Clark, Robert Carlton, Ph.D. "History of the Willamette Valley Oregon."  Vol. 3.
Chicago: Chapman Publishing Company, 1927. p. 151.

WILLIAM W. VAN HANDEL

    A valuable ranch near Sublimity is the visible result of the untiring
efforts and good management of William W. Van Handel, a practical farmer, whose
identification with agricultural operations in Marion county covers a period of
thirty-four years. He was born May 12, 1865, in Green Bay, Wisconsin, and his
parents were Arnold and Mary Van Handel, the former a native of The Netherlands
and the latter of Belgium. In 1850 the father made the voyage across the
Atlantic and became one of the early settlers of Brown county, Wisconsin. He
purchased a tract of timber land, on which he built a log house, and zealously
applied himself to the task of clearing the place and preparing the soil for the
rowing of crops. About 1897 he sold the property and migrated to Oregon,
locating in the vicinity of Sublimity, where he engaged in ranching until his
death in 1922. He is survived by the mother, who has attained the venerable age
of eighty-seven years They had seven children who are now living: Mrs. Nettie
Crump, William W. Anton, John, Mrs. Kate Senz, J. B. and Matthew.
     William W. Van Handel was educated in rural schools of Wisconsin and aided
his father in developing the farm. He remained at home until he was twenty-three
years of age and in 1888 sought the opportunities of Oregon, locating in Forest
Grove. For six years he worked in logging camps and sawmills of that section of
the state, saving as much as possible from his earnings, and in 1893 came to
Marion county, purchasing one hundred and thirty-six acres of prairie land three
miles northeast of Sublimity. Some buildings had been erected on the ranch and
for some time Mr. Van Handel specialized in the growing of grain, in addition to
which he now raises hay, corn and fruit. He has fourteen acres in strawberries
and three acres in loganberries. The land is carefully tilled and yields good
crops. Mr. Van Handel is also a successful dairyman and keeps thirty head of
high grade Jersey cattle. He likewise raises poultry and has a flock of seven
hundred hens which are cared for by his wife and daughters. He is constantly
improving his property and in 1908 erected a modern home, a milk house, a silo
and other outbuildings, all of which are substantially constructed. In 1913 he
increased his farm by the purchase of eighty acres, adding a tract of forty
acres in 1926, and his holdings now comprise two hundred and fifty-six acres of
highly productive land. His equipment is up-to-date and his work is performed
with businesslike precision and efficiency.
     In 1891 Mr. Van Handel married Miss Annie Hermens, a native of Wisconsin
and a daughter of Martin and Dora Hermens. Her father came to Oregon in 1875 and
purchased a ranch in Washington county. Subsequently he sold the place and went
to California, in which state his wife passed away, but his demise occurred at
the home of Mr. and Mrs. Van Handel. To Mr. and Mrs. Hermens were born five
children, but Mary, the youngest, is deceased. The others are; Cornelius,
William, Annie and John. Mr. and Mrs. Van Handel have a family of thirteen
children, all of whom are natives of Oregon. The eldest, Mrs. Mary Spinner, is
the mother of four sons : Willis, Joseph, Ben and Vincent. Arnold is at home.
Mrs. Dora Spinner is the mother of two sons, Edward and Walter, The younger
children of Mr. and Mrs. Van Handel are Martin, John, Minnie, Katie, Henry,
Anton, Christina, Maggie, Willie and Edward.
     Mr. Van Handel's public spirit was expressed by twenty years of able
service on the school board and he has also furthered the movement for good
roads. He manifests a deep interest in matters touching the welfare and progress
of his community, county and state and is accorded the respect due the upright,
useful citizen.

     
*******************

Submitted to the Oregon Bios. Project in April 2011 by Diana Smith.  Submitter
has no additional information about the person(s) or family mentioned above.