From "History of Wheeling City and Ohio County, West Virginia and 
Representative Citizens," by Hon. Gibson Lamb Cranmer, 1902. 

Typed by Laurie Birks Dean

pp. 457-458

William C. HANDLAN, who for many years has been prominent in the 
affairs of the city of Wheeling and Ohio county, West Virginia, was 
born in this city, April 25, 1823.  He has held many important public 
offices and has invariably discharged his duties in such a manner as 
to gain the confidence and respect of his fellow-citizens.
	At the age of nineteen years Mr. Handlan was employed as a 
clerk in the beef and pork inspection house of John Bozant, of New 
Orleans.  He filled various clerical positions in this house for 
seven years, and in 1850 moved to pike county, Illinois, where he 
engaged in the mercantile and pork packing business in the town of 
New Canton.  In 1852 he went overland to California, and returned to 
Wheeling June 23, 1853.  Immediately thereafter he formed a 
partnership with his brothers, John and Augustine, and for twelve 
years managed the Handlan store, carrying on an extensive and 
lucrative business.  In 1865 he formed a partnership with Oliver 
Pryor in the wholesale grain and provision business, which was 
terminated one year later by the death of the latter.  He then 
entered into a partnership with his brother, John Handlan, and they 
carried on a very extensive provision business until the death of the 
brother, in 1880.  In 1884 Mr. Handlan was elected sheriff of Ohio 
county, and during his incumbency of that office he collected and 
disbursed about $1,000,000.  The following extract from the Wheeling 
Intelligencer of September 7, 1889, speaks volumes for Mr. Handlan's 
efficiency.  The headline of the article is, "A quick and 
satisfactory settlement,".
	"Ex-Sheriff Handlan made a final settlement with Clerk Woods, 
of the board of commissioners, yesterday.  It was found that the 
county was indebted to him $87.17.  The smallness of the amount goes 
to show that the business of the office was carefully conducted.  Mr. 
Handlan has received many deserved compliments upon his faithful and 
efficient administration of affairs, and it may be said here that 
this settlement is more satisfactory, and concluded at an earlier 
date after the expiration of the term, than has ever before been made 
with any occupant of the sheriff's office."
	For a number of years Mr. Handlan was president of the town 
council of South Wheeling, which now constitutes the eighth ward, and 
was president at the time the town was annexed to the city of 
Wheeling.  He was elected member of the first branch of the city 
council at the first election thereafter, and served four years.  At 
the expiration of his term he was elected to the second branch, of 
which he was elected president.  During his chairmanship of the 
committee on the fire department the paid department was created and 
the fire alarm telegraph was placed in use.  To him belongs the honor 
of introducing and carrying through the council the ordinance 
abolishing the iniquitous fee system of the city sergeant.  He also 
succeeded in procuring the passage of an act by the legislature 
changing the fee system of the clerk of the police court to that of a 
salary.  Few men have accomplished more for the weal of the city than 
the subject of this sketch, and his efforts are duly appreciated by 
his fellow-citizens, who regard him as a man of great worth to the 
community.  He is a Democrat in politics, and was elector-at-large 
for West Virginia in 1888.
	In 1850 Mr. Handlan was united in marriage with Rebecca 
Johnson, who was born in Madison county, Ohio, February 25, 1828, and 
died May 13, 1861, at the age of thirty-three years.  They had four 
children, namely:  Mary Locke, who was born in Pike county, Illinois, 
January 16, 1851, and is living in Washington, D. C.; Augusina R., 
born in South Wheeling, February 18, 1856, who keeps house for her 
father; Eugenia Baptista, born in South Wheeling, April 25, 1858, who 
married Robert M. Hanover and resides in Washington, D. C.; and James 
Brown, born in South Wheeling, May 2, 1861, who died July 1, 1861.  
February 12, 1863, William Handlan married Anna E. Woods, who was 
born in Wheeling, March 14, 1841, and died Decemeber 4, 1884.  This 
union was blessed by the birth of the following children:  Agnes 
Jane, who was born in South Wheeling, April 9, 1864, and is the wife 
of John A. Howard, an attorney-at-law; Helena Frances, born in South 
Wheeling, December 13, 1865, who died May 28, 1888; John B., born 
March 29, 1868, in South Wheeling, who is an attorney-at-law in 
Wheeling; James T., a druggist, who was born in South Wheeling on 
February 4, 1870; William C., Jr., manager of the National Telephone 
Company, who was born July 8, 1873; Claire and Eulalia, twins, born 
July 1, 1877; and Anna Blanche, born April 17, 1880, who married 
Lucius Hoge, Jr., who is engaged in conducting a department store at 
Fairmont, West Virginia.