"Home of Pioneer Spirit" |
Some songs from 1988
More pix & information coming...
But will be a delay as I have an outside project I need to work on and finish.
A Celebration of Life will be held on Saturday, June 28, 2025, at the Spies Farm, 13789 300th Street, Manning from 4-7pm.
Trumpet Trio 1962
Bruce Fischer, Harlan Moore, Geri Dammann
June 22, 2003, Manning Rotary 50th Anniversary
Ruth Ohde, Geri Spies
I'm still working on my outside project so it will be several days before I complete both tributes for Geri & Judy...
This picture came from the Ralph & Martha Hagedorn collection and I believe that Judy worked for Ral-Mars for a while.
Cover of the very first fair in 1883
Cover of the 1885 fair - I have the complete booklet scanned but here are some of the pages.
Here is the best picture I have of the grandstand of the fair grounds that stood in 1922. I don't think this is the original structure.
This area is where the present-day soccer field is located.
My dad graduated in 1938 and he played on this original football field.
I haven't researched what year
they moved the football field to the north that was just south of Highway 141.
I think the area of the old football field was called "Fuss pasture" by the old timers.
I noticed this wonderful article that provided me some first names/initials for some of Manning's early pioneers which then helped me locate more information online and
connect to other information I had in my database.
Scanning the Monitors has been a goal of mine for nearly 10 years and is going to be a monumental project. I test scanned some of the Monitors
around 10 years ago but didn't have a large enough scanner to scan the whole page - I do now.
While at great cost for this commercial scanner,
it is well worth it to find and connect more former Manning folks who lived here during the early days of our local history.
I found a little tidbit about another Manning Civil War Veteran - I had some background prior to his coming to Manning but very little about him living here - because of this
article below, I now know what type of business he had here.
I was able to find information about another businessman and he ended up being a person of major importance
in our history as a lumber man and investor in tung oil wood preservative...I have his obituaries posted now.
I'm so fortunate that I visited with and LISTENED to the old timers decades ago and have been recording and documenting a lot of this history, so now when I see a
name or event from Manning's past, I'm able to proceed with that information and many times find more information and connections.
This article wrapped around to the next column, and was very long, so I decided to OCR it, rather than post the actual hard copy, which wasn't in the best shape when I made a scan of it.
A Typical Western Town
MANNING, August 23, 1886
Correspondence State Register
Good crops of corn, wheat, barley and oats are not the only products that
excel on the undulating Prairies that comprise the western slope of grand old
Iowa. It is raising a crop of towns and cities that excel in all matters pertaining to growth and improvements.
The cities and towns of Western Iowa are all new comparatively speaking, for be it remembered that the western portion of Iowa is yet a new country, but one of the newest, that is the youngest in years, is the enterprising little city of Manning, situated in the extreme southwestern portion of Carroll County. This town, which counts a population at the present time of over 1200, was originated about five years ago, at which time the Manning and Audubon branch of the Chicago and Northwestern Railway was completed. Today Manning is the junction point of the Kirkman line of, the C. & N.W. Railway, and a station on the main or Council Bluffs line of the C.M. & St. Paul Railway. Thus it will be observed that it is quite an important railroad center, and enjoys all the advantages railway competition many of the oldest and largest cities of the state. The surrounding country, tributary to this city, is unusually rolling for a Prairie country, so much so in fact as to be quite hilly, yet the hills and elevations are not so perpendicular as to interfere with the tilling of every acre of the land. To my mind this hilly and rolling land is much more desirable for agricultural purposes than flat or level land. It is certainly much more beautiful to look upon.
Manning is situated upon an elevation, and the perspective that is presented, no matter in what direction your gaze, is grandly beautiful at the present time, when field and hillside alternate in green and gold. I have talked with many of the farmers of this section during my brief visit here in regard to their crops, and the responses as to the condition of various products are universally favorable. The answer is invariably, "we have never had a better crop than the one just harvested." There seems to be the best of feeling among all classes, businessmen and farmers, and all seem to think that better times are not many days away. No class of people better deserve prosperity than those of Western Iowa, for many came here poor, and endured many hardships and annoying inconveniences in the development of this splendid country, and if any set of pioneers have earned success and prosperity it is they.
This section may be set down as the corn country of Iowa, and it is rapidly becoming an important stock country, and I venture the prediction that ten years hence it will be one of the richest portions of the great Hawkeye State. The city of Manning is not behind any of her elder sisters in the matter of public improvements. She can boast of system of water works equal to any in the state, excellent school, and church buildings, numerous substantial brick blocks, many handsome residences, a fine fair ground (and by the way the Manning Fair is one of the best district or county fairs in the state) and a large number of business enterprises, embracing almost every branch of trade found in the metropolitan cities of the country.
The town is well supplied with good hotels, the leading ones being the Fisk House, R.W. Fisk proprietor, and one where tables can scarcely be excelled in the state.
Strong's Hotel also enjoys a good reputation and is centrally located. The Fuller House is a dollar a day hotel, but it is not inferior to many who charge twice as much. Mr. Fuller is an old soldier and a member of the G.A.R.
J.B. Henshaw is the cashier of the Bank of Manning, a solid institution.
Fred Moershell is a member of the firm of Moershell Brothers, one of the leading dry goods houses of Carroll County.
Salinger & Brigham are at the head of one of the leading loan and insurance offices in this section of the state and their business transactions are extensive.
Wetherill & Morsch are the owners of one of the largest hardware establishments in Western Iowa.
Ives, Dunning & Company, dealers in general merchandise, carry a stock and do business that would do honor to a much larger city.
Willis E. Guild is the local manager for the Green Bay Lumber Company, and a reliable and enterprising young businessman.
U.L. Patton is an extensive dealer in grain and livestock, and one of the leading, as well as pioneer businessmen in the place.
H. Bell also deals in grain and transacts an extensive business. Mr. Bell makes a specially of barley. E. Perry sells groceries, provisions, fruits, etc., and carries a large and complete stock.
A.T. Bennett is a leading attorney, with an extensive practice.
Dr. G.M. Barber is a leading and skillful physician.
W.F. Carpenter is mayor of the city and a young attorney of promise.
The Register correspondent desires to acknowledge his obligations to Mr. Carpenter for courtesies extended, also to Mr. Lawrence, editor of the MONITOR, a good local newspaper.
J. Kuhn & Valentine Roush are the owners of the Manning Roller Mills, a first-class industry.
Martin Smith are dealers in hardware, tinware, stoves, and
agricultural machinery, and doing a leading business.
MACK JUNIOR
September 2, 1886, Manning Monitor
August 12, 1886, Monitor
July 29, 1886, Monitor
July 29, 1886, Monitor
As I continue to scan the old Monitors, I find interesting items that I would not have guessed I would run into.
Here is one of them and I have quite a bit of information about Benjamin gathered over the years.
In 2021, someone out of state
had run into a lot of letters from the Salinger family and posted them for sale on e-bay. I was fortunate that this person loves history and was excited that
what he found could be returned home to Manning. We worked out a good deal where I could buy them in a lump-sum and not have to bid on them individually for a lot of money.
It is rare to find such old Manning history and in such good condition and then be able to get it back to Manning...especially about someone who has such an important and unique part of Manning's history - the first teacher and principal and later a businessman, lawyer, Iowa politician, and judge.
Although the people were agitating an independent school district at this early date, the following clipping from the Monitor will explain why the same was postponed till a later date. "The question of the organization of an independent school district has been discussed by a number of men who are most interested in good schools. In order to he informed upon the subject and give the people the benefit of our knowledge, we take this opportunity to say that it will be impossible for an independent district organization in Manning to do us any good at present, because the assessment of the property upon which this town stands was made last spring and the valuation was about $5.00 per acre. Now the rate percent allowed by law to be levied or voted in bonds on this valuation would amount to almost nothing when compared with the cost of a decent school house for a town like ours.
Thus it will be seen that to set off a district now would only be to cut ourselves loose from the only organization that can give us a school for the next year, the township of Warren. It will then become necessary for the Township to build a house of sufficient size and that will have proper accommodations to accommodate the town until we can get another assessment and be set off when we shall be able to build larger. The amount which the township can expend in this building will be about $1000.00"
The first school report was published March 16, 1882, and read as follows, "Report of
Manning schools for the third term of its session;
Principals room neither tardy or absent Myron Cronkhite, Alva Smith, Charles Coe, Frank
Tidd, Nellie Woolman, Olive Cronkhite, Freeman Tucker, George Ferguson, Clara Barker;
standing the highest average in studies and deportment -- Myrta Dorset, 97. 25; highest in
arithmetic -- Rosa Stalker and Jennie Parker, 94; highest in reading and paraphrasing --
J. W. Lindsay, 90. 75; highest in map drawing -- Estella Branson, 92; spelling and
defining -- Myron Cronkhite, 99; grammar -- Adora Smith, 92.5; geography -- Emma Priest.
92.
I hereby certify the above report to be a correct transcript of the register and class records kept in said school.
Benjamin I. Salinger, Principal."
Some samples of the Salinger letters I purchased in 2021.
1888 
July 1, 1886, Monitor
According to word received recently, Urestus Samuel Heffelfinger, a former Manning businessman, passed away at his home in Eustis, Florida, April 26, 1934.
Mr. Heffelfinger was 83 at the time of his death and had been bedfast since November.
The deceased was born in Wayne County, Ohio, on March 17, 1851. He was married to Calista Carrier on June 24, 1875, in Atlantic, Iowa.
In 1881, Mr. Heffelfinger established a jewelry store in Manning and made his home here for about 10 years. Later the family moved to Carroll where the deceased conducted a music and jewelry store. About 30 years ago Mr. Heffelfinger moved to Florida where he conducted the same business until ill health forced him to retire.
One son, Ira, and three daughters, Mrs. L.A. McAllister, Mrs. Ralph Goodell, and Mrs. Hutchins, all preceded their father in death. Mrs. Heffelfinger and three grandchildren survive.
June 24, 1886, Monitor
October 13, 1887, Monitor
October 20, 1887, Monitor
August 18, 1887, Monitor
History of Manning 1898
The Manning Improvement Association.
In an issue of the Monitor dated May 12, 1887, was the suggestion, that the citizens take some effective step towards building up the town by making it a suitable place for industries.
"With this object in view, Mayor Dewing called a meeting of the citizens at the Germania Hall, Monday evening, May 16. The band headed the procession to the hall,
and in a short time, an enthusiastic congregation had assembled. After temporary organization, rousing speeches were made by Dr. Williams, Smith, Salinger, Barnes,
Jay, Patton and others. Dr. Williams said "that the first assential in making a boom, was, to cultivate friendship with one another. It was a good plan to begin
at home by cleaning up the yards, streets and alleys, and when a stranger came to see the town with a view to locating, or otherwise, everything
would present an inviting aspect!" During the progress of the meeting, a saloon keeper and one or two others went out into the country and set on
foot a proposition to boycott Manning with their GERMAN FRIENDS unless the saloons were opened forthwith, within the incorporated limits.
The farmers attended the meeting, and through their spokesman, William Martens, presented their case. They wanted PERSONAL Liberty, and if they could
not get it in Manning, they would go elsewhere to do their trading. They failed, however, to get the cooperation of their kinsfolk in the town, and, realizing their failure,
left the hall vanquished.
An organization was effected with the following; officers: President, D. W. Sutherland; Vice President, Henry Hoffmann; Secretary and Treasurer, C. D. Dewing;
Committees, Soliciters, J. W. Martin, J. W. Barnes and Henry Hoffmann; on Constitution and By-laws, R. R. Williams, W. J. Marrow and B. I. Salinger; on
permanent Organization, C. D. Dewing and O. E. Dutton. Members enrolled, John Jay, C. S. Lawrence, J. C. Oard, U. L. Patton, G. W. Umphrey,
M. Hoffmann, H. Siem, G. L. Gorman, J. Karstens, J. S. Wilson, L. P. Brigham, H. Rohr, J. H. Chenoweth and F. T. Laird.
I did a quick search in my Manning Historical Database and found several band pix from long ago and some from the time-frame of this next Monitor article.
1885 German Band
This picture and information came from part of the Max Detlefsen collection I scanned in 2015.
Even though it is a Lyden Studio letterhead, I'm sure this picture was taken by Blocker Art Studio.
I believe that Lyden purchased
some of the Blocker studio inventory when they closed their business.
Ferdinand F. Blocker is dead
The leader of the Clinton Theater orchestra passed away at his home in 213
Sixth Avenue, Clinton, at o'clock this morning, March 19, 1921.
Born in Wheatland, Iowa, April 3, 1863, son of Claus Hans Nicholas Christian Blöcker and Doris Sophia Fredericka Bock, he came here many years ago and took charge of the local musicians.
Recently he took a course at the Palmer School of Chiropractic and was practicing chiropractic for a few months before his fatal illness.
Surviving is his wife, Phoebe, one son Alan, and the mother, Mrs. Dora Blocker of Davenport.
The following brothers and sisters also survive; Henry F. Blocker, Toronto, Iowa, Charles Blocker, Tacoma, Washington, William Blocker of De Witt, Iowa, G.F. Blocker of Los Angeles, Alvina (Mrs. John) Bornhoft, Westside, Iowa, Linda (Mrs. Chester E.) Richey, Waterloo, Dora (Mrs. John B.) Kiel, Davenport, Mrs. W.J. Richards, Davenport.
Both of Ferdinand's legs were severed at the knees by a binder accident when he was four years old. He was a Professional Musician, Composer, and Band-Orchestra Leader.
He lived in Manning and conducted the Manning German Band in the early to mid-1880s.
His first marriage was to Katharina Luetge, his second marriage to Agnes Lucinda Potter, and his third marriage to Phoebe Ellen Tyler.
He was buried in Springdale Cemetery, Clinton.
Quad City Times, March 20, 1921
1908 Manning Band.
History of Manning 1898
This is why I'm always begging and pleading people who have old Manning pix to get them to me to scan and digitally preserve.
The 1st image of the ladie's band is a scan from the 1898 history book.
A NEW BAND was organized in August, 1884, and consisted of the following members and instrumentation: Frank Arney, B. Frazer and W. J. Marrow, Ef. Cornet; G. C. Hunt and Frank Tidd, Bf. Cornet; Paul Winter and Fred Grossman, Ef. Alto; D, W. Patton and E. Smith, Bf. Tenor; H. W. Reed, Baritone; E. L. Ives, Tuba; Charles Coe, Bass Drum; Frank Guild, Tenor Drum.
A LADIES BAND was organized in August of 1888, with Prof. Blocker as instructor and leader. The members and instrumentations were: Adora Smith, Bf. Cornet; Gertrude Bell, Ef. Cornet; Effie Lathrop, 1st Alto; Clara Branson, Solo Alto; Maude Rogers, 21 d Tenor; May Benson, Trombone; Kate Phillips, Baritone; Millie Blair, Tuba; Edna Lathrop, Tenor Drum; Jennie Blair, Bass Drum.
The ladies displayed great musical talent, and gave a number of concerts that were highly
appreciated. Their support was sought at nearly all public entertainments, and always
received hearty applause.
It appears, However, that cupid's heart was not susceptible
enough of tempering by the sweet cords of their enchanting art to stay his hand that held
the dart and leave their many admirers to continue in the enchantment of their musical
environment, nor would he spray upon them the fountain of youth that never fading blush
of maidenly beauty and leave them as the one muse who vibrated the life strings that,
respond in melodious enchantment to the soul; but with a flinty heart and a quiver full of
darts, cupid waged merciless and vigorous war against their susceptible hearts. So much
so, that but few of the fair it ones survived his terrible onslaughts.
As a result, petty
jealousies, and later, family dissentions arose and the enrollment began to increase so
rapidly that disbandonment became imperative. The organization ceased in Sept., 1890.
THE MANNING STRING ORCHESTRA was organized June 10, 1896. Following are the members and instrumentation: C. Langer, Leader- 2nd Claronet; Charles Schmidt, Manager 2nd Claronet; Paul Jentz, 1st Violin; Joseph Loch, Cello; Charles Lyden, 1st Cornet; John Vossbeck, grid Violin; Chris Larson, 1st Claronet. At the present time Charles Schmidt plays 1st Cornet and is manager, Charles Lyden plays 1st and 2nd cornet and is leader, and William Schelldorf plays 2nd Cornet, C. Langer has withdrawn. They play, principally, for dance and opera music.
THE I. O. O. F. BAND was organized in December of 1896, with the following members and instrumentation: John Hoffmann, Ef. Cornet: H. Claussen, 1st Alto; John Schnoor, Tuba and Tenor; John Vossbeck, Cornet; Charles Schmidt, Cornet; C. Langer, Claronet; F. Wendel, Tuba. John Hoffmann and Fred Wendel have withdrawn. The following are new members: Louie Johnson, 2nd Alto; H. Hoffmann, 1st Cornet; Gustave Kuehl, 2nd Cornet; H. Thompson, Baritone.
A BOYS BAND was organized in the winter of 1894. embers and instrumentation: Graham Young, Solo 13f.; Peter Loch, 1st Cornet; Henry Opperman, Solo Alto; Guy Marnett, 1st Alto; Charles Dickson, 2nd Alto; Clarence Sprinkle, Baritone; James Sutton, 1st Tenor; Charles Signall, 2nd Tenor; Honnas Ohrt, Tuba; George Dau, Tenor Drum; Guy Jenson, Brass Drum. Owing to the expense of sustaining a band, and some of its members withdrawing, the organization did not exist more than a year, however, they acquired a good knowledge of music and displayed good musical talent. They were instructed by C. E. Lyden, who is said by musicians, to possess great musical talent.
A DRUM CORE was organized by Alec Young, in April of 1893. The money, to defray the expenses, was raised by subscription. The core was composed of the following members, with Cap. S. D. Priest, as leader and instructor: Fifers --- Floyd Freelove, John Jenson, Charles Smith. Edward Breckenridge, Guy Jenson, Edward Garrels, Joe Ross and Bert Johnson; Drummers --- S. D. Priest, George Dan, John Reimer, Edward Denny, Guy Marnett and F. Schoening. Drum Major Louis Knapp. The core was organized for Decoration day exercises, and did considerable playing throughout the summer. THE TOWN BAND is composed, principally, of other musical organizations which met and practice together, only, for special occasions.
July 28, 1887, Monitor
While working on the Manning Monitors, I'm finding more clues and names that help me track down where many of the early residence later moved to.
One person was John B. Ingledue who served on the School Board and city council, and had a real estate business in the mid to late 1880s, and was one of Manning's Civil War Veterans.
I was able to find out where he moved to and is buried and more of his family members.
Like so often I find are the tragedies so many people face in life.
Read about John's death, and while I'm not 100% sure I found information about his son, John H. Ingledue, I'm
fairly sure the information I now have is the same person and again, another terrible tragedy.
Sergeant John B. Ingledue
Manning McPherson Post 33 - joined February 10, 1883
Birth 1843 Ohio
Death December 20, 1907 District of Columbia
Burial Arlington National Cemetery, Arlington, Virginia
G.P.O. WATCHMAN DEAD; KNOCKED DOWN BY RUNAWAY
John B. Ingledue, sixty years of age, a watchman at the
Government Printing Office, living at Mt. Ranier, Maryland, died yesterday
morning, December 20, 1907, in the Washington Asylum Hospital as the result of
a runaway accident. December 16 Mr. lngledue was crossing First Street northwest,
near H Street, when he was knocked down and run over by a run-away horse. He
will be buried Monday at Arlington National Cemetery.
Washington Times, December 22, 1907
While the first/middle name is not the same for John B. Ingledue's son, the death date, location, and burial are the same...so if this is the same son, note how tragically he died.
APPRENTICE SEAMAN WAS DROWNED
Was Thrown Overboard from a Launch at Boston Wharf.
William Harris Ingledue, aged 22 years, a young apprentice seaman from Washington,
D.C., was drowned off the Merchants and Miners' dock in this city last evening.
The body was dragged for and recovered three-quarters of an
hour after Ingledue went down. It was then too late for any attempt at
resuscitation, the body being full of water. The remains were carried to the
naval hospital pending advices from the deceased's mother in the national
capital as to the disposition of his body. It will probably be sent to Washington tonight.
Ingledue had only been in the naval service about six months. He had been
assigned to the naval training station here and was given duty as deckhand on
one of the launches running from the receivingship
Franklin. The launch was making for the Merchants and Miners' float landing
late yesterday, when a swell from a passing river steamer sent the launch
against the side of the dock. Ingledue fell overboard and went down before he
could be reached by others aboard the launch.
Those who saw the accident say that Ingledue was greatly frightened and
attribute his drowning to this. They say that with a cool head the young man could easily have been saved.
Portsmouth Star, Portsmouth, Virginia, August 15, 1908
April 21, 1887, Monitor
Interesting graphics of the time.
June 23, 1887, Monitor
Warren Township before it was renamed to Ewoldt Township.
Cropped from an 1884 plat map I restored a few years ago.
Frederick Murkle (Murkel is wrong) - another Manning Civil War Veteran.
I'm glad I noticed this article above as it clarified information for me that he had a farm in Warren Township.
Much of the information posted at online sites
has his address and many of his children as Templeton.
But I have not found any land in Eden Township with his name.
It is possible that they lived in Templeton, but
with his farm located in Warren Township this suggests he lived there.
Claus Strieve should be Claus Struve and the country school should be listed as No. 6.
I had 2 scans of this picture postcard, but they must have been from duplication of an original as they are not very clear.
But what caught my eye was the man in the picture was identified on the back.
For decades I had shown this to many of the old timers who would have known him, but at a much older age...no luck, not until now with this postcard I purchased on e-bay.
One thing I noticed is the 2 I had scanned from 2 different people's collections is they were not clear and one is really blurry. When I zoom in and crop the image of Willard on the older
scans, this is the size at 100% from those scans I made, but notice how I now make high to very high resolution scans of most of the pictures and items I scan...you can actually make
out his face and read the information in the store window.
Another important aspect of the information on back is whoever wrote it, knew Willard and even better yet wrote he worked for Lewis & Reinhold.
Then when I checked to see if I had his obituary - it confirmed he worked there.
Now all of these little clues may seem insignificant at first - they are huge to my Manning historical work - and why I'm always begging and pleading to anyone who has old Manning
pix & history to get it to me so I can scan it and also I'll probably find more "clues" to fill in the Manning puzzle - that the people who have those items would have no idea
with those clues - you have to work with this history for decades to understand.
Scanned from the Art & Ila Rix collection in 2012
Scanned in 2010 not sure whose collection as I didn't separate it out into a folder with that person's name.
The other information on back I already had, but Willard Bailey and that he wasn't just someone standing in front is key.
Cropped at 100% from the recent scan I made.
Cropped at 100% from the 2012 postcard I scanned which must have been a copy made.
Cropped at 100% from the 2010 postcard I scanned which must have been a copy made.
Sadly, MOST of those items I scanned way back when have been thrown away or who knows where they are now when the Manning folks I borrowed them from had passed away.
Funeral services for Willard Bailey were held on Friday, March 5, 1976, at 10 a.m. at the Ohde Funeral Home in Manning. Rev. Joel Wright of the First Presbyterian Church was in charge. Mrs. Judy Jones was the soloist and Mrs. Bonita Hagedorn was the organist. Casketbearers were Orval Fink, Ernest Grimm, Louis Popp, Merlin Struve, Hugo Ress, and Clyde Kenyon. Burial was in the Manning Cemetery.
Willard, son of George and Adeline (Stromme) Bailey, was born January 18, 1904, at Missouri Valley, Iowa. He graduated from Manning High School in 1924 and then went to work for the Lewis Reinhold Co. in Manning. He was united in marriage with Effie Wiese in March of 1925.
Willard worked for the Kaiser Shipyards in Vancouver, Washington, during World War II and then returned to Carroll to work. In 1959 they moved to Portland, Oregon. His wife died August 2, 1970, and Willard continued to make his home in Portland until about three weeks ago when he moved to Denver, Colorado, to be near his daughter. He passed away on Monday, March 1, at Rose Memorial Hospital in Denver at the age of 71 years, 1 month, and 13 days.
Besides his wife, Willard was preceded in death by his father, one sister and two brothers.
He is survived by his daughter Mrs. Arthur (Shirley) Calabra, Denver, four grandchildren, Teresa, Cris, Jon and Steven; his mother, Mrs. Adeline Bryan, North Long Beach, California; two brothers, Lee Bailey, Corona, California, and John Bailey, North Long Beach, California, and by many other relatives and friends.
December 9, 1886, Monitor
Even more connections for Memorial Day.
While scanning the January 13, 1887, Monitor, I noticed this little clipping and noticed L.E. Arney was the captain of the G.A.R. Post in Manning.
It helps to have such a broad background on Manning names and history which then catch my eye, so I can follow through and hopefully find more information.
I had previously searched for him but couldn't find anything online until broadening the search and finally
found what his full name is and where he is buried, and confirmed that he was a Civil War Veteran...I didn't have his name
in my GAR list so now I have another Civil War Veteran who lived in Manning - 105 now.
I found 2 articles online and one had pictures of Luther and his wife.
Years ago it was so very common to using first and middle initials and even worse, they would list the wife as Mrs. L.E. Arney (as an example) which just drive me crazy
when trying to make sure I have the correct person/family who lived in Manning.
Oregonian Portland, Oregon, April 1, 1932
Birth January 15, 1858
Death November 15, 1939
Burial Kilpatrick Post GAR Cemetery, Newberg, Oregon
Wife: India (Oblinger) Arney
Birth May 29, 1856 Ohio
Death June 2, 1938 Yamhill County, Oregon
Burial Kilpatrick Post GAR Cemetery, Newberg, Oregon
ARNEY ATTENDS FATHER'S RITES
Bernard O. Arney, Klamath Falls, left Friday night for Newberg, Oregon, where
he was to attend the funeral Saturday of his father, Luther Eugene Arney, who
died Thursday, November 15, 1939, at his home in Newberg at the age of 81. He
had been a resident of Oregon for many years.
Besides his son of this city, he is survived by two other sons, Tom of
Lewiston, Idaho, and Frank of Newberg, also three daughters, Mrs. Alice Houser
of Newberg, Mary (Mrs. Steve) Lee of Weed, California, and Laura King of Panora, Iowa.
Arney was accompanied north by his daughter, Mrs. Fred Anderson, and by Eugene Arney, both of Hovey-Walker Camp.
Evening Herald, Klamath Falls, Oregon, November 18, 1939
MR. AND MRS. L.E. ARNEY
NEWBERG, Oregon, March 31 Mr. and Mrs. Luther E. Arney received felicitations
from friends and relatives yesterday on the occasion of their golden wedding
anniversary. Last evening a dinner in their honor was given at the home of a
daughter, Alice (Mrs. Curtis A.) Houser, March 30, 1882.
Mr. Arney and Miss India Oblinger were married at Albion, Iowa. They made their
home at Manning, Iowa, for many years, coming to Newberg, Oregon, 21 years ago,
and since that time have resided here.
Six children, Frank Arney and Mrs. C.A. Houser, Newberg; Mrs. S.W. Lee, Weed,
California; B.O. Arney, Crescent Lake, Oregon; Mrs. Wade Spurgin, Panora, Iowa;
and Thomas Arney, Lewiston, Idaho, are all living, and with the exception of
the last named attended the anniversary dinner. There are 11 grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.
Oregonian, Portland, Oregon, April 1, 1932
There is also an interesting story where John lived near and became good friends with a Civil War Veteran of the South.
Born 1842
Company K, 107th Illinois Infantry
Enlisted August 8, 1862 - resident of Evans, Illinois
Mustered in September 4, 1862
Mustered out June 21, 1865
McPherson Post 33 - joined February 22, 1884
Springdale News, Springdale, Arkansas
People were called upon Sunday afternoon to perform the last rites for two of the
oldest and best-known citizens of the community - John L. McQuaid and Edward E.
Hale. The former died Saturday morning at two o'clock at his home in the west
part of town while Saturday afternoon, a few hours later, Uncle Ed passed away
at his home a short distance east of town. The death of these two old citizens
the same day has served to recall the friendship that has existed between the
two for the past thirty-five years. When Mr. McQuaid and his family came to
Springdale in 1887, they first made their home near that of Mr. Hale and family.
One was a soldier of the North (McQuaid), while the other was a soldier of the South (Hale), and they frequently visited in each other's home, talking, among other things, of the days of the 1860s and there grew a spirit of friendship which continued with them through the remainder of their lives. Both were splendid characters and it was not difficult for them to be friends, although having fought in opposing armies, for each recognized and appreciated the good qualities of the other.
Mr. McQuaid was 80 years old last September and Mr. Hale was 83.
Rogers Democrat, Rogers, Arkansas, April 5, 1923
Business card
Message to the A.F.&A.M. Lodge in Manning
I just love this first article - how things have changed with discipline in schools!!!
March 10, 1887, Monitor
This was Eli Sharp who tragically/accidentally died from an overdose of morphine.
Eli Sharp opened the first dry goods store here and later ran a boot and shoe store.
He was among the first of the enterprising businessmen who laid the foundation for the city of Manning.
March 10, 1887, Monitor
I'm so excited!!!
I had to search far and wide on the Internet to find a commercial scanner large enough to scan the extra-wide Monitor papers from the late 1880s.
The specs for the scanner I found were going to be barely wide enough and maybe not wide enough by only about 1/4 inch, but I just now ran into some of these
wider Monitors and WHOOPEE! the scanner actually has some extra length and width to spare.
Here is a sample page. Even at this greatly reduced size you can
still read most of the text - just for purposes of showing this 1887 front page.
There are 2 cropped parts that I can show much larger.
The bindings of the early bound Monitors fell apart years ago so I'm able to handle each page separate and lay them flat on the scanner.
But eventually,
and this is going to be quite a while, I'll eventually run into the bound years that haven't fallen apart, which means they'll have to go through the debinding process so they can be scanned flat.
Most newspaper companies that have had their archived papers digitized have done this but occasionally I'll find some newspaper companies that laid the book on the scanner
but unfortunately it is hard to read/see the inside curves of those scans.
One of the commercial scanners
I was looking at apparently had technology and software that would compensate
for this inside curve but it was a lot more expensive and is ONLY designed to be stand-a-lone scanner, so I wouldn't be able to use my computer/software to communicate with it to
make the scans while viewing it on my large flatscreen.
One thing I'm finding and is amazing is these 1887 papers are not very brittle at all, whereas the 1908 papers I've been working on need to be handled very carefully. The edges are very brittle but the insides of the pages are not bad, but still have to be careful while handling so as to not crack them.
This definitely needs to be done now, as it won't be long before they start falling into pieces and eventually turn back into "sawdust."
June 2, 1887, Monitor
November18, 1886, Monitor
August 27, 1908, Monitor
August 20, 1908, Monitor
I found some interesting information online about this RR also shown below.
There are some really interesting and important historical perspectives covered, so I hope
everyone will read all of it, and you can follow the link to the original source PDF file.
https://pubs.lib.uiowa.edu/annals-of-iowa/article/id/33711
Atlantic Northern & Southern Railroad
The railroad was the only farm-owned rail company in America in the early 1900s.
There were additional carriers. In 1879 the Wabash cut through a portion of the region from Brunswick, Missouri, to Council Bluffs, and in 1882 the Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul (Milwaukee Road) arrived in the Bluffs with a trans-Iowa line. As the century ended the Illinois Central, which built from Fort Dodge, reached what had evolved into Iowa's railroad Mecca. In 1903 the Chicago Great Western (Great Western) did the same. Like the Burlington and Rock Island these trunk roads served existing communities and spawned new ones. By 1900 Iowa had become one of the nation's premier railroad states, claiming 9,366 route miles. Parts of its railroad map resembled a plate of wet spaghetti, and more lines were about to appear.
Why the twilight cluster? Multiple reasons explain its late-date appearance. Public roads in Iowa continued to be nearly always unimproved, impassible or virtually so during the spring thaw and during rainy periods throughout the year. The result: a vicious and viscous gumbo that created quagmires, body-jarring ruts, and potholes. Prolonged dry conditions meant dusty roads, and wet-weather ruts and potholes often remained. In 1904 less than two percent of the state's 102,448 miles of roadways were improved with gravel or broken stone. There was this seasonal exaggeration: "Roads were as deep as they were wide." Any trip with animal-propelled conveyances could become a challenge, irrespective of weather-related conditions. "A trip of 10 miles was a long journey, and to travel 20 miles was a full and hard day's work."'
There existed other explanations for why southwestern Iowans sought additional rail construction. Some fussed and fumed about mileage and switching fees, inadequate freight car supply, and matters of service. These complaints commonly resulted from the negative impact of single-carrier monopolies.
As with every Iowa twilight railroad, the AN&S sparked a boom in Elk Horn and Kimballton. Both towns saw population increases; the population of Elk Horn grew from 382 to 589 between 1910 and 1920, and Kimballton's advanced from 241 to 382 during the same period. There were new businesses and residences together with a general feeling of optimism.
While talk continued about building the approximately twenty miles from Kimballton to Manning, the immediate goal was to push south from Atlantic to Villisca and perhaps beyond to Clarinda and a connection with the aborning Iowa & Southwestern.
Rumors quickly circulated about the fate of the AN&S. There was speculation that the Great Western would acquire the road. The Rock Island presumably expressed a similar interest.
Shaw expected London financiers to play the principal role in the funding, specifically the purchase of the I&OSL and AN&S, together with construction between Treynor and Des Moines and possibly a connection with the O&CEBStRy. It would also include extending the Kimballton line to Manning. The total estimated cost stood at $5,000,000.
The 1920s were a challenging time for many Americans. A postwar depression ravaged the country between 1920 and 1921. Farmers encountered continuing financial woes: commodity prices fell, farm foreclosures rose, and banks failed. As for the latter, Iowa led the nation in bank failures from 1921 to 1931, with an average of 87 per year. These years of agricultural struggles continued until the outbreak of World War II.
The end of service was not immediate. Revenues and expenses for 1934, however, proved to be disappointing: $17,171 for the former and $19,000 for the latter. When income failed to rebound, stockholders in September 1935 sealed the fate of the company; they voted to shut down and liquidate. On December 7, 1935, the ICC approved the abandonment petition. Since the railroad operated entirely within Iowa, state regulators needed to grant their permission to abandon. Approval came on January 6, 1936, which was the day when the last revenue train plied AN rails.
As with most railroad abandonments there was sorrow when the Hyman-Michaels "death train" slowly worked its way from Kimballton to Atlantic. Residents had fought to build and to retain this rail artery, but the transportation picture had changed. Automobiles were ubiquitous, and trucks, traveling on an expanding network of all-weather roads, could haul grain and livestock either to market or to elevators and stockyards on nearby railroads. If residents lacked access to an automobile, they could take a White Way bus to either Audubon or Atlantic. No longer was the Atlantic Northern essential to community life. Its loss did not kill off either Elk Horn or Kimballton; their populations remained stable. Mail service went from rail to a motorized "star route." Then came that dreadful and record-breaking winter of early 1936; blizzards and frigid temperatures caused a local coal crisis. A month after the railroad shuttered, the Elk Horn and Kimballton communities ran out of fuel. "Due to the recent abandonment of the Atlantic Northern there will be no means of getting coal to the communities until the roads are cleared." The loss of railroad service had been temporarily inopportune."
In the 1936 edition of the Orange Quill, the Elk Horn High School yearbook, student Emery Carlsen wrote, "The full effect of abandonment did not dawn upon the people until January 6, 1936, when the last train pulled out of Elk Horn. A group of people, a much smaller group than that which had cheered it on its first appearance, watched the train roll slowly out of Elk Horn 'round the bend; then they realized it was gone forever." He closed with these words: "The rumble of the wheels soon died away, but the memory will always linger in the hearts of those who were served so faithfully." With each passing year memories dimmed, but they have never completely disappeared."
September 10, 1908, Monitor - full page ad
Ferdinand Moershell died in 1914
May 28, 1908, Monitor
Ila Rix told me when she was a little girl that they started at the GAR hall on North Main and
marched out to the Cemetery.
She was born in 1909, so it was several years later that she was reminiscing about.
May 21, 1908, Monitor
Wresting and boxing were big events in Manning at various locations years ago.
Manning had several famous boxers and wrestlers who competed around the Midwest.
July 16, 1908, Monitor
Turnverein is a type of gymnastic/athletic club
I have this business/Christmas card scanned from Lyle & Eleanor (Sutherland) Schrum collection.
Henry also was a physical education instructor at school.
July 23, 1908, Monitor
June 25, 1908, Monitor
June 18, 1908, Monitor
June 18, 1908, Monitor
August 6, 1908, Monitor
Click to see the tribute
Because of this particular tragedy I'm adding some non-obituary
information to provide more aspects of their lives.
Dave
May 8, 1926 - September 30, 2004
Raymond Bechen, 78, of Vail died Thursday, September 30, 2004, at his residence.
Services will be 11:30 a.m. Monday at St. Ann Catholic Church in Vail.
Burial will be in St. Ann's Catholic Cemetery.
Visitation will be after 3 p.m. Sunday, with a Legion of Mary rosary at 4 p.m. and a vigil service at 7 p.m., at Huebner Funeral Home in Denison Iowa.
Ray was a Junior High teacher and coach during the mid-1950s at Manning Schools.
Son of Louis and Mabel (Mader) Bechen
Children Gene 1959 - 2023 & Chris Bechen 1969 - 1984
Wife Marie (Henkenius) Bechen 1925 - 2010
Man killed when tractor rolls over him
A man was killed when a tractor rolled over him while he was working on his western Iowa farm, police said.
Ray Bechen, 78, of Vail, was found by a neighbor about 8:30 a.m. Thursday, said
officials with the Crawford County sheriff's office. He was pronounced dead at the scene.
Mason City, Globe Gazette, October 5, 2004
Tractor upset kills Denison youth
Chris Robert Bechen, 15, son of Mr. and Mrs. Ray and Marie Bechen of Denison
route 3, was killed Tuesday in a tractor accident.
The accident occurred on a county road 7 miles southeast of Denison. Bechen, a
sophomore at Denison High School, was driving the tractor on the road and
entering a "T" intersection, when he lost control during a left turn.
The tractor veered from one ditch to the other, then upset on the road. The
accident occurred near the driveway of the Jerry Brus farm.
His best friend, Jerry Brus, Jr., heard the crash from inside his home, and
rushed to the scene. Authorities were summoned, but declared Bechen dead at the scene.
Crawford County Deputy Sheriff Ron Hott investigated the accident.
Sioux City Journal, November 22, 1984
Seven Of Manning Faculty Resign
Seven members of the Manning School faculty have resigned according to Superintendent
William Baley. They are Ed Dakan, Vocational Ag; Christine Sanders, Homemaking;
Gerald Andrew, vocal music; Ray Bechen, Junior High and coach; Dolores Sextro,
6th grade; Lois Laverty, 4th grade; Ray Standerwick, athletic coach.
Teachers who have signed and returned contracts are: Superintendent Baley; high
school principal Richard Euchner; John Beach, business education and coach;
Douglas Wilcox. social studies; Richard Munster, science; Kenneth Laverty,
industrial arts; Lois Kemper, business education and girls P.E.; Lois Klisart, English; Sam Mast, mathematics.
Frank Plambeck, band: junior high principal Oliver Himley; Ila Rix, junior
high; Anna Rainthorpe, 6th; Mabel Mullen, 5th; Irma Bromert, 3rd; Golda Sander,
combination 3 and 4th; Sharon Olsen, 2nd; Margaret Ohde, 1st; Ruth Crandall,
combination 1st and 2nd; Liane Clarkin, Kindergarten.
Miss LuAnn Maassen of Harlan, who will graduate from Morningside College at
Sioux City in June, has been hired to teach fourth grade next year.
All members of the faculty have received pay raises in line with salary schedules.
Daily Nonpareil, April 10, 1957
Snippet:
Carroll Daily Times Herald December 26, 1956
Manning Schools: Ray Bechen, Junior High, is spending time with his family near Denison.
Henkenius-Bechen Nuptials
Read In Church Rites Today
The double ring ceremony and nuptial high mass were read this morning at the
wedding of Marie Henkenius of Carroll and Raymond Bechen of Vail, at SS. Peter
and Paul's Church. The Rev. Fr. Richard Dirksen, C.PP.S., chaplain at St.
Anthony Hospital, officiated at 9 o'clock.
The bride is a daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Fred and Angela (Kral) Henkenius and
the bridegroom, a son of Mr. and Mrs. Louis and Mabel (Mader) Bechen, all of Vail.
The hospital choir, composed of sisters and nurse sang during the service,
under the direction of Sr. M. Doris, with Sr. M. Eileen at the organ.
The bride wore a custom-made suit of white gabardine, designed on tailored
lines. Crystal beading in floral patterns featured the trim. Completing the
bride's costume were white accessories and a white orchid corsage.
Leah Henkenius of Vail attended her sister as bridesmaid. She wore a white
linen suit, white accessories, and corsage of white roses.
The bridegroom had his cousin, Howard Bechen of Yankton, South Dakota, as best man.
Breakfast for the bridal party, immediate families, and other guests was served
in the Driftwood Room of Hotel Burke at 11 o'clock. The table was appointed in white with a touch of blue and silver.
The bride, a registered nurse, was graduated from St. Anthony School of Nursing
in 1946. She took post-graduate work in surgery at Marquette University and
University Hospital, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, in 1948. She has been assistant
supervisor of the surgery department at St. Anthony Hospital.
At present, Mr. Bechen is a senior student at Southern State Teachers College, Springfield, South Dakota.
He served in the Navy during World War II.
In September, the couple will live in Storm Lake, where Mr. Bechen will
continue his studies at Buena Vista College.
Carroll Daily Times Herald, June 15, 1950
Frank Gavin was a circus man and spent most of his lifetime under the big top, touring the entire North American continent. During the past several years since he left active circus work and devoted his time to farming, he became equally intent on community work, and was known for his Farm Bureau, 4-H Club leadership, and A.A.A. efforts. He was also president of the Manning Farmer's Night School for the first three years of its existence beginning in 1938, and this year refused to become a candidate for a fourth year.
Funeral services will be held at the farm home south of Manning at 2 p.m. Thursday, the Masonic burial service being used. The Rev. Alexander Wimberly of the Manning Presbyterian Church, will officiate and burial will be in the Manning Cemetery. Special music for the services will be furnished by a quartet composed of Martha (Mrs. Nick C.) Schrum, Emma (Mrs. Albert) Dietz, Herman C. Pahde, and Clifford M. Johnson, accompanied by Bonita (Mrs. Henry) Hagedorn.
Mr. Gavin is survived only by his widow, the former Rose "Ella" Murray of Templeton.
He was born in Boston, Massachusetts, August 4, 1884. Orphaned at a very early age he joined the circus when he was fourteen and until his comparatively recent retirement from the entertainment world devoted a lifetime to the circus. He was a concession manager. The family home has been in the Manning area for the past twenty-five years.
Mrs. Gavin has also been associated with the circus since before their marriage, for she joined a circus when it passed through this community many years ago to become its costume mistress. It was there that she met and later married Frank Gavin.
Gavin's career, brought him in touch with many celebrities all over the nation. He numbered among his friends Babe Ruth, Grantland Rice, Will Rogers, Tom Mix, and many others. He held the honorary titles of Traveling Ambassador of the Ponca City, Oklahoma, Chamber of Commerce, and Special Deputy Sheriff of the Madison Square Garden in New York.
At their present home south of Manning where the Gavins lived for the past nine years, Mr. and Mrs. Gavin traditionally played Santa Claus to all the children of the neighborhood each year. No entertainment in the community was complete without his help and advice.
Fraternally he was a member of Ivanhoe Lodge A.F. &
A.M., Kansas City, Missouri, and of Commandery No. 4, Knights Templar, Royal
Arch Chapter 22, Consistory and Shrine, all of Montgomery, Alabama.
Carroll Daily Herald, March 4, 1941
Frank A. Gavin
Funeral services for Frank A. Gavin, 56, prominent Audubon County farmer and
former circus man who died Monday night at the St. Anthony Hospital, Carroll,
will be Thursday at 2 p.m. at the farm home in Lincoln Township, near Gray. The
Rev. Alexander Wimberley, Manning Presbyterian pastor, will officiate. Burial will be at the Manning Cemetery.
He was born August 4, 1884, in East Cambridge, Massachusetts, and started in circus work as a boy, with Howes Great London Show (from London, England), selling candy, fruit and soft drinks. He became "boss butcher" with the same show at 17. He served as concessions manager with many noted shows including Barnum & Bailey, John Robinson, Sells-Floto and others.
He married Miss Rose Ellen Murray, January 4, 1914, and she became chief costume designer for American Circus Corporation, for which her husband was concessions man and purchasing agent.
They retired from circus work and moved to the Audubon
County farm eight years ago. Mr. Gavin operated 345 acres and owned 271 more in
Cameron Township, Audubon County. He was prominent in agricultural circles,
serving as director of the Audubon County Farm Bureau, Audubon County Beef Producers'
Association, and Audubon County Soil Conservation and Improvement Association.
Daily Nonpareil, March 5, 1941
Pallbearers For Frank
Gavin Rites Today Are Listed
Active pallbearers at the Frank Gavin funeral Thursday were Hans Beese, Emil
Friedrichsen, Peter Moeller, Floyd Campbell, Henry Joens, and William Schultz.
Honorary pallbearers were Ted Simpson, Brayton; Ai Miller,
Gray; Elwin M. McGinnis, Audubon; Ira R. Miller, Audubon; Edwin Anderson, Hamlin;
Judson Zentmire, Audubon; Andrew Hansen, Audubon;
Bert Miskimins, Gray; Julius Wehrmann, Edward E. Breckenridge, John A. Lewis,
and William B. Campbell (School & FFA instructor), all of Manning.
Carroll Daily Herald, March 6, 1941
Templeton - Phil Neu attended the funeral of Frank Gavin in Manning Thursday afternoon.
Carroll Daily Herald, March 8, 1941
Two hundred and fifty persons representing sixty families in
this community attended the first annual picnic for members of the Manning Farmer's
Night School at Spring Brook Park near Guthrie Center.
Daily Nonpareil, August 25, 1938
Manning Farmers' Night School Class Holds Annual Picnic
Members of the Manning Farmers' Night School and their families held their
annual picnic at Lakewood Park Sunday. The heavy rain Saturday night cut the
number attending from the usual two-hundred to about eighty-five. Twenty-one families were represented.
A picnic lunch was served at noon with the usual contests and activities taking place afterwards.
The ball game between the farmers living south of the highway with Louie Musfeldt as captain, bowed in defeat to those living north of the line, who had as their captain Mevis Wiese.
In the pillow slip relay, which followed, the south had its revenge, winning in both the men's and women's sections.
In the balloon race for young men and women, Norma Musfeldt won first place, Helen Hansen, second, and Marilyn Mohr, third.
The boys and girls from six to twelve had a paper bag relay in which the boys defeated the girls.
In the slipper kicking contest, Dorothy Welch proved her prowess by kicking highest and farthest, Ila Beese took second place, and Norma Musfeldt, third.
The contests closed with a tugo-war
in which the men of the north put the greater weight on the issue. The
afternoon closed with the serving of ice cream.
Carroll Daily Herald, August 19, 1941
If I had a lot more time, I could find pictures for a lot of the people mentioned in this Gavin feature just above, and also more information but for now I'll just add this information
about Bill Campbell, who was one of the pallbearers for Frank Gavin.
My dad and mom, and many other Manning folks who knew Bill Campbell, always
talked about their fond memories of Bill. My dad continued to be friends with Bill after high school.
Bill Campbell when he taught at Manning.
The course will be divided into two parts: the day school for high school boys and the evening school for adult farmers. The classes offered in the day school will be as follows: Freshmen, Livestock; Sophomores, Crops; and Juniors and Seniors, Farm Management. In addition the boys will carry a project through the summer as: a litter of pigs, a baby beef, a dairy heifer, a corn yield test plot, breeding hybrid corn, soybeans, and many others. The boys will have an opportunity to show these projects at state and local fairs. Also the boys will have a chance to go to Ames in the annual state agricultural contests. There will be a livestock and crops judging team, a farm management team, a demonstration team, and a farm forum speaker.
The Smith Hughes course has kept boys in school and on the farm. It has changed them from unpaid hired men to small independent operator's or dad's partner. A survey of Ames graduates recently showed that those who had taken vocational agriculture in high school made better grades in college and were placed in better jobs upon graduation from college. The course is not a book, learning course. While books and bulletins form the largest part of the classroom work, in addition to them the students learn by actual experience, on field trips during the school year, state contests, showing his projects, judging, and his own home project.
This course is not meant to take the place of actual farming experience but to give the boys in addition new knowledge and methods of farming.
Her efforts in researching Manning history will be GREATLY missed by me, and even though most people who visit my website won't realize it, they too benefited from her efforts.
She wanted her passing to remain reserved, but I want to honor her amazing and selfless efforts in this tribute.
I'll be working on her tribute over the next few days but here is some information to begin with.
Connie with her mother, Marian.
A private family graveside service will be held at the Oak Hill Cemetery in Irwin, Iowa.
In lieu of flowers, any donations can be made to First United Methodist Church Memorial Fund or a charity of your choice.
Funeral arrangements are under the direction of the Dahn and Woodhouse Funeral Home in Carroll and online condolences may be left for Connie’s family at www.dahnandwoodhouse.com.
Connie was born on June 14, 1951, in Carroll, Iowa, the daughter of Marvin and Marian (Ohrt) Petersen, and grew up on a farm east of Irwin, Iowa. She graduated as the valedictorian of the class of 1969. Connie participated in several activities throughout school such as 4H, basketball, track, speech, and others. The girls' basketball team of 1969 still holds all the school records for Irwin 6 on 6 basketball. She was proud of the team and all they accomplished, especially the game where she scored 69 points.
After high school she attended John F. Kennedy College in Wahoo, Nebraska, where she played basketball, and hopefully also went to classes and learned something. She then attended Wayne State College in Wayne, Nebraska, where she graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Elementary Education with a minor in German.
Following college she began working for Agri-Bolt & Cabinet Company/Hot Springs Spas in Carroll in 1973 and retired in 2016.
She was a member of First United Methodist Church in Carroll where she served on several committees.
Connie enjoyed genealogy, gardening, playing the piano, traveling, camping, her flowers that bloomed from Spring to Fall, watching football and basketball games on TV, (especially the Iowa Hawkeyes, Iowa State Cyclones, and Nebraska Cornhuskers), visiting with family and friends, and work, along with other things.
She was also an advocate for organ donation, as she had received a kidney transplant in 2000.
She was preceded in death by her parents.
She is survived by several cousins and extended family, and many friends, too numerous to name. You know who you are.
Connie
Nephew Brian Reid, Connie, nephew Barry Reid
In 2017, I scanned the Ohrt/Petersen family collection from Connie.
Click below to view that web page.
Click to see the Ohrt history
Written by Connie Petersen 2017
Marian Jean Petersen is the first born daughter of Nellie and Julius Ohrt. Her younger sister is Shirley. Marian was
born on the farm in Ewoldt Twp. and grew up on that farm north of Manning,
where her dad did all the farming with a team of horses. She recalls how the
gypsies would come and gather to the north of the farm, camping along the
untraveled road side. They would ride their horses into the farm and through
the watermelon and strawberry patch, destroying them. One small girl named
Marian was a good horseman and could clear the fence with her horse.
As a kid, for entertainment, they would go into Manning on a Saturday night, and "people watch" There was a "snack stand" there where they would have hot peanuts and popcorn.
Marian also chuckles when she talks about her cousin Harold who would come to the farm and get her into trouble. He would make musical instruments out of boxes and whatever else he could find, those were fun times.
Marian tells the story of when she was in 4th grade or so, at the end of the school year, there was a class party. This particular time, the class hiked around the block and it began to pour down rain, and they all got soaked. The next day she woke up with the mumps!
Marian attended Manning public school where she excelled academically. She was a member of the Quill and Scroll, honor society, order of Gregg shorthand artists. Marian won awards for accurately scribing 100 words per minute in short hand. She won an award for that at the Iowa Public radioShorthand contest at WOI in Ames.
She was a member of the Artistic typist society and recalls a highlight of her high school when her teacher, herself, and two other students drove way to Newton, Iowa, for the state typing and short hand contest. Marian placed seventh in the state in the state typing contest. She says she can still hear the load noise when the typing started in that large auditorium. Marian was also the school newspaper editor.
After graduation, Marian worked for Dultmeier Mfg. in Manning for 7 1/2 years where wooden wagon boxes were being manufactured. John R. Hansen at that time was the president of the Company and he later became a member of the House of Representatives.
She recalls how she and a friend would take the train to Omaha to see movies. She also spent time at Lake View and Lake Okoboji.
Manning had a celebration every summer with lots of games and events. One year her friend asked her to come along with her. Her friend's husband was home from the Navy and his brother was with them. Marian went with her friend and that is how she met her husband Marvin. They went to the Great Western Park in Manning, which was a popular spot for young people. There was roller skating there and other things to do. Marian was married at the Presbyterian manse in Manning in April of 1950 with the reception of 70 guests at her mother's home. She purchased her wedding dress for $35 in a time when wages were 75 cents per hour. Her wedding dress is now at the Shelby County Historical Museum. Her colors were aqua and white.
Marian and Marvin farmed near Irwin. She raised a huge garden every year and did lots of freezing and canning. She raised chickens which came on the train and ducks and geese. She had 2 large incubators in the basement with goose eggs, that she watched daily, sprinkled the eggs, candled them and turned them until they hatched. She then sold the geese, and also sold the feathers. They walked miles and miles pulling weeds from the beans and taking weeds from the corn fields and pastures.
Those were the days when neighbor ladies helped each other. There were home permanents, and wall paper parties, and getting together so the kids could play. Many a night was spent playing cards with neighbors and having a light lunch. Music was enjoyed from Marvin's accordion playing and some would dance.
Marian and Marvin enjoyed getting away for daily fishing trips, but had to be home for the chores. They had milk cows, hogs and other animals. They enjoyed occasionally going to the dog races, snow mobiling, the CB club, and the trap line where they caught, skinned, stretched and sold furs. They liked flea markets, garage sales, and auctions where they bought and sold items. During that time, they also collected items. Marian collected over 100 Mickey Mouse items, she said they were cute. She also collected over 90 cylinder lamps.
She and her husband never missed an Irwin Girls' basketball game in 6 years to watch their daughter Connie play the center forward position. She is proud of the local school and state scoring records her daughter still holds.
Later on, Marvin and Marian moved to Irwin. Marian worked at the local café. Later she was involved with the senior center and received some volunteer awards. She managed the greeting cards there, and she and her friend would go to flea markets, farmers markets, and other venues selling cards, raffle tickets and other items as fund raisers for the center. She was on the calling committee to invite others for special meals the center had.
Marian spent a lot of time doing filet crochet, what started as a hobby, turned into family and friends requesting certain patterns made for them. Among the designs is one for Connie's cedar chest that has 3 deer in it and covers the entire top of the chest. Marian is most proud of the 3 foot peacock she crocheted. These are beautiful pieces of art! Marian was also a good seamstress, making quilts and sewing her daughters clothing. She also helped Connie and her friends with 4-H team demonstration practices.
In later years, Marian enjoyed her first airplane flight to see friends in Cincinnati, touring historic Kentucky, riding in Carol's 48 Dodge, visiting the trailer at KOA, visiting a casino, staying at a bed and breakfast in eastern Iowa, and many other things.
These days find Marian engaged in activities of the day, playing a fun game of cards, enjoying polka and country music, cheering on the Hawkeyes, Cyclones, and the Cubs, and being involved with a puzzle or two. She enjoys the company of friends and visiting with her guests to keep up to date on what is happening in the community and with family.
I hope to work on her story and get it featured in the Monitor and on my
web page fairly soon, but it always takes time to edit and proof read things like this and then get the approval for the final version from the family.
Here are 2 photos of Esther -
one from her time here in Manning in the early 1940s and the other one when I interviewed her a few months ago.
Esther Ruth Halverson
March 4, 1924 - April 8, 2025
Esther Ruth Halverson, age 101, of Carroll, Iowa, passed away on Tuesday, April 8, 2025, at St. Anthony Nursing Home in Carroll.
Funeral services will be held at 10:30 A.M. on Monday, April 14, 2025, at the First United Methodist Church in Carroll with Rev. Terry Plocher officiating. Music for the service will be by Nancy Davis and Jake Gute. Burial will be in the Carroll City Cemetery. The funeral service will be livestreamed on the First United Methodist Church YouTube Channel at Carroll FUMC Video.
Visitation will be held on Monday morning from 9:30 A.M. to 10:15 A.M. at the First United Methodist Church prior to the service.
In lieu of flowers, memorials are preferred to the First United Methodist Church in Carroll.
Funeral arrangements are under the direction of the Dahn and Woodhouse Funeral Home in Carroll and online condolences may be left for the family at www.dahnandwoodhouse.com.
Esther was born on March 4, 1924, in Akron, Iowa, and she was the daughter of Henry A. and Emma (Gillman) Stryzewski. She attended the Akron Community School and graduated from the Akron High School. She then attended St. Olaf College in Northfield, Minnesota, receiving her bachelor’s degree in music. In 1950, she was united in marriage to John J. Rogers, and they were blessed with one daughter, Ann. Esther was employed as the vocal and music instructor at the Manning, Coon Rapids, and Bayard School District for several years. Esther also was the publisher for the Coon Rapids Enterprise for several years. John passed away in 1960 and she was later married to William L. Chambers in 1965 and he passed away in 1979. In 1982, she was married to Donald W. Forrest, and he passed away in 1984. She later found love again, marrying Donald Halverson on May 1, 1994. The couple made their home in Carroll, Iowa. They enjoyed many wonderful friends, games of bridge, and travel experiences. Their favorite trips included winters in Arizona with friends and a trip to Israel, where Esther and Don were baptized in the Jordan River.
Esther was a member of the First United Methodist Church in Carroll where she was very active in the church including directing the church choir. She also directed the church choirs at the Presbyterian Church in Carroll, St. John’s Lutheran Church in Carroll and the Methodist Church in Coon Rapids. She organized the Carroll Community Chorus in 1976 and directed that group for several years. She organized various small vocal groups in the Carroll community, including. a women’s triple trio, the Noteables, where she made lifelong close friends. She was also a member of P.E.O. since 1952. Esther loved cooking, baking, and gardening. But most of all she cherished the time with her friends and especially her family.
Esther wanted to teach instrumental music but was told that it was not suitable for young ladies to teach instrumental music, and that she should teach vocal music.
She could not afford to have her laundry done at college, so she mailed it home to have her mother do it. Her mother returned the clothes, along with fresh bread and butter, and once a pheasant.
Esther biked across the Canadian Rockies with three teacher friends on one-speed bikes. They slept on the ground, were sniffed by a bear, woke up next to a rattlesnake nest, and had their pictures taken with the movie star Randolph Scott.
Esther is survived by her daughter Ann Chambers (Kent Nellis); step-sons: Myron (Joani) Halverson, Mark (Debbie) Halverson, David (Mary) Halverson, Doug (Karla) Halverson, and Dierk (Barbara) Halverson; grandchildren, John Davin Nellis and Caroline Nellis; numerous step grandchildren and great-grandchildren; brother-in-law and sister-in-law, Paul (Ardelle) Halverson; nieces, nephews, other relatives, and friends.
She is preceded in death by her husbands: John J. Rogers, William L. Chambers, Donald W. Forrest, and Donald G. Halverson; her parents; stepdaughter Linda (Karlton) Fullenworth; brother Ralph (Blanche) Stryzewski; sister Phyllis (Glenn) Kask.
The family would like to thank the wonderful staff at St. Anthony Nursing Home in Carroll, Thomas Rest Haven in Coon Rapids, Regency Park Nursing and Rehab Center in Carroll, and the staff and volunteers at St. Anthony Hospice for all their care and support for Esther.
Claus H. Bunz wrote on Esther's
guestbook at Dahn & Woodhouse April 11, 2025
I was a pupil of Esther during the time she taught vocal music in
the Manning public school system. During that time I
was also a member of the choir at Zion Lutheran Church which she directed. I
learned a great deal about music from her. She made participating in music
something that was joyful as well as fun. I extend my deepest sympathy to her
family and pray for our Lord Jesus Christ's Blessings on all of you.
Mass of the Christian Burial will be celebrated at 10:30 a.m., Tuesday, April 8, 2025, at St. Lawrence Church - St. John Paul II Parish in Carroll. The Celebrant will be Fr. Timothy Schott. Music will be provided by Kathy Halbur and Sherry Loughran. Lector for the Funeral Mass will be Susanne Soppe. Gift Bearers will be Jaci Menke and Elijah Boggle. Casket Bearers will be Drew Menke, Jake Menke, Elijah Menke, Jordon Werner, Steve Menke, and Mitch Schultes. Burial will be in Mt. Olivet Cemetery in Carroll with military honors conducted by the Manning VFW and the Carroll American Legion.
A visitation will be from 5-7 p.m. on Monday at the Sharp Funeral Home in Carroll with a rosary at 7 p.m. The casket will be moved to St. Lawrence Church on Tuesday morning where additional visitation will be from 9:30-10:15 a.m.
Memorials may be left at the funeral home or the church for a later designation.
Funeral arrangements are under the guidance of the Sharp Funeral Home in Carroll and online condolences may be left for Don’s family at www.sharpfuneral.com.
Donald Raymond Menke was born on July 28, 1938, in Houghton, Iowa, the son of Alvin and Anna (Woerdeman) Menke. At the age of 12, the family moved to Harper, Iowa, where Don later graduated from St. Elizabeth High School.
Following graduation, Don proudly served in the United States Army for two years until his honorable discharge. On July 10, 1965, he married the love of his life, Betty Cecilia Soppe in Des Moines, Iowa. Together, they raised three children: Jeff, Dennis, and Jean; all graduates of Manning High School.
Don worked as a hog buyer for Oscar Mayer (starting at Manning in 1971), and later for Excel until his retirement. Even after retiring, he continued to haul livestock until the fall of 2024. In 1991, Don and Betty fulfilled a lifelong dream by purchasing an acreage in Macon, Missouri, where they enjoyed raising livestock together.
A devoted Chicago Cubs and Iowa Hawkeyes Fan, Don found joy in the simple pleasures of life. After Betty’s passing in February of 2008, Don reconnected with his high school classmate Joann Holtkamp at a reunion in June of the same year. The two formed a special bond and enjoyed many trips to the casino and countless card games.
Don is survived by his children: Jeff (Donna) Menke of Mitchellville, Dennis (Michelle) Menke of Ankeny and Jean (Brad) Werner of Sac City; his cherished grandchildren: Jordon (Sophia) Werner, Drew Menke, Jaci (Elijah) Menke, Elijah Menke, and Jake Menke; step-grandchildren: Tammy (Nathan) Peters and Jason Werner; his dear friend, Joann Holtkamp of Donellson; his sisters: Eileen Clarahan of Marion and Mary Ann (Allan) Bohr of Columbia, Missouri; his sisters-in-law: Jean Soppe of Papillion, Nebraska and Cheryl (Alan) Schultes of Dedham and Kathleen Menke of Sigourney; his brothers-in-law: Don (Susanne) Soppe of McFarland, Wisconsin and Dr. Mike (Pat) Soppe of Carroll; as well as other extended relatives and many friends.
Don was preceded in death by his beloved wife of 42 years, Betty Menke; his parents, Alvin and Anna Menke; his sister, Jane; brother Victor; brothers-in-law, Paul Clarahan and Charlie Clarahan; and his parents-in-law, Andrew and Marie Soppe.
Don's life was marked by love, hard work, a deep appreciation for family and friendship. He will be dearly missed by all who knew and loved him.
Dennis Menke
Wendel Kahl, Jean Myer, Mike Hull, Jean Menke - Pat Kirby was the teacher
Student Council Luau April 1987
School cooks: Betty Menke,
Gertie Dammann, Bev Rowedder, Theda Wiese
1981 Manning Centennial book
OSCAR MAYER
Oscar Mayer & Co. traces its presence in Manning, Iowa, to 1967 with the creation of a livestock buying center on the outskirts of the city.
The livestock center's impact on the community can best be measured in economic terms. During its first 12 years, including the company's 1979 fiscal year which ended October 27, area hog producers received approximately $76 million for their livestock marketed at the Manning Center. For 1979 alone, area farmers were paid more than $8 million for hogs sold at Manning.
The hogs marketed here are shipped to the Oscar Mayer pork processing plant in Perry.
Donald Menke, Manning livestock buying center manager, has served in that capacity since 1971.
The Manning area continues to be an excellent source of quality hogs for the Perry plant. Hog purchases are growing and another addition to the hog buying center is under construction.
Oscar Mayer & Co., which acquired its Perry plant in 1965, is a national and international food processing firm. Founded in 1883 in a small retail sore on Chicago's north side, the company today operates nine U.S. plants and 42 distribution centers, and has ownership in meat firms in Venezuela, Japan and Spain. Oscar Mayer specializes in sausage products and is the country's sales leader for wieners, cold cuts and bacon.
Subsidiaries of the firm produce fresh pickles, pharmaceuticals and chemicals, spice extracts and food processing and packaging machinery. The company recently made a bid to acquire Louis Rich, Inc., a major turkey product processor headquartered in West Liberty, Iowa.
On sales of $1.3 billion in 1978, the company ranked among the top six of the more than 3,000 meat firms in the country.
Oscar Mayer employs about 13,000 people, including approximately 800 at the plant in Perry.
1991 Manning Centennial supplemental
State Play-Offs
1984-1985 - Manning's first trip to the State Play-Offs! Manning 7, Mt. Ayer 0; Ogden 7, Manning 6.
1985-1986 - Manning was ranked #8 in the state in the final rankings! Manning 26, Avoca 17; Manning 21, Southeast Warren 20; Maurice Orange 35, Manning 0.
Members of the 1985-86 squad that played in the state semi-finals were: Nate Bandow, Richard Borkowski, Steve Clausen, Paul Croghan, Willie Croghan, Marc Drees, Mark Haubrich, Aneal Joseph, Brian Kahl, Gerald Kahl, Jay Karsten, Eric Kelderman, Scott Kerkhoff, Brad Kusel, Craig Langel, Dennis Menke, David Mohr, Brad Otto, Nate Puck, Rob Rauch, Dan Renze, Terry Rosonke, Jon Saunders, Russ Sturm, Doug Vollstedt, Kent Vollstedt, Steve Vollstedt, and Dale Wegner.
1988-89 - Manning returns to Play-Offs. Elk Horn-Kimballton 13, Manning 7.
I also featured Marlene's detailed ancestral family background. She had them on large cardboard display boards when I scanned them.
I also have another large family
Hargens portrait that I don't have identified - Chris & Anna (Wiese) Hargens family - and would like help with IDs...
I know many of these letters have been thrown away, because the Veterans themselves told me they didn't keep them or family members of deceased Veterans decided they weren't anything important to keep.
I no more than turn a couple of more pages in the scrapbook and found this article about one of my Grau relatives.
Captain Lester Grau in Japan 1952
This story can become somewhat convoluted and confusing to write about, since multiple parties were involved and different projects occurred separate of each other's timelines.
In 2011, Wayne Saunders of Manilla contacted me about his interest in area history and told me he had negatives of many Manning events and school activities.
In 2012, I found some time to visit with him at his home west of Manilla and he gave me the Manning negatives to scan. He also showed me how he had negatives of many other sports
games where Manilla had played.
Another interesting project he had done was to cut out highlight clippings from the Manilla Times and pasted them in booklets 1 x 1.5 feet in size.
I continued to communicate with Wayne over the years and when I found out he was in the Manilla Manor, I went over to visit with him and also to ask him more about the slides
he had.
Sadly, he passed away not too long after my visit in 2018.
I went to his funeral and visited with his family...I asked them about Wayne's negatives and
booklets and what they were planning to do with them - they really didn't have a good idea, so I suggested they give them to me and I'll scan them and put them
in the Manning Museum someday.
It is always difficult to bring up topics like this during a funeral/viewing but I have found that if I don't speak up right away, that in many cases
a family starts to throw stuff shortly after the funeral, so I try to encourage them to let me go through anything they have that has a Manning/area connection and if they don't want it back, that I'll preserve it.
Back to my mother and how she is involved. When the Saunders family gave me Wayne's huge scrapbooklets, she went through each page/article to look for obituaries of Manning connected
people and other Manning connections.
Mother was in her 90s, so she had a lot of history stored in her "memory banks" and was able to add comments to little notes about various
articles which I'm now finally going through.
I really should be working on other more pressing projects, but I'm finding that I need to also work on other lower priority projects
because if I don't get through them and digitize some of that information - once I'm gone - no one will take the time and won't have the historic understanding on how to compile it
digitally.
I also would like to capture more Manning/school events like the school spring play being presented at the end of March, but they take a lot of time photograph, and
if/when I make a web page for those images, that takes a LOT more time to create. While I know other people take pictures of these
events, I know that someday their digital images will be lost.
Here are some examples of what I've been writing about above from Wayne's collection...
Here is a screen shot of several of the 360+ negatives I scanned from Waye's photography collection in 2012.
December 4, 1972 MHS vs Manilla
My mother was an Ehrichs and fiercely protected the name and family connections.
I remember how disappointed she would become when she found out months/years later
when one of her cousins and other Ehrichs relatives had passed away, and the younger generations didn't try to contact her and the other relatives,
even if distantly related about the passing.
I would tell her that those children/grandchildren probably had no clue whatsoever with their Ehrichs ancestry and probably
didn't care, and so many people today don't even publish an obituary or maybe just a death notice.
This is their prerogative and right but I'm sure future descendants and relatives and
historians/genealogists will wonder where the obituaries are...all they'll find are death certificates. There won't be any of the little anecdotal notes and little stories preserved, like
with many obituaries - at least in the past.
I've been to various graveside services with no formal funeral and the relatives were amazed at how many Manning folks showed up...I would tell them
that if they had a funeral and notice of services that they would have had many more show up, who weren't aware of just the graveside service.
I remember Ruth Ohde always commenting that Manning funerals were a community event - more so that most other towns.
Mother put a sticky note next to this 8x10 inch Hudson ad, and she also highlighted one little sentence in another article about a windstorm in the area where "The televison aerial on the Ehrichs store in Aspinwall was torn loose." Mother was a thorough reader and had a keen eye to find these little tidbits of history.
1950 showing at the Manning Crystal Theater - ad in the Manilla Times
I've also been adding more obituaries to my obituary web page from Wayne's scrapbooklets. Some won't appear to have a direct Manning connection but if you read them thoroughly you'll find some of those connections. I also add little notes that show/make the connections that my mother wrote down on sticky notes in Wayne's scrapbooks.
It didn't take me long to figure out the last name which I'll let "you" figure out if so inclined...
Donna Sonksen wedding - Pastor Edward Heinicke
Donna played the piano/organ for mother's junior church choir
Tim Kienast & Joni Siepker wedding - Pastor Edward Heinicke
Mother was good friends with Leland & Genelle Kienast through various church
activities.
Keith, Rita, Amos
Mother was a good friend of Marie Misselhorn.
The last couple of years of my dad's life he had lost quite a bit of his vision from the complications of Diabetes.
I remember he just loved this radio and mom
had marked 1380 with a red mark for the Carroll radio station so he could find it easier.
Note: "Top grain cowhide"
Now this isn't all that old of an item but it shows just a little piece of history
that some of us grew up with.
Here is the owner's manual that my mother had kept in one of her boxes.
Amos Kusel - owners manual for radio
I'm scanning more old items from my mother's collection and other items I've gathered over the decades.
Mirror given out
by Merle to promote his business.
I'm guessing the rectangular box outline on the left is where there was a thermometer glued on the glass and fell off in the past and was lost.
As usual, I continue to scan and archive Manning's history...these items are also featured at the link above.
Click to see the tribute
Click to see the tribute.
It is with a heavy heart that we announce the passing of Peggy Nelson, a cherished mother, grandmother, and friend, who left us on January 16th at the age of 93. Her life was a testament to love, resilience, and dedication to her family.
Peggy was born on July 5th, 1931, in Exira, Iowa, to her parents, Lloyd and Bernice (Brauch) Jorgensen. Peggy was married to Merle Turner and was blessed with two children, David and Linda. This marriage ended in divorce, and she later married Eugene Andersen where she was blessed with another son, Danny. Unfortunately, this union was met with tragedy, as Eugene suddenly passed away when Danny was just a baby. Peggy went on to meet and marry the man she would spend the rest of her life with, Clifford Nelson and to this union three children were born, Lisa, Dale, and Lori.
Clifford and Peggy were married August 6th, 1959, and enjoyed 64 years of marriage before Clifford’s passing in 2023. They made their home in multiple places, mostly raising their children in Manning, Iowa. Once the kids were grown, they spent several years in Omaha, Nebraska, later retiring to Des Moines, Iowa. Before moving to Independent Living at Ramsey Village in Des Moines, they enjoyed living with their daughter Lori in Grinnell, Iowa, for 4 years. Fortunately, overall, Peggy enjoyed good health and was able to live out her remaining years in Independent Living at Ramsey Village.
Peggy was an outgoing woman, who cherished her family and her friends. While her younger children were in school, she sold Avon and enjoyed visiting, having coffee, and selling her product to the local ladies. After retirement, she was very active in her church in Des Moines, Glen Echo Christian Church (Disciples of Christ). She also volunteered many years at both Iowa Methodist downtown and Methodist West, and whenever she was a patient, very proudly would tell her nurses that she used to be a volunteer. She loved family holidays, especially the Fourth of July where you could always find all her children with her, celebrating the closeness of the extended family and then her birthday the following day.
Peggy is survived by her children; David Turner of Galena, Illinois; Linda and husband Gary Knueven of Manning, Iowa; Danny Andersen and wife Linda Capcara, Phoenix, Arizona; Lisa Nelson of LaGrange Park, Illinois; Dale and wife Lesli Nelson of Pella, Iowa; and Lori and husband Mike Novelli of Ferryville, Wisconsin. Sisters Twila Ballard of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma; Janet (Glen) Nelson of Atlantic, Iowa; and brother Phil (Pat) Jorgensen of Clarinda, Iowa; sister-in-law Darlene McConnell of Atlantic, Iowa; nineteen grandchildren, twenty-three great-grandchildren; and many nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband Eugene Andersen, her husband Clifford Nelson, daughter-in-law Linda Turner, granddaughters Erin and Elizabeth Nelson, great-granddaughter Miranda Knueven, father-in-law Walter (Ted) Nelson, mother-in-law Ina Littlefield Ernst, sister Corrine Christensen, sister-in-law Phyllis Sheer, brothers-in-law Emmert Christensen, Edwin Sheer, and Mike McConnell.
According to her wishes, her body has been cremated, and no
funeral services will be held. Interment at the Exira Cemetery and a
Celebration of Life are being planned for a later date.
https://www.thecremationsocietyofiowa.com/post/peggy-ann-nelson
I also had visited with Ron Colling over the years on how he handled deadly traffic accidents, and home fires...having the Freedom of the Press behind him, he used his judgement
as to when/how he would use some of those pictures in the Monitor.
Of course he had time to think about it for many days before it was published - unlike today
with EVERYTHING needing to be INSTANT.
He also did not like to take pictures of deadly traffic accidents and would not take close-up pictures of the victims and many times would wait until the vehicle was hauled off-site to take
pictures...he only took these types of pictures if they were to be used by inspectors of the accident and law enforcement.
He didn't want to add salt to the wounds of the victims and the families by
publishing irresponsible photos in the paper.
Another reason why most people need to stay way back from a fire event, and also not feel they have to post the pix they take is shown below...No one can know for sure what might be in the structure that will explode and become a deadly missile, like what happened in 1964.
Now I was never a fireman but I've video-taped controlled burns of house fires by the firemen and also captured them with my digital camera.
I've also been involved with many controlled burns of barns and farm buildings during our farming operation.
So I've had decades of experience around fires to understand many of the dangers that could arise.
I visited with Gene Steffes for a few minutes to tell him I won't be posting fire pictures like so many vultures have done on the Internet to bolster their egos, but if it was OK I would feature some of the hard work and volunteerism for the clean-up and some history of the Dultmeier building...he said that would be OK.
I also thanked one of the firemen on-site while taking some pictures of the clean-up process.
I hope everyone who sees a fireman will thank them for their volunteer service.
Before you post something like this tragedy - think about if it was your property in a conflagration - about your livelihood and family...you might think twice then...
Dave
Once I receive the obituary, I'll include it with the tribute.
OK, I'm an old fogey, but I think we need to go back to some and maybe many aspects of the "Good ole Days" before it is too late...
Clippings from the Ahrendsen scrapbook
Korean War Veterans continues
For those of you who are occasional visitors to the Manning Exchange - please make sure to click on the "archived articles" section where previous featured stories are kept.
"Let it be known that he who wears the military order of the purple heart has given of his blood in the defense of his homeland and
shall forever be revered by his fellow countrymen."
George Washington, August 7, 1782
Just as a reminder: the Manning History book committee continues to work on a Manning area Veterans' history book
project.
For those of you who are Veterans or have/had Veterans in your family - will you come forward?
The history book committee will do their best to get as many pictures and information about the 1000+ Manning Veterans
but we can't do it all by ourselves.
How many small communities do you know have published 5 history books? The first one was the History of Manning 1898, then the 1981 Manning Centennial book, next the 2006 Manning Quasqui book, and most recently the 2009 Manning School history book. Probably the last book to be published will be the upcoming Manning Veterans' book - unless someone comes forward in the next generation to take over these projects after I'm gone. Will you help with the Veterans' history book project? If you are a Manning connected Veteran or are presently serving and do not submit your military connected pictures and infomation you probably won't be in this once-in-a-life-time Manning Veterans' history book. With a limited number of volunteers we can only do so much on our own but will try to get pictures of as many Veterans as we can. There are over 1000 Manning Veterans so we have a long ways to go before the book can be published.
Manning Veterans are slowly coming forward and below is another example. We hope to eventually get more pictures and information for Mike to put in the book but for now this is what I have to show to you.
One thing that many Veterans and people who are submitting information have not fully understood is that this next
Manning history book is specifically a Veterans' only book. It won't be like the Centennial or Quasqui history books were,
where there is a Veterans' section along with other community aspects. We are aiming for a 2-volume book (around 1090 total pages) which will really be unique!!!
This book will be ALL Veterans' information (and the post auxiliaries) - hence it
won't be a "Name, Rank, and Serial Number" only history but we want a complete history for each Veteran.
For instance - below is Louis Boell's picture and the information
that was published in the Veteran section of the 1982 Aspinwall Centennial history book. It has the basic
information but we are looking for more and I spoke to Louie by phone and he sent more pictures
and information - also for his brothers.
To see what Louis submitted click on the link underneath "Are you a Manning Veteran" shown below.
Note: we also want some family background such as parents and grandparents. All too often you will only see just the Veteran's name with their basic military information but without the family connections it will be difficult for future historians and genealogists to know for sure who this person belongs to.
Please e-mail me about your Veteran questions manningveterans@davidkusel.com
1 Manning citizen served in the War of 1812
105 served in the Civil War
1 served in the Indian War
5 served in the Spanish American War
350+ served during WWI
650+ served during WWII
87+ served in the Korean war era
65+ (more names need to be found) served in the Vietnam era
55+ (many more names need to be found) served from 1975 to present
29 paid the ultimate price with their lives defending the U.S. Flag
We are starting the Manning Veterans' history book project
Don't wait until you see "Deadline" or it WILL be too late!!!
Click to read promos for the Veteran book
If you simply don't want those old family pictures you inherited please don't throw them - send them my way.
A lot of times I can recognize a face or location in those old pix.
One thing to keep in mind while you are looking for pictures - if they are glued in old scrap books please do NOT try to pull them out or cut them out. I can scan the whole page of the scrapbook and crop out the pictures you want to use in the book. If you attempt to forcibly remove the pictures you will probably damage them and when I scan them that damage will probably show up. This means I'll either have to use my graphics program to touch up the damage which can take a lot of time, or if they are badly damaged I just may not even take the time to scan them.
