Donna, Hidalgo County
Thomas J. Handy (1843-1927) first came to the Rio Grande Valley from Wisconsin as a Union solider during the Civil War. While stationed with Co. F, 4th Wisconsin cavalry, handy met Angelita Cavazos (ca. 1844-1925). The two were married on April 25, 1866 at her family’s asadores ranch, located along the military highway that paralleled the rio grande. After the war, Handy became a farmer and rancher and U.S. Customs inspector, stationed along the military highway. Thomas purchased 2214 acres of land along the Rio Grande in 1878 and Angelita later inherited family property, making the Handys significant land owners in the area. By the 1960s, most of the handy property had been sold, with a large portion sold to the city of Alamo.