John Mannings Biography


	This biography appears on pages 1020-1023 in "History of Dakota 
	Territory" by George W. Kingsbury, Vol. IV (1915) and 
	was scanned, OCRed and edited by Maurice Krueger, mkrueger@iw.net.

	This file may be freely copied by individuals and non-profit 
	organizations for their private use. 

	Any other use, including publication, storage in a retrieval 
	system, or transmission by electronic, mechanical, or other 
	means requires the written approval of the file's author.

	This file is part of the SDGENWEB Archives. If you arrived here inside
	a frame or from a link from somewhere else, our front door is at

	http://usgwarchives.org/sd/sdfiles.htm


				JOHN MANNINGS. 

	John Mannings, who has been on the frontier in three states, 
arriving in Wisconsin in 1847, locating at Winona, Minnesota, in 1854 
and settling in Dakota in 1881, now owns one hundred and sixty acres of 
land on section 27, Great Bend township, Spink county. He has given 
several farms to his sons, as a quarter section is all that he cares to 
operate and as he has already gained a competence. He was born in 
London, England, January 11, 1841, and was brought by his uncle and 
aunt, Thomas and Elizabeth Mannings, to this country in 1847, when they 
settled at Port Washington, Wisconsin. The uncle was killed in the 
Civil war and the aunt has also passed away and is buried at Port 
Washington. 

	John Mannings was but seven years of age when brought to this 
country and had but limited opportunity to secure an education, as he 
was obliged to earn his own livelihood when fourteen years of age. He 
learned the painter's trade and after following that for a few years 
was employed as a farm hand until 1854, when he removed to Minnesota, 
where he again began to work at his trade, so continuing until April, 
1861, when he enlisted for service in the Union army in the First 
Minnesota Regiment. He enlisted for three years and was in the charge 
at Gettysburg. On the expiration of his term of enlistment he 
reenlisted for another year as a corporal in the First Minnesota Heavy 
Artillery and served until the close of the war, when he received his 
honorable discharge. 

	Mr. Mannings returned to Minnesota and for eight years was 
janitor of the State Normal at Winona. At the end of that time failing 
health compelled him to give up indoor work and he came to South 
Dakota, taking up a homestead two and one-half miles east of Redfield. 
He held it for some years but finally lost it on account of crop 
failures. He then rented the place where he now lives and carefully 
husbanded his money, as it was his ambition to purchase land. When he 
had saved sufficient capital he bought three hundred and twenty acres 
and began the cultivation of his newly acquired property. As his sons 
grew old enough they assisted him with the work of the farm and from 
time to time he was able to purchase additional land until he became 
the owner of eight hundred and eighty acres in all. Some time ago he 
gave the land to his sons with the exception of one hundred and sixty 
acres which he retains for life. He has always followed the diversified 
method of farming and has given considerable attention to the raising 
of stock, which branch of his business has proved especially 
profitable. He takes great pride in the appearance of his farm and 
keeps everything in the best repair, and has spared neither time nor 
pains in making his home one of the attractive country places in Spink 
county. He has planted many shrubs and flowers upon his lawn and the 
residence is in the midst of a veritable flower garden. He is a man of 
great industry and of excellent judgment and the success which has 
attended his labors as an agriculturist is the natural result of his 
intelligently directed labor. 

	Mr. Mannings was married, in Winona, Minnesota, on the 21st of 
March, 1867, to Miss Evelyn S. Gilman, a daughter of Mr. and Mrs. 
Christopher Gilman, both of whom are deceased. The father is buried in 
Winona, Minnesota, and the mother in Mount Pleasant, Iowa. Mr. and Mrs. 
Mannings became the parents of four sons and two daughters, namely: 
Arthur J., who was accidentally killed on the 14th of June, 1883, and 
is buried in Redfield; Charles E., who represents an automobile company 
at Fargo, North Dakota; Herbert J., who is assisting his father and is 
a live-stock dealer; Clarence L., who is an agriculturist and lives 
upon the home farm; Lucy, the wife of Edward Bent, a retired farmer 
residing in Wishek, North Dakota; and Nona, who married Menie Aken, a 
farmer residing near Redfield, Spink county. 

	Mr. Mannings is a republican and for twenty years has served as 
town treasurer. He is also chairman for his township and delegate to 
the state convention of his party. He is prominent in the Grand Army of 
the Republic, being senior vice commander for South Dakota and 
commander of the Redfield post. At times Mr. Mannings has met with 
discouragement but has not allowed himself to become disheartened, 
feeling that perseverance must conquer in the end, and the success that 
has come to him has fully justified his faith. He has also won that 
greater success, the respect and esteem of his fellow men, as all who 
know him honor him for his sterling qualities of character.