For the sake of genealogy research I am very fortunate that many of my paternal lines after the mid-1800s resided in Lenawee County, Michigan, the county adjacent to where I live. Logistically, I am easily able to visit the local libraries, historical museums, and cemeteries to gather information and build family stories.

Where it gets complicated with small town research is that families are intertwined in complex, and often hard to explain, ways. The Handy family is no exception.

My prior post about Charlotte ‘Lottie’ (Packard) Biggins reminded me that Lottie, who is connected to me through her child, Andrewina, with my great grandmother, Ida (Travis, Chase) Manley’s ex-husband, Fred Chase, also has a connection to the Handy family via her oldest daughter, Helena Biggins (1890-1978), married to Franklin ‘Frank’ LeRoy Handy (1887-1981).

I am also connected to the Handy family via marriages and incidents in Tecumseh. Hang on and read slowly. This is very complicated.

Lottie Packard Biggin’s son-in-law (husband of her oldest daughter Helena), Frank Handy, is the brother to Hazel Belle Handy (1892-1959). Hazel marries my great grand uncle Leon Manley (1883-1953) after she divorces her first husband, Seth Dove.

Leon Manley, Hazel Handy’s second husband, is Ida (Travis, Chase) Manley’s brother-in-law via her marriage to her second husband, James Judson Manley.

And now if you will indulge me, let’s drill down yet another layer in this twisted history.

Frank Handy and his sister, Hazel Belle, have a maternal aunt, Rosanna Mull. Rosanna is the sister to Frank and Hazel’s mother, Susan (Mull) Handy.

Rosanna Mull is first married to Ernest Oliver Spaulding. Ernest is best friends with my great grandfather, James Judson ‘Jud’ Manley. Jud Manley and Leon Manley (Hazel Handy’s second husband) are brothers.

In December 1898, my great grandfather, Jud is accused of assaulting Rosanna (Mull) Spaulding at her home in Tecumseh to which he pled guilty and served a few months in the Detroit Penitentiary.

When he is released in February 1899, Jud Manley marries Ida (Travis) Chase.

To recap:

Ida’s first husband is Fred Chase. Fred is the father to Lottie Packard Biggins daughter, Andrewina.

Lottie’s oldest daughter, Helena (Andrewina’s half sister) marries into the Handy family via Frank. Frank’s sister, Hazel marries into the Manley family via Leon.

Jud Manley assaults Frank and Hazel’s aunt, Rosa. Rosa is the aunt by marriage to Jud’s brother Leon Manley.

It is almost breathtaking how the families of Lenawee County, Michigan are interrelated, through blood, marriages, babies and events. When researching, often a name on my paternal line will jog a memory and I’ll have to search through my accumulated data to remind myself of their complicated shared history with one another (and their relationship to me).

These lines were no exception.