JOHN L. HANDLEY, physician, Fairfield, was born Feb. 9, 1835, in Shefield, Eng. and is a son of James and Maratha (Ennis) Handley, both of whome were natives of Yorkshire, Eng.
The fater died in the old country in 1845, and three years later John L., then thirteen years old, in company with his mother, came to the United States, landing at New York. They located at Evansville, Ind., in 1850, and afater a residence of about four years came to Carmi, White Co., Ill., in which county the mother died in 1869. After removing to Carmi, Ill., John L. decided to adopt the profession of physician and surgeon, and accordingly entered the office of Dr. E. L. Stewart, under whom he did the usual preparatory reading. Early in the progress of the rebellion, he entered the Eightv-seventh Illinois Infantry, as Hospital Steward, and was afterward made the Acting Assistant Surgeon, which position be creditably filled until the close of the war. He was honorably discharged in June, 1865. In August following, he located at Mount Erie, Wayne Co., Ill., where he practiced until the fall of 1868.
He was then made the choice of the people of Wayne County for Circuit Clerk, to which office he was elected on the Democratic ticket. At the end of four years, he was reelected to the same office by a large majority, and served with acceptance until 1876. In 1870, he was appointed as Master in Chancery, serving until 1876, reappointed in 1880, and is the presentt incumbent. He was a delegate to the National Democratic Convention of 1876, which nominated Tilden and Hendricks. He was placed in nomination by and received the full Democratic vote of the State Senate at Clerk of the Senate, in 1878. He has always acted with the Democratic party from a sense of principle and right.
He was married, September 27, 1865, to Miss Clarinda Hoffman, of Carmi, White Co., Ill. She died in March, 1873, leaving one child- Bessie S. Handley.
He was married to his present wife, Miss Sallie McCall, on the 29th of April, 1874.
Dr. Handley was made a Mason in 1858, in Carmi Lodge, No. 272, and is now the Sectetary of Farifield Lodge, No. 206, A.F. & A. M., and Most Excellent High Priest of Fairfield Cahapter, No. 179, and the Thrice Illustrious Master of Farifield Council, U. D.; also a member of Gorin Commandery, No. 14, Knights Templar, at Olney, Ill. He has been an important member of the Board of Trustees of Fairfield, and is now its clerk; was a candidate for the position in the Appellate Court for the Third Grand Division of Illinois before the Democratic Convention of 1879, at Centralia, and though receiving a flattering support was defeated by a few votes.
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