Another reason I like to go through old family collections is many will have obituaries to look through - especially collections from out of state which many times will have old names I didn't know were once part of Manning's past. I pretty much have most of the obits but once in a while I'll find some I don't have or they'll be different versions. I found 3 obituaries in the Emmons collection I didn't have and several that were more detailed obits of what I already had.
Anymore I can recognize an old Manning surname but there were two I had not seen before, Nihles & Topf...or I had forgotten about.
So you can check out the 3 new obits I just added.


Below I mention how there are non-family member pictures in the Emmons collection - here are 3 examples.
Verna was my Sunday school teacher. Mae Schroeder has Stribe & Ohrt connections. Mary Stuhr would be the niece of my great-grandfather William Kusel...and her husband, John Stuhr, is part of the Stuhr family in Manning. This is the only picture I have of Mary & John. I have a Kusel family picture from that family but on back it states that Mary is not present, but another member from that family states her mother says Mary is in the family picture. This is always a problem when most pictures aren't identified properly and so many other pictures have been thrown away over the years.


Verna (Schroeder) Musfeldt-Fischer - age 2
I've seen a number of patriotic pictures like this in other family collections that were taken during WWI.


Mae (Stribe) Schroeder 1910 - Verna's mother - Mae was the daughter of George and Alvena (Ohrt) Stribe.


John & Mary (Kusel) Stuhr

My best guess is this was taken in the Manning area before they moved to Oregon.
Note the loose hay stack covered with snow in the background.
This is another example of why I like to go through other family collections, because many times I'll find pix and information about my own family.
I'm hoping that some of my distant Kusel cousins will send me the old pix they still have, so I can go through their collections to maybe find more clues and make more connections with the scans and information I already have.

Nephews & Nieces of Mary in this area were Fern Ramsey, June Ruhde, Pearl Dammann, Alvin Jensen, and Ward Jensen.


Emmons - how many of you recognize this name?
In 2007, Irvin Emmons contacted me by e-mail and has been sharing his family and old Manning history ever since.
He is the son of Floyd Emmons MHS 1924, and grandson of Orrin Emmons MHS 1891 who was a prominent Manning businessman during the late 1890s through the mid 1920s.

Irv recently sent me 2 packets of pix and information from Oregon to scan and as usual, I found lots of amazing Manning history in them, including pictures of other Manning individuals who are not in the Emmons family.
As my database grows, now mostly from people who inherited their old family and Manning history but never lived here and share with me, I'm able to put together all kinds of connections and here are some more examples...this is why I wish more people would share their old collections with me so I can go through them and find those little hidden items they have no clue they have but I will probably be able to find - BEFORE what they have gets thrown away eventually.

I know there is a historic society in Manning and a number of people asking for Manning/school history but I hope it gets to me first, so I can go through it to scan and archive it in the appropriate database area for future reference.
There isn't anyone else living now who will be able to put the pieces of the Manning puzzle together like I can...the old timers such as Art Rix's generation are long gone - the ones who I went to for help to ID old pix, and other Manning information in the 1970s through the early 2000s...

100 years ago - this is what the Children's Day parade looked like...one of several historic photos from the Emmons' collection I just scanned.
I spent about 1 hour digitally cleaning and touching up this image - there are always hundreds of scratches, marks, splotches, etc. to work on...you don't see them in low resolution scans, but with my high to super high resolution original scans, they show up like boulders or the grand canyon.

What else do you see in this 100 year old picture?
Note the US flags everywhere...today, we still proudly fly the US flag on our Main Street during special occasions.

Children's Day 100 years ago...
While touching up the image I noticed something that I recognized - the car-plane in the back.
It hit me that this must be Freddie Moeller's contraption he made.
Craig "Spitter" Moeller would be tickled pink if he were living to now know when Freddie made it for the parade.

Note the kids running over to look at the car-plane.
Now I'm able to crop out this image but even with a high resolution scan, the image is not clear.

Well, Spitter brought me some of his old pix to scan years ago and here are 2 of them that are close up.
I wonder if these and his other old pix I scanned still exist - at least I now have them in my Manning Historical Database.

I often talk and write about trying to capture permanent fixtures in the background when you take pictures.
I learned this decades ago from scanning old pix like this - what do you see that is a permanent fixture?
The only way I knew the picture was taken in Manning is because the water tower or some other old structure is in the background.

A lot of times I also can determine a general time-frame by what is in the background.
I know the old gym was constructed in 1938 and the high school was constructed in 1918.
So this gave me a time for Freddie's car to be taken between 1918 and 1937.
Now thanks to the Emmons picture that had the year written on back, I know a much more accurate time when Fred made his car-plane.

Who cares?
What is important is that people continue to share their old pix & history with me so I can figure out more pieces of the Manning Puzzle.

Who was Freddie Moeller?

He was a WWII Veteran who served overseas, among many other aspects.
Sadly, like so many Veterans, I have very few details about his service.

Who was Orrin Emmons?

Orrin Emmons 1947

Where did the Emmons family live?

333 First Street - and the exterior hasn't changed much since then.

October 4, 1928 Manning Monitor
THE EMMONS RESIDENCE PROPERTY SOLD
The auction sale of the Emmons residence property on First Street for last Saturday afternoon, resulted in a sale. Dr. Virgel R. Anderson was the lucky last bidder and secured the commodious home, finely located and fitted with all the modern conveniences, and then some, for $4900.
This is a case where both parties appear to be satisfied. Dr. Anderson certainly got a bargain and Mr. Orrin Emmons accounts for his satisfaction by taking two transactions into consideration. Mr. Emmons says that in the residence property he purchased in Salem, Oregon, in 1926, he has a profit of $1000 or $1500.
So his real estate account in the ledger will show the balance on the credit side.

Orrin was a lawyer and involved in real estate, on the school board, and mayor...and here is just a little information to show you.


Orrin served on the Bank of Manning board.
I scanned this item from Lucille Sinn's collection that her grandson sent me in 2009.


From the Emmons collection I scanned years ago.
Ralph Gordon Sutherland was one of the owners of the First National Bank.


I'm hoping Irv can find the original of this photo that his dad submitted during the 1981 Manning Centennial.
Intersection of Main & Third Streets - I have several similar images but none taken from the roof of the building.

Here are some Monitor articles about Orrin Emmons

December 25, 1890 Manning Monitor
SCHOOL REPORT - HIGH SCHOOL
Number enrolled 49. Average daily attendance 42 1/2.
Number neither absent nor tardy 22. Number of visitors 35.
Average standing of Senior class 96.
Orrin Emmons 99 1/2, Charlie Matteson 99, John Jenson 99, Mamie O'Flyng 98 1/2, Gertrude Burnham 97 1/2, Minnie Parker 97, Julia Moore 93, Bert Wood 90 1/2, Arthur Freelove 89.

February 25, 1909
Orrin William Emmons has been appointed by the court as referee in the Bruning estate and left today to inspect a tract of 370 acres near Arcadia belonging to the estate.
This is quite an important appointment for Mr. Emmons as there is at least $35,000 involved in the deal. O.W. is being kept quite busy these days and is working up a very nice practice.

September 6, 1906 Manning Monitor
As there has been some inquiry as to the reasons that impelled the Board of Education to raise the tuition of the Manning Schools from $1.00 in the grades and $1.50 in the High School to $1.50 and $2.00 respectively, I am authorized by the Board to state for the benefit and information of the public in general and for those who are most interested in particular, that the average daily attendance in the Manning Schools for the year 1905-1906 was 351 out of a total enrollment of 428. The amount paid to teachers was $6215.00 a monthly average of $690.55 making the average tuition per month for each pupil $1.96. To this must be added the current expenses amounting to approximately $190.00 per month or an average of 54 cents to each pupil thus totaling the sum of $2.50, the average cost per month for each pupil, not counting the amount invested in the grounds and building and the taxes necessary to pay off the bonded indebtedness created for the purchase of the same.
It will thus be seen that the average net cost is far in excess of the amount received as tuition from the nonresidents. During the past year the number attending the grades was 19 and in the High School 17, making the average tuition about $1.25 per month for each pupil while the average cost was $2.50 per month. It will therefor be seen that the increase of fifty cents per month in the tuition is justified by the cost to the taxpayers of the Independent District and by the further fact that the tuition in our schools is lower than in any school of like standard throughout the country.
We are pleased to have the nonresident pupils attend our schools as they are among the best of our students and we do not desire to discriminate against them in any measure, but we feel that in justice to the taxpayers of the lndependent District of Manning, the burden should be a little more equalized; this we have endeavored to accomplish though the tuition charged through the coming year is still $.75 per month below the actual cost.
Orrin W. Emmons, Secretary of the Board of Education.

You think there is fake news today???
It is nothing new!

April 6, 1922 Manning Monitor
TO WHOM CONCERNED

Reports have been circulated that minors have been forbidden by the mayor to enter our pool halls for the purpose of having their barber work done. This is untrue. Such statements hurt a legitimate business. Be sure you know what you are talking about before you make statements regarding the policies of the present administration. The columns of this paper will be used to convey to the pubic matters of importance which the general public should know.
Orrin W. Emmons, Mayor

June 22, 1922 Manning Monitor
IN MEMORIAM

Just at the dawning of the longest day of the year, the soul of one of the familiar figures of our community left its earthly habitation to start on its long journey throughout shadow land.
Private Nathaniel Dillingham served with faithfulness as a soldier in Company E., of the 74th Regiment of Illinois Volunteer Infantry from August 13, 1862, until he was honorably discharged on the 10th day of June 1865, and participated in many of the pitched battles of the Great Civil War, among them being the important engagements of Kenesaw Mountain; Jonesboro, Peach Tree Creek, Franklin, and Nashville, and many minor engagements.
In thus assisting to perpetuate our free institutions, Comrade Dillingham did his whole duty unflinchingly and unselfishly and impelled by a noble impulse and in honor of that faithfulness and in recognition of those services, we owe to his memory special observance of the hour of his interment.
Therefore, as Mayor of the Town of Manning, Iowa, I do hereby publicly request,
that our business houses close from 2 until 4 p.m., Friday, June 23, 1922, or until the services are concluded at the cemetery.
That our citizens generally cease from their labors during said time as a mark of respect for this Veteran of many battles.
That our flags, be flown at half-mast as tokens of esteem for this soldier who has answered the Last Roll Call.
That the funeral services which are to be held on the lawn at the home at 2 o'clock p.m., Friday of this week under the auspices of the Grand Army of the Republic and the American Legion be largely attended as befits the occasion.
Given under my hand and by virtue of my office on this twenty-second day of June, Nineteen Hundred Twenty Two.
Orrin W. Emmons, Mayor of Manning, Iowa.

For decades, I've been stating that Manning was the hub of Western Iowa during the Pioneer years of this area...mainly because of the 3 railroads, all with passenger service.
I've found picture postcards that were sent from here - all over the US.
Now today, I find even more of them on E-bay which shows how many more people came through town, stopped over, purchased a picture postcard and then sent it from the post office.
Many of these people were just visiting or traveling through, but a lot of them moved here and reported back to a relative or friend they arrived.
This would then entice them to come to Manning and some of them moved here too.
This article by Orrin Emmons only further proves my point when he goes into how many former Manningites once lived in Manning back then and later moved west.
I have pix and information for most of the family names he mentions below, but I have to finish scanning the Emmons collection and move to the next collection.

November 26, 1925 Manning Monitor
ORRIN W. EMMONS AND FAMILY SETTELED IN SALEM OREGON
Made Entire Trip Overland To Salem Oregon.
GUESTS OF G.W. LAFLAR
Many Former Iowans Now Living In Salem

Mr. and Mrs. Orrin W. Emmons and family thoroughly enjoyed the over land trip to their new home in Salem, Oregon, and as they camped on the way had all the pleasure of an outing while enroute.

Their two automobiles and trailer formed a (miniature, modern reproduction of the "covered wagon" trains of 1849." Though lacking the hardship and uncertainty and Indian menace endured by the pioneers, they enjoyed the comfort and speed of the present day mode of transportation, the paved and graveled highways, and the cities and towns in lieu of the isolated camps and post road stations of early days.

However, they had one sad experience. The family cat, a great pet of course, insisted on accompanying them, but at a town in Idaho strayed away, and not having returned at the time of departure, was left behind. The crate was left with instructions for shipment in case the "cat came back," and to their surprise the feline traveler reached Salem before their arrival, but, alas, owing to change of climate or fatigue, a case of fits developed and the pet went where all good cats go.

Their arrival in Salem was made very pleasant by the hospitality of Mr. and Mrs. G.W. Laflar, and some of the older residents here will fully realize the quality and extent of that hospitality, having pleasant memories of many good times at the Laflars, who had and still possess the happy faculty of making guests feel right at home, glad they came, and after partaking of the products of Mrs. Laflar's culinary art, sorry to leave. Through the kindness of Mr. Laflar the goods upon arrival had been placed in the house secured, and they were soon settled in their western home. Mr. Laflar is in the loan, real estate and insurance business and is doing fine.

Mr. Emmons is well pleased with Salem and western Oregon. And why shouldn't he be pleased? Salem, the capital of the state and the county seat of Marion County, a city of 20,000 inhabitants, is situated in the Willamette Valley, a beautiful and very fertile valley, 150 miles long and 20 to 60 miles wide, and is a city of pleasant homes, fine schools and churches and good business opportunities. Salem seems to be quite a church town, and is especially Methodist, for while all denominations are represented, there are Methodist Churches.

The young people are all attending school. Floyd and Clarence are freshmen in the liberal arts course at Willamette University, a splendid Methodist college located there. Genevieve attends Junior High and Florence Senior high, and they entered the same grades at the capital of that state as they would have taken had they continued here. This not only speaks well for the young ladies, but also for the Manning High School.

M.E. Peck, who was a classmate of Mr. Emmons at Cornell College, Mount Vernon, has been for many years a professor at the Willamette University. Floyd and Clarence attend some of his classes, and in speaking of their proficiency he remarked that it was evident they had enjoyed fine high school advantages. Another feather for Manning High.

Mr. and Mrs. Robert Emmons live at Palo Alto, California, where Robert is attending the Leland Stanford University. This is his last year of study for his master's degree. He does some teaching at the university now.

Manning is only a trifle more than 44 years old, and is not a large city except in the estimates and minds of a majority of its citizens, who are proud of its past and believe in its future; but strange to say, you can not travel far in any direction, or tarry long anywhere without meeting someone who at some time lived here or in this vicinity, or has relatives or friends who did.

Mr. Emmons says this is true of Salem, where a number of people reside who are well remembered here. Mr. and Mrs. Laflar have been mentioned. Mrs. Breckenridge and daughter Grace, mother and sister of our townsman, E.E. Breckenridge, have lived there many years. Miss Grace holds a responsible position in the state house, where she has been for the past five years. They own a pleasant, modern home and Grace drives her coupe to and from the state house.

Other residents are Mrs. August Gruhn and daughter, Bertha; Mrs. August Kusel and her daughter and son-in-law, Mr. and Mrs. John Stuhr; Mrs. Anna Karstens, and Herman Bock, who is a furniture dealer. Mr. Bock was in the implement business when here.

Mr. and Mrs. Arthur Laflar live at Portland, and Mr. and Mrs. L.E. Arney are at Newberg, about 30 miles from Portland. Mr. Arney, with his brother Frank, who died at Lake City a few months ago, opened the hardware store of Arney Brothers, here in December 1881 (the town was only four months old), which they conducted for a number of years.


If you are one of those people with the propensity to give your Manning pix & history to those commercial and genealogy websites - that is your business, but why don't you consider first working with me...
Those commercials sites don't give a hoot about you or Manning - they want your money or information so they can sell ads.
If you haven't already noticed...everything I post is free - no logins, no ads, no popups.
I make no money and in fact preserving Manning's history has cost me tens of thousands of dollars over the years.
So why not work with me so we can preserve Manning's history together, along with the hundreds of other individuals who have shared with me over the decades.
Thanks,
Dave Kusel


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