The History of the Yakima Valley, Washington, Comprising Yakima, Kittitas and
Benton Counties, The S.J. Clarke Publishing Co., 1919, Volume II, page 1054 

JAMES N. HAND.

James N. Hand is one of the progressive ranchmen of the Kittitas valley.
Associated with his brother he has twelve hundred acres of range land, with six
hundred acres under irrigation and he has gained for himself a creditable
position among the successful ranchers of his section of the state. He was born
at Kingscourt, County Cavan, Ireland, July 1, 1862, a son of Patrick and
Bridget Hand, both of whom passed away on the Emerald Isle. The son came to the
United States in 1885, when a young man of twenty-three years, and remained a
resident of Iowa from that date until 1889, during which period he engaged in
the cultivation of rented land. Thinking to find better business opportunities
in the northwest, he then made his way to the Kittitas valley and purchased
forty acres of land, which constituted the nucleus of his present extensive
holdings. To this property he has added from time to time until he and his
brother Edward now have twelve hundred acres of range land, together with a
tract of six hundred acres under irrigation. They own and conduct the farm
together and are most progressive in their methods. They raise hay and grain,
annually gathering good crops, and they also devote considerable attention to
stock raising, keeping good grades of cattle, sheep and horses.

On July 20, 1909, James N. Hand was united in marriage to Miss Mary Finnegan, a
native of Kingscourt, County Cavan, Ireland, whom he had known in school clays.
Mrs. Hand came to New York, where she was met by her husband, their marriage
being celebrated in that city. To Mr. and Mrs. Hand has been born a son, James
Edward, now seven years of age.

The religious faith of the family is that of the Catholic church and in politics
Mr. Hand maintains an independent course. He is a successful farmer and,
moreover, a self-made man whose industry and enterprise have been the dominant
factors in the attainment of his present success. He has never sought to figure
prominently in any public light but has given his entire time and attention to
his business affairs and never has he had occasion to regret his determination
to come to the new world, for he has here found the opportunities which he
sought and in their utilization has won desired results.

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Submitted to the Washington Bios Project in January 2008 by Jeffrey L. Elmer.
Submitter has no additional information about the subject of this article.