MANGES, Franklin, b 1842; 1905 Bio, Delta County, Colorado http://files.usgwarchives.net/co/delta/bios/mangesf.txt --------------------------------------- Donated September 11, 2001 Transcribed by Judy Crook from the book: Progressive Men of Western Colorado Published 1905, A.W. Bowen & Co., Chicago, Ill. --------------------------------------- Franklin Manges From the time of his birth in Somerset county, Pennsylvania, on June 17, 1842, until he reached the age of twenty years, the life of Franklin Manges, of Delta county, two miles from Cory, on the creek, was uneventful and in no respects worthy of mention different from the lives of other boys and youths in his locality. He is the son of David and Susan (Brant) Manges, also born and reared in Somerset county, Pennsylvania, where they farmed until death ended their labors. The son was reared on the farm, attended the district schools, and prepared himself for life's duties by the ordinary attention to whatever he had to do. Soon after completing his twentieth year he left home as a volunteer in defense of the Union, then threatened by armed resistance, enlisting in Company D, One Hundred and Thirty-third Pennsylvania Infantry, in August, 1862, for a term of nine months. He was discharged in May, 1863, and in February, 1864, he again enlisted, becoming a member of Company B, Sixtieth Ohio Infantry, in which he served until July 28, 1865. In the army he saw active and dangerous service, participating in the battles of Antietam, Fredericksburg, where he had a brother killed, Chancellorsville, the Wilderness, and Petersburg, and also in numerous skirmishes. He was never wounded or taken prisoner, but was obliged to spend one week in the hospital on account of sickness. During all the rest of the time he was at his place and answered every roll call, unless absent on duty. After his discharge he went to Wayne county, Ohio, and two years later moved to Richardson county, Nebraska, where he farmed until 1875, then changed his residence to Kansas, and there followed the same pursuit until 1898. He came to Colorado that year and located the ranch on which he now lives, then returning to Kansas he remained until the ensuing spring, when he came to Colorado to remain. His ranch comprises thirty-seven acres of land, of which he has two acres in fruit and the rest in alfalfa and other ordinary products grown in the neighborhood. He has made good improvements on the place and is still improving it, engaging his crops by judicious husbandry and increasing the value of his land. He has been for many years a great hunter, and in the pursuit of the exhilarating sport incident to the life of a Nimrod has had numerous exciting adventures and narrow escapes from death. On October 24, 1902, when hunting grouse in company with a neighbor, he came upon a huge bear that had long been the terror of the whole region because of its killing stock and doing other extensive damage. It had often been seen, and once was caught in a trap from which it escaped with the loss of three toes from one foot, but had always managed to get away from its pursuers. A reward of three hundred dollars had at one time been offered by the stockmen for its capture, dead or alive, and he was eager to kill it, although there was no reward available then. It required twelve thirty-thirty shots to finish the brute, but Mr. Manges had the great satisfaction of completing the job. He had the hide made into a robe and the head mounted. This was exhibited at the St. Louis fair in 1904, and attracted a great deal of attention. The bear measured eight feet from tip to tip and weighed over one thousand pounds. It was in prime condition and yielded eleven gallons of fat. This was the largest bear ever seen in the state. The feat of killing it was one of great prowess and brought Mr. Manges many commendations for his pluck and skill, and for ridding the country of a very troublesome enemy. On August 16, 1875, Mr. Manges was united in marriage with Miss Margaret Schouse. They had three children, two of them twins, and all now deceased. Their mother died in 1878, and in 1881 the father married a second wife, Miss Mattie Hatfield, who bore him two children, a son Ernest and daughter Mamie, the former of whom is dead and the latter lives in Montana. He separated from this wife in 1884, and has since had a nephew living with him. For many years he belonged to the order of Odd Fellows, but he is not now in active membership. His church affiliation is with the Methodists and in political affairs he supports the Republican party. =================================================== Contributed for use by the USGenWeb Archive Project (http://www.usgenweb.org) and by the COGenWeb Archive Project USGENWEB NOTICE: These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or presentation by other organization or persons. Persons or organizations desiring to use this material, must obtain the written consent of the contributor, or the legal representative of the submitter, and contact the listed USGenWeb archivist with proof of this consent. The submitter has given permission to the USGenWeb Archives to store the file permanently for free access.