Bryan Co., OK; Biographies - Thomas Jefferson Manning - m552 --------------------------------- Joe L. Hock 7617 NW 21st Street Bethany, OK 73008 jhock@cox.net --------------------------------------------------------------- USGENWEB ARCHIVES NOTICE: These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or presentation by any 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. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ------- Thomas Jefferson Manning's neighbor in Walker County, Georgia was an attorney named Andrew G. Gordon. He was a great influence on Thomas Jefferson Manning's decision to enter school in the study of Medicine. Thomas' older brother John also urged his being a physician and surgeon. They urged him to leave the successful farm skills and do more with his life. Farming was his first choice as a vocation. He gave this up at the insistence of his neighbor and older brother. Thomas Jefferson Manning studied medicine and graduated as a surgeon from the Medical Department, University of Nashville and the University of Tennessee in 1855 in Nashville, Tennessee. His residence at that time was listed as Villanow, Walker County, Georgia. Villanow is in the southeast area of Walker County and is in what is now know as the Chattahoochee National Forest. Dr. Thomas Jefferson Manning went to Doaksville, Choctaw Nation in 1856 to begin his medical practice as a surgeon and general practice. Nearby Doaksville, on the east side of the creek was Fort Towson. He was recruited to come to Fort Towson by General Douglas Cooper, the Indian Agent for the Choctaw Nation. Dr. Manning was to be the physician/surgeon for the soldiers at Fort Towson and the Choctaw Nation. It was in Doaksville, Dr. Manning met the Forbis LeFlore family. Matilda was the eldest child of Forbis and Rebecca LeFlore. Matilda moved with her family to Buffalo Head, northwest of Caddo in Blue County, Choctaw Nation. This was about six or seven miles southwest of Boggy Depot. Dr. Manning then moved to Boggy Depot to set up his practice of medicine and surgery. On Tuesday, the 27th of April, 1857. Dr. Thomas Jefferson Manning and Matilda LeFlore took their buggy across Colbert's Ferry and were married in Preston, Fannin County, Texas. Today, Preston is located in Grayson County, Texas. It may well be that the wedding licesense was recorded in Sherman, Grayson County, Texas. Dr. Manning and Matilda made their home in Caddo, Blue County, Choctaw Nation. Caddo is now in Bryant County, Oklahoma. He also began to farm and raise a large herd of cattle. Dr. Manning was successful in the field of Medicine. He also work with his first love of farming, horses and cattle ranching. He soon employed thirty hands year round to manage both his large herd of horses and cattle and his land under cultivation. Dr. MANNING was quite prosperous, having acquired over a thousand head of cattle, four hundred head of horses and a farm of over five hundred acres under cultivation, employing annually thirty hands. Dr. MANNING abandoned his medical profession in order to return to his love of farming and ranching. In 1862, many of the MANNING'S friends had joined the Choctaw Regiment and fought along with the Confederate Army against the North. A number of Dr. Manning's friends died in battle as well as the lack of adequate medical care and untrained surgeons. Dr. Manning decided to leave Caddo to aide his friends by leaving his family in charge of the farm and ranch. Dr. Manning then enlisted in the Choctaw Regiment under the command of General Douglas H. Cooper as their surgeon at Fort McCulloch (Camp Pike) in Blue County, a short distance from his home in Caddo. He was commissioned to be a Captain in the Choctaw- Chickasaw First Battalion under his friend Col. Sim FOLSOM in the capacity of Staff Surgeon. He was then assigned to Captain Falata of Company B in Cooks Regiment. He served as the Company Surgeon in the battles of both Pea Ridge and Newtonia in Arkansas and Missouri. After the Civil War ended Dr. Manning was discharged in Dallas County, Texas in 1865. Dr. Manning and Matilda were married almost 34 years. They gave birth to nine children. Five daughters and four sons. They also took their daughter's child Girtie to raise. Gertie was raised by the Manning's and was in the will. She was the daughter of Elizabeth and Frank Thompson. The tombstone says Dr. Manning died on Feb. 19 1901???? The following is from the Indian Archives - Choctaw Vol. 20 - Page 151 The Last Will and Testament of Doctor Thomas Jefferson MANNING Know all Men by these present that I, Thomas J. Manning of the town of Caddo, Choctaw Nation, Blue County, being in ill health but of a disposing memory do make and publish this to be my last will and testament and do hereby revoke all former wills and codicils. I do hereby give and bequeath to my wife Matilda Manning and children (to wit): Forbis Manning Angie Fox Charley Manning Amelia Manning Arthur Manning Tom Manning and Gertrude Thompson my grandchild all my property, cattle and other effects all to be divided equally between the above named heirs except the place now occupied by Forbis Manning which farm he must hold but pay the other heirs seven-eighths of the value of said farm and stock. And Mrs. Matilda Manning (my wife) to hold all other farms and such like improvements as hers until her death then divided them equally between the heirs and I do hereby give and bequeath to Mr. F. A. Thompson and J. C. Herrett $5.00 each and I do hereby appoint Mrs. Matilda Manning (my wife) chief executrix of my will and guardian for my minor heirs and my grandchild Gertrude Thompson. Given under my hand this 4th day of March, A.D. 1890 (signed) T J Manning Attest. Witness J. J. Gardner of Blue County, I. N. E. N. Gardner of Blue County, I. N. Filed in the County Clerks Office of Blue County, Choctaw Nation - 2nd Day of March, A.D. 1891 In 1885 Thomas J. Manning had Thomas J. Manning 270 acres under cultivation 300 horses 10 mules 600 head of cattle 100 hogs 400 bushels of corn 400 bushels of wheat and 700 bushels of oats.