"Roots", the story of Alex Haley's search into his family history, was the phenomenon of the mid-1970's. The book was made into a television movie, breaking all audience viewing records and restructuring our thoughts about Black America.

But most of all, "Roots" encouraged thousands of people across the world to begin delving into their own family histories. Census bureaus, military offices, and county courthouses were deluged with requests for dates and records. Letters arrived from aunts and cousins and those simply sharing the family name. Genealogy classes were opened and attended by a wide variety of people.

The call for family histories for Manning's Centennial Book received an overwhelming response. Those who had started thinking about their roots after the television epic were further encouraged to investigate their family origins. The stories contained here prove that Manning is a blend of nationalities, talents, and experiences. As one person commented, "A nation's history is measured in centuries; a community's is marked by lifetimes."

Fern Addison, 1920

Dr. William Durfee Addison was born in California in 1866. In 1908, he graduated from the St. Joseph, Missouri Veterinary College, and he moved his family from Minden to Manning to open his practice.

His first office building was on Third Street near the present location of the library. He later bought a house and office building on Main Street, near the present post office.

Dr. Addison first made his calls using a team of horses and a buggy. When the Model T Fords came out, he bought a car for calls to the country. As his business expanded in the 1920's, his son Fern became his assistant.

In the later 1920s, Dr. Addison bought a farm in the area which Fern operated. After his father's death in 1935, Fern continued farming for several years, and then worked on the railroad until his retirement in 1966. He continues to make his home in Manning.

Dr. Addison and his wife Lillian (Bray) were the parents of three daughters, Elsie, Ruby, and Cecelia and two sons, Winford and Fern.

UPDATE 2019
First wife of Willam Elizabeth (Delliston) Foote February 11, 1870 - May 26, 1906
Burial Minden Township Cemetery Minden, Pottawattamie County, Iowa
William & Elizabeth had a daughter
Lola Bell Addison September 25, 1889 - January 13, 1890
Burial Layton Township Cemetery Walnut, Iowa

Irlbeck Oil Co.

Jan Stanton, Eunice and Hugo Ahrendsen, Alice Hoffmeier and Jon

Henry Ahrendsen was born in Husum, Germany, May 13, 1867. Margaretha Wunderlich was born May 28, 1869, in Schweinhusen, Germany. They were married March 3, 1893, and had three children, Ella (Mrs. Ben Lampe, now deceased), Leona (Mrs. Leona Willesen), who resides in Hutchinson, Kansas, and Hugo.

Henry's father Lorenz had moved to Shelby County in 1892. Henry purchased a farm 2 1/4 miles south of Manning; he bought the east 80 acres March 28, 1901 for $4,220, and later, acquired the west 80 acres.

Hugo Ahrendsen married Eunice Grau in 1932, and he purchased his father's farm 10 years later. Hugo and Eunice lived and farmed there for 43 years; they moved into Manning in 1975. They have three children, Alice, Janice, and Jon.

Alice, a Buena Vista College graduate with a M.A. in music from the University of Iowa, is married to Norvin Hoffmeier, C.P.A. They have two children, Jean Marie and Erich Martin.

Janice, a University of Iowa graduate and former teacher in the College of Nursing at the University of Iowa, is married to Lt. Col. James L. Stanton, a lawyer in the United States Air Force. They have two children, Carolyn Marie and Christopher Paul.

Jon is an alumnus of the University of Iowa and is in his third year in the College of Medicine there.

Dr. Marty Ahrens and his wife Carol came to Manning in May, 1975. His dentist office was opened in July, 1975, and he has been practicing General Dentistry at 215 Main Street since then. His office is located in the site vacated by Dr. G.L. Yarrington in 1970.

Dr. Ahrens is a graduate of Southeast High School and the University of Nebraska College of Dentistry, both located in Lincoln. Carol, originally from Hartington, Nebraska, is also a graduate of the University of Nebraska.

Dr. Ahrens has two full-time employees, a receptionist and a chairside dental assistant.

The Albertsens came to the Manning area from Audubon. LeRoy is the son of Mr. and Mrs. Chris Albertsen of Audubon. He was born June 2, 1940, west of Audubon, on the same farm where his folks still reside. He has one brother, Alvin, of Audubon, and two sisters, Alma (Mrs. Richard Wetzel) of Audubon, and Helen (Mrs. Eugene H. Hansen) of Hamlin. LeRoy is the youngest member of his family.

LeRoy's wife, Sharlene, was born June 15, 1943, in Audubon. Her parents are Mr. and Mrs. Arthur Kyhnn of Audubon. She grew up on a farm southwest of Hamlin. Sharlene has one younger brother, Mark, of Atlantic.

LeRoy Albertsen and Sharlene Kyhnn were married New Year's Eve, 1963, in the Hamlin Lutheran Church. They lived in Audubon the first 4 1/2 years of their marriage. LeRoy was a carpenter in a partnership with his brother. Sharlene was employed as a receptionist at the Audubon County Memorial Hospital and was Society Editor at the Audubon News Advocate. She also worked as a bookkeeper.

In March of 1968, the Albertsens decided to try farming. They moved to a 160 acre farm four miles north of Manning. The farm was owned by Irene Bohlmann of Denison, and they lived there 10 years.

In March of 1978, they moved 3/4 mile east and 1/2 mile south of the Bohlmann farm to a 240 acre farm owned by LeRoy's uncle, Henry Sonksen of Carroll.

A daughter, Kristine Marie, was born July 12, 1967 in Audubon. A son, Karl Jay, was born in Carroll, September 30, 1969.

Le Boutique

In the early 1900's, potatoes were an important crop in the Manning area. One fall my father-inlaw, Jurgen Hansen, and his neighbor W.E. Sander, together harvested and hauled 109 wagon loads of potatoes to Manning stores. They often had to wait in line to unload, returning home about 10 p.m.

---Mrs. Henry J.M. Hansen

Thomas Alwill Family

Thomas B. Alwill was born in 1857, in Fermannah County, Ireland.

He crossed the Atlantic ocean in 1864, at the age of seven years, with his parents, James and Isabel, and four brothers and sisters. The family settled in Rock Island, Illinois. Here seven more children were born. In 1880 they moved to Shelby County.

In 1887 Tom was married to Carrie Vandeburg (born in Ottawa, Ill.) and settled on a farm seven miles south of Manning. He purchased this farm from a Circuit Rider, Reverend V.P.D. Vedder. Here they resided for 54 years, moving to Harlan in 1940, where he passed away in 1945.

Tom and Carrie were parents of five children: Vernie Alwill, Harlan; Ethel (Mrs. Ed French), deceased; Lydia (Mrs. Bert Erb), deceased; Elmer Alwill, Manning; and Arlo Alwill, Irwin.

A grandson, Wayne Alwill lives six miles south of Manning.

A granddaughter, Mrs. Leslie Doyel (Mildred Erb) lives in Manning. She has three sons, Kenneth Doyel of Idaho, Terry and wife Linda (Lee) Doyel of Route 1, Manning, and John and wife Patricia (Gaer) Doyel of Route 1, Manning. They also have six grandchildren, Kevin, Wendy and Sean, children of Terry and Linda, and Matt, Ryan and Heath, children of John and Patricia.

Dr. Virgel Raymond Anderson was born in Colorado, the son of Swedish born parents. He was a graduate of the University of Iowa Dental School, then took military training in Camp Lewis, Washington, and Camp Mills, N.Y. There, the severe winter caused great exposure and loss of life to hundreds of American boys; there was no firewood, and only one blanket for each tent, some having none. He was transferred from the Dental Corp before shipment to overseas duty during World War I, to relieve a dental shortage in the United States.

Dr. Anderson established his dental practice in Manning in 1921, continuing here for 41 years. He had a lifetime membership in the national and Iowa Dental Associations. While in Manning, Dr. Anderson served many civic projects; he was chairman of the Municipal Light & Power Company 20 years, chairman of a remodeling project at the Presbyterian Church, and helped found Manning's library. He served on the Manning School Board eight years and was a member of the American Legion. He died September 13, 1961.

Fern Austin was married to Dr. Anderson in 1919. Her parents, Albert and Georgia Alexander Austin, were born in Hannibal, Missouri, and migrated to Idaho, where Fern was born. Fern's grandparents were born in Vermont and were of English descent; her grandfather served in the Union Army of the Civil War, and later preached 54 years in the Baptist ministry.

Dr. and Mrs. Anderson lived at 333 First Street in Manning 37 years. Their daughters, Marilynn and Donavieve, graduated from Manning High and the University of Iowa.

Marilynn married Dr. C.M. Cole, who graduated from the University of Iowa Medical and Surgical School; he served in World War II in military hospitals, and is now trustee of the American Medical Association. They have two daughters, Cynthia, a lawyer, and Karen, a student at the University of Texas Medical school. The family lives in Dallas, Texas.

Donavieve is married to J.T. Adams, a World War II veteran who served three years in India. He is a University of Iowa law School graduate. Their daughters are June, who is completing an RN course at the University of Fresno, California, and Carmen, in junior high. The family lives in Rancho Park, California.

Fern B. Anderson now lives at 6519 Miles Ave., Huntington Park, California 90255.

When shoppers from Manilla would ride the Milwaukee passenger train to Manning, and walked to Main Street to shop. Later in the day, they walked back to the depot to wait for the return ride home. This was around 1925.

---Alice Grau

Wayne Ranniger Durocs

Back: Leona Wiese, Lester Andresen, Velma Knudsen; front, John, Maurine Barten, Mrs. Andresen

John Henry Andresen, son of Andrew and Menna Dohrn Andresen, was born August 30, 1879, in Westerhaven, Schleswig Holstein, Germany. He came to America with his parents in 1881 and they settled in Arcadia. He attended school and worked in that community until his marriage to Marie Margarette Witt on February 11, 1903. His brothers were Gus, William and Julius. A brother Peter and sister Menna died in infancy.

Marie, the daughter of George and Marie Carstens Witt, was born February 26, 1883, near Arcadia. Her parents were born in Holstein, Germany. Her brothers were George and Julius and sisters were Mrs. Otto (Katie) Jons, Mrs. Feike (Louisa) Anton and Mrs. John (Sophie) Dose.

After marriage, John and Marie moved to a farm near Irwin in Shelby Co. They lived there until 1937, when they retired and moved to Manning. Marie loved flowers and belonged to the Manning Garden Club, while John's hobbies were fishing and woodworking.

Their children are Lester, Maurine (Mrs. Clarence Barten), both of Manning, Leona (Mrs. Carl Wiese), and Velma (Mrs. Mayer Knudson), both of Irwin. Grandchildren are Mrs. Cheral Northwehr, Des Moines, Mrs. Allan (Lyla) Thompson, Irwin, Mrs. Orlando (Ladelle) Hanson, Manilla, Allan Wiese, Manning, Larry Knudson, Irwin, Lyle Knudson, Logan, Utah, Mrs. Jerald (Linda) Wigness, Harlan, and Lonny Barten.

Marie passed away August 1, 1946, and John on February 9, 1952.

Nicolai Andresen was born on September 26, 1860, in Bredstedt-Schleswig Holstein, Germany, where he received his education and spent his youthful days. He died March 31, 1936.

At age 19, he was drafted for military service, serving in the 5th Eskadron, Company 9 at the German Capitol, Berlin. In 1883 he was honorably discharged with the rank of corporal.

Working at his former vocation as a farmer, he was called again two years later for military service for six weeks. I n 1889 he left for the United States, settling in Clinton County.

In 1890 he came to Manning where he married Catherine Thomsen. To this union eight children were born: John, Martha (Mrs. Otto Hansen), Hertha (Mrs. Ed Hinners), Anna (Mrs. John Roggendorf), Albert, Elsie (Mrs. Ray Lohmeier), Mary and Katie Frahm.

They lived on a farm northwest of Manning until they purchased a larger farm four miles north of Manning, where they lived until 1922. They then retired and moved to Manning, purchasing a home on 3rd Street.

McLaughlin Construction

Arranging dances, contests, and other activities for the Manning Schuetzin Verein. My father was one of the verein's originators, and I still have the booklet outlining the club's rules. The book, published February 9, 1882, is written in German. To belong, members had to pay an initiation fee of $5 and annual dues of $2.

---Herman Lamp

Claus and Anna Anthony

Claus Anthony was born March 1, 1853, it Burg Sueden Dithmarschen, Germany. He came to America in 1872. He lived in Davenport for two years and then moved to Westside. He and hi: brother Tim operated a farm together for severa years.

On November 21, 1879, he was married to Miss Anna C. Jahn. They settled on a farm east of Five Mile House. They lived on this farm until 1911; when they moved to Westside.

Claus and his wife Anna were the parents of the following children; Anna, Mrs. John Ostermeyer of Westside; Pauline, Mrs. Frank Hass of Botna; Emilie, Mrs. Ed Stammer of Egan, South Dakota; Herman of Westside; and Henry and William of Manning.

Claus and Anna celebrated their Golden Anniversary in 1929.

William, also known as J.W. Anthony, the oldest son, was married to Emma Kuhl, the daughter of Marcus and Anna Kuhl in 1907. They started farming north of Aspinwall and lived there for 38 years. They had two children Norma Anthony (Lamaack), born in 1908, and Wilber born in 1910. In 1945, William and Emma moved off the farm to Manning; they rented the farm to his son Wilber and wife, the former Fern Frank, who were married in 1941. Wilber and Fern were the parents of one daughter, Colene, born in 1946.

Wilber and Fern moved to Manning in 1967, turning the farming over to Colene and husband Gene Lohrmann, who were married in December, 1966. Gene and Colene have two children, Andrea and Kyle.

Wilber had lived on the same farm on which he was born for 57 years.

Herman and Hulda Anthony

Herman, the son of Claus and Anna Jahn Anthony, was born September 18, 1888, in Washington township. He attended rural schools and was married to Hulda Molter February 21, 1911. Hulda was a daughter of Charles and Amelia Kuhl Molter. She was born April 15, 1891, in Iowa township. They farmed seven miles north and one mile west of Manning on the same farm Mr. Anthony was born until 1948, when they retired and built their home at 504 May Street in Manning. They were the parents of two sons, Lewis, born July 22, 1912, and Gilmer, born October 20, 1913. Both sons now live in Denison. Mrs. Anthony passed away October 1, 1958, and Mr. Anthony, April 26, 1964.

Lewis married Elsie Rowedder April 4, 1934, and their children are Marlene, Joleen and Royce. Marlene and Larry Jahn of Manilla had five children, Laurie, Lendall, Lonnie, Lance and Lanette. Mr. Jahn is deceased. Laurie Powers has a daughter, Amy. Joleen and Stanley Spies of Manilla are parents of Brent, Brenda, Bricy. Royce and Kay Brockman Anthony of Adel are the parents of Troy and Tamera.

Gilmer married Ida Gruhn January 16, 1935, and their children are Lois, Larry, Danny, Dick and Randy. Lois and Lowell Stribe have three children, Allen, Sue Ann and Lisa. Allen is married to Carlys Kusel. Larry and Nancy Branning Anthony of Arcadia are parents of Terry and Tracie. Danny and Eloise Rogers Anthony of Newton are parents of Todd and Justin. Dick of Denison has two children, Troy and Tina. Randy and Jacki Schneider Anthony of Denison are the parents of Chad and Jarad.