McMANUS, Thomas

MCMANUS, MURPHY, MULLANEY

Posted By: Jennifer Gunderson (email)
Date: 3/13/2021 at 23:11:40

Thomas McManus has for a number of years been prominent in the affairs of Dougherty township and he was among those who organized the first successful farmer's co-operative society in Iowa. He is convinced that for the agriculturist to keep in touch with the best and most progressive ideas developed in his calling requires constant alertness. Mr. McManus owns two hundred and forty acres, in addition operates one hundred and sixty for a relative.

He was born in county Fermanagh, Ireland, February 15, 1843, and his parents, Redmond and Mary (Murphy) McManus, were both natives of that county, the mother dying there in 1847 at the age of forty years. In November, 1862, the father and the children set out for the United States, landing on the 18th of that month at Philadelphia. For the four years following the father worked in the city, but in 1866 he concluded to try his fortunes in the agricultural districts, and accordingly he went west to Winneshiek county, Iowa, where he rented a small farm. By the exercise of thrift he was enabled three years later to purchase one hundred and sixty acres of wild land in section 24, Dougherty township, to which he and the children removed in the following spring. The country was at that time very sparsely settled, there being but two houses between the father's place and Rockwell and but two between it and Marble Rock. The nearest railroad was at Charles City and the lumber used in erecting the first building upon the place was hauled from there. The father served as township trustee for a number of years. He was a member of the Catholic church. He died November 6, 1885, at the age of eighty-five years. Of his eight children three survive: Ellen, wife of Miles O’Dowd of Charles City; Thomas, of this review; and Mary who resides in Charles City.

Thomas McManus was reared on a farm in Ireland and thus received a practical training in the vocation he was to follow. He was nineteen when he came to Philadelphia and his first employment was in a woolen factory where cloth was made for the uniforms of the soldiers, the Civil war being then in progress. He afterward worked in a brick yard until the removal of the family to Winneshiek county where he assisted his father with the farming. When he first came to Cerro Gordo county he made his livelihood as farmer's hand. He at present owns the excellent property previously mentioned and operates a smaller farm for the children of a brother. He has improved his homestead in every way, erecting good buildings, and setting out fine groves and orchards. He does general farming and in addition raises cattle and hogs and owns a flock of sheep.

Mr. McManus was united in marriage to Miss Elizabeth Mullaney, born in Cook county, Illinois, in 1858, their union taking place November 4, 1890. To them have been born the following six children: Redmond, Alice, Dennis J., Thomas E., James and Agnes, all of whom are at home.

Although Mr. McManus’ education was a limited one in his native country he has since rectified this deficiency and is particularly well read and well posted on the issues of the day. He was for eleven years director of the first successful farmers’ co-operative society in Iowa which was organized in Rockwell. He is president of the Dougherty township Farmers’ Co-operative Society and since its beginning has been very active in its affairs. He has traveled all over the middle west in attendance at conventions and meetings of various sorts and was a strenuous combatant in the bitter fight the railroads and the big grain companies put up against the independent farmers. He was one of the prime movers in organizing the Farmers’ Grain Dealers Association at Rockwell, November 4, 1904, and was chosen one of the directors, which office he has since held. Mr. McManus is a stanch defender of the policies and principles of the Democratic party and has served both as justice of the peace and school director and he was twice nominated by the Democratic party to represent them in the Iowa legislature. He and his family are communicants of St. Patrick's Catholic church at Dougherty.

Source: WHEELER, J. H. History of Cerro Gordo County, Iowa. Vol. II. Lewis Publ. Co. Chicago. 1910. Transcribed by Jennifer Gunderson (Mar 2021)