Biography of R. C. Mann, White County, Arkansas *********************************************************** Submitted by: Bonnie Palmer Date: Jun 1997 Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/ar/white/white.html *********************************************************** From "A Centennial History of Arkansas", edited by Dallas T. Herndon, the Director of the Dept. of Archives & History, published by The S. J. Clarke Publishing Co., Chicago-Little Rock, 1922. R. C. MANN R. C. MANN, who is a prominent figure in journalistic circles of White Co. as editor of the Judsonia Advance, was born in Jackson Co., MO, Oct. 1, 1888, his parents being Arthur & Amelia (MERCHANT) MANN, who were natives of NY. The former was a son of Gilbert L. MANN, also born in the Empire State, where he extensively engaged in dairy farming near Franklin. He married a Miss CARR & inn later life retired from active business & removed to Kansas City, MO, where he made his home with Mr. & Mrs. Arthur MANN & there he died at the age of 86 years. The grandfather of R. C. MANN in the maternal line was Herman W. MERCHANT, who was born in the state of NY, where he followed general farming until he, too, retired, spending his last days in Kansas City, where he reached the notable old age of 94. Removing westward from NY to KS, Arthur MANN settled near Dodge City, where he homesteaded & carried on the work of tilling the soil & producing crops. He afterward removed to Kansas City, where he entered the government service as a post office employee, spending 40 years in that connection. He filled various positions in the post office & was superintendent of mails at the time of his death, which occurred in July, 1920, when he was 64 years of age. His widow survives & yet makes her home in Kansas City. In his political views Mr. MANN was an earnest republican & fraternally he was connected with the Knights of Pythias, while his religious faith was that of the Presbyterian church. To him & his wife were born 5 children, of whom 3 are living. Chester, a graduate of the School of Engineering of the Univ. of MO., is now state highway engineer, with offices in Jefferson City, MO. R. C. is the second of the family. Robert was educated in the Univ. of MO & is now a teacher at the School of Journalism there, being assistant to Dean Williams. Two died in infancy. Liberal educational opportunities were accorded R. C. MANN, who, passing through consecutive grades in public schools, was ultimately graduated from the Manual Training School in Kansas City with the class of 1906. He later spent 4 years in the express business there, advancing from the position of collector to that of cashier. He afterward worked in the office of the Kansas Lumber Co. and of the Hutchinson Lumber Co. & for 1 year was in NY with the Adams Express Co. as bill clerk. In 1910 he came to Judsonia, AR, with the Kansas City Bridge Co., acting as timekeeper & paymaster in connection with the construction of bridges for the MO Pacific RR. At a later date he returned to Kansas City but again came to Judsonia & purchased the plant of the Judsonia Advance. He was a novice in connection of the printing business but has continued in this to the present time. He installed new machinery, also a cylinder press, linotype machine & other equipment & now has a splendid plant, while the circulation of the paper has been built up almost from nothing to 600. He does all kinds of job printing as well & any work turned out from his office is always first class. He likewise writes fire insurance, representing 8 different companies, and he acted as assistant receiver of the First National Bank from July 15, 1920, until April 1, 1921. His life has thus been one of marked business activity & his industry & perseverance have been the dominant factors in bringing to him the prosperity which he now enjoys. In 1912 Mr. MANN was united in marriage to Miss Winnie LATTA, a native of AR, & now they have 2 children, Ralph & Thomas. Mrs. MANN belongs to the Baptist church, while in religious faith Mr. MANN is a Presbyterian. He also is identified with Anchor Lodge No. 384, A. F. & A. M., in which he has filled all the chairs. Politically he is a Republican and has twice served as mayor of Judsonia, giving to the city a businesslike & progressive administration. His ideals are high, his activities always of a practical character, and the two made a splendid combination in the accomplishment of desired results.