Montgomery County IN Archives Biographies.....Manson, Mahlon D. 1818 - ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.rootsweb.com/~usgenweb/copyright.htm http://www.rootsweb.com/~usgenweb/in/infiles.htm ************************************************ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Joy Fisher sdgenweb@yahoo.com August 27, 2006, 2:36 pm Author: Chapman Bros. (1893) GEN. MAHLON D. MANSON. The life and character of the gentleman whose well-known name opens this article may be studied with profit by the young, contemplated with satisfaction by the patriotic, and referred to with pride by his kindred and friends. His name is honorably mentioned on many pages of the history of the late war, and in the political life of the State of Indiana he has taken a prominent part. In private life he has sustained an unsullied reputation, and has deserved the confidence and good-will of his fellow-men. Gen. Manson was born near Piqua, Miami County, Ohio, February 18, 1818. His Christian name was given him as a mark of regard for Gov. Mahlon Dickerson, of New Jersey, who was Secretary of War under Gen. Jackson. The father of our subject died when he was but three years old, and he early became the support of his mother. After some years of his boyhood had been spent in mechanical pursuits, he became a druggist's clerk, and soon after set up for himself in that business. In October, 1842, he removed to Indiana and taught school in Montgomery County. He studied medicine and attended a course of lectures at the Ohio Medical College, at Cincinnati, and a partial second course in New Orleans. However, he did not practice medicine in Crawfordsville, but continued as a druggist. Upon the commencement of the war with Mexico Gen. Manson entered the service as Captain of Company I, Fifth Indiana Regiment, Col. James H. Lane commanding, with which he participated in the campaign with Gen. Scott from Vera Cruz to the Capital. Upon his return to Crawfordsville at the close of the war he resumed his business as a druggist, and in 1851 was elected Representative from Montgomery County to the General Assembly. He served during the important sessions of 1851-52, in which the laws of the State were revised, and which adopted the new constitution. In 1856 he was a delegate to the National Democratic Convention which nominated Buchanan and Breckenridge. In 1860 he was an ardent supporter of Stephen A. Douglas, and when the war broke out he placed himself in the ranks of the Union and took an active part. in the recruiting of the first company raised in Montgomery County, under Gen. Lew Wallace. Two days afterward, in five hours he raised a company, with which he marched to Indianapolis. From the men he brought into camp, two companies of the Tenth Indiana Regiment were formed, and Company G elected Mr. Manson Captain. Upon the organization of the regiment Mr. Manson was commissioned Major, and within ten days afterward was promoted to be Colonel. Early in June his regiment was ordered to West Virginia, and participated in the battle of Rich Mountain. His regiment was placed in advance with Gen. Rosecrans, and on the 19th of January, 1862, Col. Manson and his brigade participated in the battle of Mill Spring. After that battle the Union forces returned to Louisville, and the ladies of that city presented the Tenth Indiana with a beautiful flag, which was received by Col. Manson in behalf of his regiment. March 24, 1862, Col. Manson was appointed Brigadier-General by President Lincoln, and this promotion was valued, as it came to him without solicitation. To give the war record of this brave general would include the most brilliant and effective portion of the army's movements during those years. On the 14th of May, 1864, the army corps with which Gen. Manson was connected moved upon the Confederate works at Resaca, and it was at this place that this brave officer made one of those displays of courage which make patriots' hearts glow with pride. To show Gen. Haskell how he might best avoid the enemy's fire, Gen. Manson sprang upon the works, when he was struck by a piece of shell upon the right shoulder, and his arm was thereby disabled forever. Although he was carried off the field insensible, in a few days he resumed command, but he was finally obliged to enter the hospital at Nashville. He was there at the time of the battle of Franklin, but was later removed to Louisville, where he remained for eighty-five days, and here, after having an operation performed, he became satisfied that he would not be able to again take his command, and so December 21, 1864, he resigned. During his career Gen. Manson was never known to complain of any duty assigned to him, and he was distinguished for accuracy of judgment and promptness in action, and was respected by his equals and loved by his men. Gen. Manson was nominated by the Democratic party in 1864 as their candidate for Lieutenant-Governor, on a ticket headed by the late Joseph E. McDonald, but while he ran ahead of his ticket, he was defeated. In 1866 he was nominated for Secretary of State, but was defeated, and in 1868 he was nominated as a candidate for Congress in the Ninth District, but the district was largely Republican and he was defeated. In 1870 he was again the Democratic candidate for Congress, and was elected over Gen. Lew Wallace, and served in the Forty-second Congress. Gen. Manson was a member of the Committee on Invalid Pensions and performed a great amount of labor, rendering great service to his disabled companions. In 1873 he was appointed and served as a member of the Democratic State Central Committee, and in 1875 he was made its Chairman, in which capacity he served during the memorable campaign of 1876; he represented the State at large in the convention at St. Louis, and supported the candidacy of Thomas A. Hendricks for the nomination for President. He was one of the number who went to New Orleans after the election in 1876 to represent Mr. Tilden, and in that year he was elected to be Auditor of the State with a plurality of votes amounting to fourteen thousand. In 1884 he was elected Lieutenant-Governor, but resigned to accept the office of Collector of Internal Revenue in the Terre Haute District. In 1886 President Cleveland appointed Thomas Hanlon Collector of Internal Revenue, but as he was not confirmed. Gen. Manson received the appointment the same year. Our distinguished subject is a member of the commission in charge of building the Soldiers' and Sailors' Monument at Indianapolis, and by the organization of the Mexican War veterans of Indiana was unanimously selected to represent the period of the Mexican War on the monument. He has long been a prominent member of the Grand Army, and became a member of the Masonic fraternity in 1841, in which he has taken all of the degrees, including the thirty-second, and has filled the offices in the subordinate as well as the Grand Lodge of the State. He was Deputy Grand Master for two years. Gen. Manson was united in marriage on the 24th of May, 1850, with Miss Caroline Mitchell, a daughter of Joseph Mitchell, of Crawfordsville, Ind. Mrs. Manson was born at Camden, Preble County, Ohio. Gen. and Mrs. Manson have had born to them six children, three sons and three daughters, the eldest child and daughter being now deceased. Mrs. Manson for many years has been a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church. Gen. Manson is a man of commanding presence, and, until disabled by his wound, a man of strong constitution. His manner is frank and engaging, and he has an invaluable faculty, springing from the kindness of his heart and goodness of motive, of making men feel at home when in his presence. An eloquent orator, he commands the attention, convinces the reason, arouses the enthusiasm, and awakens the zeal of his hearers. A brave and gallant soldier, a prudent and conscientious statesman, a public-spirited citizen, a faithful friend, an honest man in business, and a true man in all the relations of life, it is not surprising that he holds a high position in the esteem and affection of the people of the State. He rose from poverty to justly deserved eminence, and the bright light which beats upon his life discovers no flaw in his character. Not by accident or aid of others, but by earnest toil, constant perseverance, through smoke and blood of battle, he has attained success in life, military glory, political and social popularity and the love and honor of his fellow-citizens. Such men as he make all men their debtors. Additional Comments: Memorial and Biographical Record of Montgomery, Parke and Fountain Counties INDIANA CONTAINING Biographical Sketches of Prominent and Representative Citizens, TOGETHER WITH BIOGRAPHIES AND PORTRAITS OF ALL THE Presidents of the United States. CHICAGO CHAPMAN BROS. 1893 File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/in/montgome/bios/manson321gbs.txt This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.org/infiles/ File size: 9.0 Kb