The Manning Monitor, which printed its first issue November 17, 1881, is Manning's oldest business. It was one of four newspapers competing for subscribers and advertisers before 1900; as the others closed their doors, the Monitor absorbed some of their inventory, equipment, and readers. Still used at the Monitor is a safe reading "Der Manning Herold".

Present publisher-editor is Ronald Colling, who came to Manning in 1964, from Hartley, Iowa.

In September 1967, the paper changed from a letterpress printing method to offset printing. With the previous method, only four pages of the paper could be printed at one time, on a flatbed press housed in Manning. Now, through the use of a press located in Denison, the Monitor can print 24 pages at a time.

Colling brought the Monitor into the computer age, with two "Compugraphic" machines now used to set type for both stories and ads. He was also one of the originators of the "Rocket", an advertising supplement created in 1966 which is inserted in 16 different newspapers in western Iowa.

The Monitor was launched by S.L. Wilson, who experienced some hectic days when there were only a few buildings in the town and trained printers were at a premium. Equipment was all hand-operated, including an old George Washington press which was used until 1896. After the press served as a proof press an additional 45 years, it was donated to Iowa State University for display purposes.

The first Monitor office was located in what was known as the Farmers and Traders Bank, owned by Dutton and Son. It was later moved to an old frame building on lot 11, block 3.

Wilson remained publisher until 1884, when he sold to Seth Smith. Smith, who also served as Manning's postmaster, soon realized he could not fulfill both jobs, and after only two months sold the Monitor to B.I. Salinger, L.P. Brigham, and S.C. Lawrence. This co-partnership also lasted only a few months, at which time Lawrence, a foreman of the shop since the beginning, became the sole owner.

In 1893, Lawrence was forced to sell the paper due to ill health. His successor was A.L. Heickes; after only two months, he too sold the Monitor, this time to F.T. Salman and E.M. Funk. Salman soon sold his share to Funk, who brought his son Erwin into partnership and called the business Funk and Funk.

By 1896, another transaction had taken place. F.A. Bennett took control of the business April 1, selling half interest of the Monitor to his brother later that month, with the firm then named The Bennett Brothers. These owners lasted four months, at which time the paper was sold to W.E. Sherlock, who was the owner until September 1, 1898, when G.W. Laflar purchased the entire stock.

Laflar, who had originated the Manning Free Press in 1889, merged the two papers. Although the Free Press had nearly been destroyed in a fire in September, 1895, only one issue was missed; the paper had continued until the merger with the Monitor.

Also lost in a fire was the Manning News, which had been started in March, 1883, by T.E. Palmer. The office of this paper was over E.C. Perry's store, and the plant was wiped out in 1888 during the fire which destroyed the building. The paper was never re-established.

Manning's fourth paper was Der Manning Herold, a German edition once known as the "most popular German newspaper in the state of Iowa". It was founded in February, 1894, by Berthold Krause, an actor who first arrived in Manning with a theatre troup. He severed his ties with the group while here, and seeking employment, was encouraged to begin a newspaper. Some of his first type boxes were created out of cigar boxes.

Krause's first office was located in the William Ruhde building; in 1897, he moved to the second floor of the Carpenter building.

Der Manning Herold was run by Krause until his death in 1907. A young German farmer, Peter Rix, prompted by the "love of his mother tongue and for the sake of his deceased friend", took over the publication of the paper. Rix ran the paper until 1910, when it was sold to Paul F. Werner and Carl Hasselman.

In 1919, Peter Rix bought the Monitor from Frank J. Mantz. Mantz had purchased it ten years earlier from Laflar, who had received the appointment of postmaster at Manning. Rix and Paul Werner became partners, and the Manning Monitor and Der Manning Herold were consolidated into one paper. Werner and Rix remained partners until 1929, when Rix assumed the ownership and brought his sons, Ted and Art, into partnership. Both sons had attended the University of Iowa before joining the paper, Ted in 1921-22 and Art in 1926-27.

Peter Rix also served as Manning's postmaster from 1915 until 1923. After he purchased the Monitor, he encouraged his oldest son Harry to attend linotype school in Chicago; Harry worked at the paper for several months, but then returned to a clerking job at the postoffice.

A hand-fed, two-page press was still being used when the Rix family published a seven-section "Golden Anniversary" edition of the paper in 1931. This press was also used for an enormous job printing assignment, to print 5,000 copies of an advertising supplement, one edition each week for 13 weeks, each requiring two press runs. The supplement was commissioned by the Rober-Wehrmann Company to advertise goods receiving smoke damage in the December, 1933 fire which destroyed the Lewis-Reinhold building.

The two-page press was replaced by a four-page press in 1940, which remained in use the next 28 years. A new linotype machine, still used at the Monitor today for job work, was also added by the Rix family. The old model would furnish only one type style, with the new model handling three separate styles.

In 1936, Art Rix bought a press camera and set up a dark room in the plant. Photo engraving equipment was also purchased, and the Monitor thus began producing its own pictures and other art from start to finish.

In 1945, Arnold H. Sanders left the Denison Newspapers where he had filled every capacity from Printer's Devil to Managing Editor, to assume ownership of the Monitor. He constructed a new front to the office, located at 411 Main Street, in 1951, later adding a 20-foot extension to the rear of the building.

"Sandy", as his readers called him, was presented a national first place plaque for his column the "Cubby Hole" in 1951, one of a number of prizes awarded to the Monitor. He was also named master columnist that year.

In the Diamond Jubilee issue of the paper, dated August 16, 1956, Sandy wrote, "Retracing the interesting history of the first and oldest newspaper in Manning, it is evident that the publication has always been progressive, not only keeping up with changing times so far as equipment and services were concerned, but as a community booster helping the town of Manning gain a prominent spot in Iowa and the midwest."

Sanders and his wife Christine, who had taught home economics classes in Manning, returned to Denison in 1964. He wrote the Bulletin "Ghost" column there until his death in 1969.

Ron Colling has headed the paper since April 1, 1964.

The weekly newspaper is produced by a staff of six, with a large volume of job work, sale bills, and other printing done within the local plant.

Joe Esycheck, who began his career as a printer at the Monitor in 1923, retired in 1977 due to failing eyesight. He was recognized as a 50 year employee of the newspaper industry in 1976 by the Iowa Press Association. Although not considered a regular member of the staff, Joe continues to come to the office, helping with the mailing, proof-reading, and editorial comments.

Manning public schools were the first in the county to fly the "Victory Flag", an honor given to the schools that exceeded their quota of war bond and stamp purchases.

In the era of horsepower, those who made and repaired wagons, buggies, harnesses, and farm equipment were of vital importance to both the city and country folk.

The village smithy, who appeared to be made from the very steel with which he worked, was a fascination to both young and old. Often, his customers would stay to watch, spellbound by the hot coals and the sparks flying from the forge.

The smithy was called upon to repair wagon wheels and tongues, straighten bent pieces of equipment, sharpen plow lathes, and put shoes on horses. Tony Stoberl, who worked in the Templeton, Halbur, and Arcadia area from 1912 to 1921, was said to have shoed 25 horses and mules in a day's time. Many of the animals were used by road crews building Highway 30.

Often, the blacksmith shop would be adjacent to a wagon shop, with the two businesses working hand in hand. Such was the case in early Manning. John Albert, who arrived shortly after the town began, had a machine shop with a steam-driven lathe, plus a general blacksmithing business. His shop was south of Main Street, next to Albert Johnson's wagon shop. Johnson was well known for his excellent work in wood, especially wagons, buggies, and agricultural implements.

John Wingert's blacksmith and horseshoeing business was near Mathias Hoffmann's wagon shop, on Second Street west of Main; Hoffmann also made carriages, did carpenter work, painted and repaired equipment.

Blacksmiths Tidd and Foote, who arrived before Manning was even laid out, were conveniently located at the corner of Fifth and Main Streets. Harness makers Bauer and Loes were at Fourth and Main and W.M. Fuller was across the street. E.B. Wilson arrived in 1882 as a manufacturer and dealer in harnesses, collars and saddles, and stocked whips, combs, brushes, and other horse-related items.

Shortly after the turn of the century, harness repairs were being done by Carl Polzin, Claus Nielsen, Sr., and brothers C.J. and T.D. Parkhouse; G.H. Hemple, Charles Radeleff and August Reinke did blacksmithing, and Herman Hagedorn and Albert Johnson had wagon shops.

Over the years, the shops changed owners and became more mechanized; in 1889, for instance, John Albert brought new tools from Des Moines, including a seven horsepower boiler. Otherwise, the methods used by the blacksmiths, wagonmakers and harness makers remained nearly unchanged until the late 1940's, when horsepower was completely edged out by tractor-power.

Charles Radeleff purchased the Hemple shop in 1909. By 1918, he had extended into such lines

as Woodrow washing machines, Hercules gas engines, Iowa cream separators, auto truck bodies, Kerschel wagon boxes, and Ideal and OK hog waterers. By 1920, the business had further changes; now called the Radeleff Manufacturing Co., it featured woodworking and welding, with advertisements saying that it would "put a dump box on that Ford of yours."

T.D. Parkhouse sold his harness business in 1912 to Earl Parrish, who had worked in the shop for 10 years. I n 1919, Parrish sold it to Leon Hass. Hass had worked in Nielsen's shop several years, and had drawn extra pay in the Army by making saddles. As harnesses became obsolete, Hass's business evolved into a shoe repair shop.

Reinke, Nielsen, and Frank Parker continued blacksmith shops into the 1920's. Nielsen, located at 407 Main Street, would also work with harnesses, charging $2 to oil a set in 1921. In 1925, Reinke advertised that he would attach produce crates to the sides of customer's cars.

The Nielsen Harness Shop.

Henry Kuhse returned to Manning in 1939 to lease the blacksmith shop owned by O.W. Wyatt and formerly run by Joe Lynch. Located on Madison Street, the shop was known as the Wyatt Blacksmith Shop, and had been moved from the Main Street area by Wyatt's father William.

Kuhse had learned the trade from his father, Henry Kuhse Sr., who years earlier had run a shop in Manning.

Johannes Bunz came to Manning in 1930, first locating his blacksmith shop in a one-room frame shed in the alley south of Priebe & Sons. In 1933, he moved a block north, continuing the business there until 1951. When he moved into a new building on Highway 141, Bunz turned primarily to implement sales.

Melvin (Tom) Wolfe learned the blacksmith trade from Bunz, and later had his own blacksmith, welding and repair shop in Bunz's second building. The Manning Welding Shop opened June 26, 1958, and continued until June 4, 1977.

By 1950, most of the coal-generated forges, so hot to work with in the summer, had been replaced by modern welding equipment.

The laundry and clothes cleaning businesses in Manning ranged from a Chinese laundry to modern dry cleaning establishments.

In the late 1800's and early 1900's a Chinese laundry was located just north of the German Savings Bank on Main Street. Over the years, several Chinese families operated the laundry. Many of the older citizens recall regularly taking their linen shirt collars and cuffs to the laundry. The shirt itself was generally laundered at home.

To the north of the Chinese laundry there were homes of several local women who also did laundry for the residents of Manning. Their back yards were marked with many long clothes lines.

The early dry cleaning consisted of a barrel containing just enough gasoline to cover the garment's apparatus located outside. After soaking, the garments were wrung out and aired on a regular clothes line for the gasoline to evaporate. Schelldorf Brothers and the Jentschs operated these early dry cleaning establishments.

Modern dry cleaning methods allowed the process to take place indoors. Hap's (Kenneth Dusenberry) and Moran's operated off Main Street, west of the Hoffmann Lumber Yard.

In the early 1920's, a young man and his wife opened a clothes cleaning shop in Manning. They did not think that Manning would be able to support the business so they offered it for sale. George J. and his wife, Ida M. Dethlefs, bought the business very near the location on Main and Fifth Street where they eventually settled in 1943. This was named Klean Klose Shop.

The original equipment was located in a small building behind the shop because of the hazards of gasoline. The equipment consisted of a washer that would hold a couple of men's suits and four or five trousers with just enough gasoline to cover, and an extractor that would spin out excess gasoline. The garments were placed on an ordinary clothes line to dry and then pressed with an iron similar to a steam iron.

At this time prices were 40 cents for trousers, $1.00 for suits, and 85 cents for a dress. Cleaning fluid was 25 cents a gallon. A press machine was added which made a much nicer looking product.

Shortly thereafter, a cleaning machine that integrated the washer and extractor and that utilized a new cleaning fluid was installed inside the shop. This piece of equipment, along with a tumbler to dry and deodorize clothes and an air cabinet to hang finer garments for drying and deodorizing, modernized the business.

Along with the cleaning of clothes, Ida did all kinds of mending and altering.

A son, Kenneth worked with his parents and took over in 1959. Long time employees were Marvin Sander. and Marie Rostermundt Nulle. After the death of George in 1969, Kenneth and his mother, Ida, operated the shop until 1977 when it was sold and eventually demolished for use as a used car lot by Fischer Bros. Chevrolet.

The Home Mutual Insurance Association of Carroll County was born of necessity and has grown as the needs of the policyholders directed. It was organized for sharing of financial hardships, not for profit, and has been conducting business under these same ideals for 100 years.

It all started in 1878 when there was a fire on the William Kusel farm five miles north of Manning. All of the buildings were destroyed. The eastern insurance companies would not consider writing insurance out on the Iowa prairie, so Kusel did not have any insurance at the time of the fire.

Three men contacted 18 of their neighbors and took up a collection to help Kusel rebuild his farm buildings. When the rebuilding was completed, they had money left over, so they-decided to start a mutual insurance company.

Their first meeting was held on June 23, 1878 at the Five Mile House in Crawford County. The organization was first known as Det Deutchen Gegenseitigen Feur Versicherungs' Gesselschaft fur Carroll and Crawford Counties. In 1920, that name was changed to Home Mutual Insurance Association of Carroll County, Iowa.

Early membership in this organization was limited to people of German descent residing on farms in the territory of operation and property was only insured against damage from fire. In 1888, the risks were extended to insure against damage by lightning and wind.

In 1952, private dwellings, garages and household goods situated in towns were added to the property that could be insured. Since that time, the policy has grown to include many other coverages.

The first minutes of meetings and all transactions were written in the German language. This was changed in 1918 and at that time the restriction on membership was also lifted.

For the first 78 years, the business of the Association was conducted from the home of the secretary. In 1956 the directors purchased and moved to the present office building at 721 Third Street in Manning.

The Association has over 2000 members, over $100,000,000.00 insurance in force and over $1,000,000.00 in reserve.

The Manning Insurance Agency was formed in 1960 by Duane Monson. Since that time it has grown through the writing of new business and the acquisition of the Harry Hinz Insurance Agency, the Richard Crandall Insurance Agency, the Ben D. Joens Insurance Agency, the Horbach and Schreck Insurance Agency and several other small agencies.

The agency is located in the Home Mutual Insurance Association building at 721 Third Street in Manning. Duane Monson is also the Secretary-Manager of Home Mutual.

The agency represents over 30 insurance companies, has five licensed agents, and is one of the larger insurance agencies in Carroll County.

Ben D. Joens lived in Manning for 30 years. He was born in Manilla November 1, 1907, and lived there until after graduation from High School. He attended business college in Chillicothe, Missouri for one year, and then worked for a short time in Oklahoma before returning to Manilla.

He married Mildred Compton Wentzel, a resident of Manning, on August 23, 1933. Two children were born to this union, a daughter, Donna Rae, and a son Roger Lee. The family lived in Manilla and Cherokee until moving to Manning in 1942.

In 1943, he entered into a business partnership with P.H. Jones, Attorney-at-law. Later he bought out Mr. Jones' interest and established the Ben D. Joens Insurance-Real Estate-Loans business firm. He became involved in income tax preparation and accounting, thus, expanding his business and service. Through the years, his entire family worked with him; his wife, Mildred, became an active member of the business in 1953. He brought to his business dealings those qualities he cherished most in his personal life, integrity, charity, compassion, and respect for the work ethic. He was always available to those who needed assistance, whether it was financial help or emotional support.

His office was located at the same site on Main Street for 30 years. The two story white house was sold and razed after his death, and now is the parking lot south of the Post Office.

He served the community well during his lifetime. He was secretary of the Manning School Board for several years, a working member of the Manning Chamber of Commerce, a charter member of the Manning Rotary Club, a member of the Manning Zoning Committee, a member of the Zion Lutheran Church, and a member of the Manning-Manilla Country Club for many years.

He was an avid supporter of Manning 's traditional Children's Day. For many years on that special day, he could be found in the city park lifting the little celebrants on and off the carnival rides. In 1956, he participated in Manning's Golden Jubilee. He believed he owed the community his services for the privilege of living, working and raising a family there.

He died January 29, 1973, after a long battle with cancer.

Merle Stoelk opened his real estate, insurance, and auctioneering business April 20, 1952, and will be noting the 29th anniversary of the firm as Manning celebrates its 100th birthday. The firm was moved to its present location at 711 Fourth Street in 1966.

Merle was born in Shelby County in 1920 and is a 1938 graduate of Manning High School. He worked at various Manning places until starting his own company.

He is a member of the Manning Chamber of Commerce, and has been chairman of the Manning Children's Day Committee since 1964. He served as a member of the Manning Volunteer Fire Department for ten years, and was director of the Board of Review for several years.

Dan Andersen started with Metropolitan Life in June, 1977. Since that time, he has taken many insurance courses with his company; these include Advance Personal Insurance Planning, Business Planning, Retirement Planning, and Estate Planning. He is also a graduate of the Life Underwriters Training Council.

Metropolitan has undergone many changes since Dan started. One of the biggest was in September, 1978, when Metropolitan started selling homeowners and automobile insurance in Iowa. This helps Dan become more of service to his clients.

Dan is a Manning native, and graduated from Manning High School in 1972. He completed a marketing course at Iowa Central Community College, Fort Dodge, in 1974.

John Hornberger, Jr., was born in Omaha, Nebraska, and raised in Manning. He attended Manning Community Schools and graduated from Morningside College in Sioux City in 1973. He worked from 1973 to 1976 for I.M.T. Insurance

The building once housing the Virginia Cafe at 313 Main Street was remodeled into an insurance and real estate office in 1980.

Co. of Des Moines, as Claims Representative serving north central and southwest Iowa. He then worked for Hummel Insurance Agency, Oakland, for one year as an insurance agent and acquired his Real Estate Brokers License.

In November, 1977, John moved to Manning and started Hornberger Real Estate, located in the basement of the First National Bank Building. In the spring of 1978, John took on Meryl Kerkhoff as a Real Estate salesperson.

In the spring of 1978, he started Hornberger Insurance. I n March of 1979, Gary Knueven became a partner in the Insurance Agency. Gary was born and raised in Manning, attended Manning schools and spent nine years in the army before returning to Manning in 1977. Gary married Linda Turner of Manning, and they have three children, Renee, Jennifer and Jason.

In January, 1980, Hornberger Real Estate and Insurance moved to new offices at 313 Main St. which had previously housed the A.W. Martens Store, Light Offices, Virginia and Bavarian Cafes, as well as several other businesses. The building is presently owned by United Building Enterprises, John Detlefsen and John Hornberger, Jr., partners in a residential and commercial building construction company started in May, 1979.

John is a member of the Masonic Lodge, York Rite, Manning-Manilla Golf and Country Club board of directors, Presbyterian Church and choir, Professional Insurance Agents of Iowa, National Association of Independent Fee Appraisers.

His hobbies include golfing, bowling and fishing.