youngest members of the Michigan Legislature. Prosecuted Peter Bons for the murder of Miss Pearl Morrison of Crystal Falls on July 26, 1897. Death certificate says Evergreen but Find-a-Graves says Mount Hope Cemetery. Seekingmichigan.org death record gives father's name as Rollins; descendant reported his parents as Collins and Elizabeth. "The History of Michigan" 4:1988 and Sawyer 3:1245 use Collins as the father's first name.


Sessions Served:

Chamber: House
Party: Republican
Committees Served On: Fish and Fisheries , Game Laws , State Library
Postions Held: Speaker Pro Tempore

City of Residence: Crystal Falls
County of Residence Iron
District: Dickinson
District Description:

Date Elected: 11/6/1900
Date Sworn In: 1/2/1901
Date Left Office:

Reason for Leaving Office: N/A
End of Term Status: Departed

Maritial Status: Married
Notes:
Chamber: House
Party: Republican
Committees Served On: Apportionment , Elections , Judiciary
Postions Held:

City of Residence: Crystal Falls
County of Residence Iron
District: Dickinson
District Description: Counties of Baraga, Dickinson and Iron

Date Elected: 11/8/1898
Date Sworn In: 1/4/1899
Date Left Office:

Reason for Leaving Office: N/A
End of Term Status: Re-elected

Maritial Status: Married
Notes:

Bibliography:

Men of Progress p.345, includes portrait; USCen 1910, 1920, 1930; USPassportAppl 1795-1925; SeekMI; Find-a-Grave.com; Moore 4:1988; Sawyer 3:1243-46