HAND FAMILY HISTORY

Elijah and Susan Hand

Elijah Morris Hand, son of Swain and Sarah Hand, was born July 14th, 1852 in Marion, Indiana.

He died October 3, 1943 in Hastings, Nebraska at the age of 91.

Susan Roberts was born February 10, 1859 in Iowa. She died February 5th or 15th, 1928 at the age of 68.

Susan was the daughter of Swain Hand's second wife, Ellen (Cline) Roberts of Ohio.

On 22 March 1873, at the home of David Caldwell Jr., minister of the Church of Christ, in Jefferson county, Iowa, Elijah married his step sister, Susan Priscilla Roberts.

The marriage register states his age as 21 and hers as 16. All available evidence indicates she was actually 13 years old.

The consent of the parents was documented in the register granting the marriage certificate and was witnessed by M. S. Crawford and Hugh J. Alexander.

Sometime between 1870 and 1880, they moved from Iowa to Marshall Township, in Clay county, Nebraska where they lived until 19130 when they moved to Clay Center.

Around 1908, they homesteaded this place a few miles northeast of the town of Fairfield. Nebraska.

l-r: Elijah, Major(?) the dog, Roy, Homer, Susan, Joe.

See Maps for plat of Marshall township.

Pictured above: Elijah and Susan (seated). Standing l-r: Bess, William, Stella, Homer, Joe, Ellen, Roy and Cora.

Children of Elijah and Susan Hand

In addition to the three children they lost while young [Ernest Swain Hand (1881 - 1882) and the twins, Fay (1892 - 1893?) and Lucille Valorie Hand (1892 - 1893)] they had eight children:

	Sarah Ellen (Ella) Hand (1873 - 1948) Married James Walter (Jim) Hoyt and had eleven children.
	Stella E. Hand (1875 - 1954) Married Gene Kerr and had at least one child, Blanche.
	William Franklin Hand (1877 - 1962) Married Pearl Myrtle Culver and had at least two children: Vaughn Franklin and Velma Elsie.
	Cora Della Hand (1879 - 1918) Married Edward Riley Hoyt
	Bess (Bessie) May Hand (1884 - 1939) Married Clarence Culver and had at least one child, Fannie.
	Homer Maurice Hand (1886 - 1964) Married Alta _____ and had at least one child, Margaret.
	Joseph E. Hand (1888 - ?) Married Gertrude Deeter.
	Roy Marshal Hand (1895 - 1974) Married Stace _____ .

Susan died on February 10th, 1928 at the age of 68.

Elijah died in 1943 at about the age of 91.

They are buried at Clay Center Cemetery, Clay Center, Clay co., Nebraska.

Elijah Hand - Obituary 1943

Elijah Maurice Hand was born on July 14, 1852 in Marion County, Indiana and passed away in Hastings October 3, 1943 at the age of 91 years, 2 months and 19 days.

On March 22, 1872 he was married to Susan Priscilla Roberts. Shortly after the marriage he came to Nebraska where he filed on a claim. Later his wife followed and they established their home in Marshall township.

Here were born to them six daughters and five sons: Ellen, Estella, Frank, Cora, Ernest, Bessie, Homer, Joseph, Fay, Lucy and Roy. Three of these died in infancy.

Mrs. Cora Hoyt died April 10, 1918 and Mrs. Bessie Linden September 21 1939.

In the fall of 1910 Mr. and Mrs. Hand retired from the farm and made their home in Clay Center. Mrs. Hand died February 5, 1928.

He is survived by six children Mrs. Ella Hoyt, Angus: Mrs. Stella Kerr, Lamar, Colo." Frank of Moorfield: Homer of Edgar: Joe of Kellogg, Ida.: Roy of Hastings: 31 grandchildren, 53 great grandchildren and 10 great, great grandchildren, making 94 grandchildren in all. On grandson Maurice Hand of Edgar and 4 great grandsons are serving in our armed forces.

Mr. Hand was a member of the Methodist church at Clay Center. His friends of Marshall township say he was one of the best neighbors they ever had.

Last services were held at the McLaughlin Funeral Home in Clay Center Tuesday afternoon the Rev. Longacre of Edgar in charge. Clay Center male quartet furnished the music. Burial in the family lot of the Clay Center cemetery.

Those from a distance attending the funeral of E.M. Hand were Mrs. Elsie Dietrich, Abilene, Kan., Mrs. Fannie Folden of Grant, Nebr., Mr. and Mrs. Clifford Smith of Lexington, Mr. and Mrs. Kenneth Sands, York, Nebr.

Unknown Relatives of Elijah Hand

Anniversary picture for Elijah and Susan Hand.

The other couple are unknown. (Addison and Mary - nee Hand--Randall?)

Elijah and Susan Hand flanked by the unknown couple.