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Mrs. M. A. Mann

                                                            Arkansas City.
Arkansas City Traveler, December 1, 1880.
We would call attention to the fact that Mrs. Mann has opened a dress-making establishment in the room south of Blakeney’s grocery, and having had twenty-one years’ experience, is confident of giving satisfaction.
NOTICE: First-Class Dress-Making! MRS. M. A. MANN has opened a Dress-making establishment in the room just south of Blakeney’s grocery, where she will be pleased to meet all wishing anything in her line. Have had twenty-one years experience in CUTTING AND FITTING and am confident of giving satisfaction. Give me a call. Prices Reasonable.
[TRIAL DOCKET: DISTRICT COURT.]
Cowley County Courant, April 20, 1882.
                                             CIVIL DOCKET. FOURTH DAY.
                                             Missouri A. Mann vs. Adam Mann.
[DISTRICT COURT.]
Winfield Courier, October 11, 1883.
Missouri A. Mann vs. Adam Mann, dismissed.
                                        GRINDINGS OF THE LEGAL MILL.
Winfield Courier, Thursday, May 7, 1885.
M. A. Mann, Arkansas City, vs. Adam Mann: divorce decreed, with custody of children and property.
From Cowley County Heritage Book, 1990, pages 232-233.
Charles & Grace (Breneman) Mann Family.
Charles Mann was born in El Dorado, Kansas, 1879, son of Missouri Hoyle Gibson and Adam Mann. Charles was six months old when they moved to Cowley County. Adam was born in Russell County, Kentucky, to William and Eliza White Mann. Adam was employed in construction work, one job being the canal in Arkansas City. Missouri operated early day hotels and boarding houses in Arkansas City. Missouri was the daughter of Julia Keaton and Andrew Hoyle.
At a young age Charles was a newspaper carrier and helped his mother in the hotel business. In 1897 Charles went to Texas and joined the Texas Rangers. In May 1898 he signed with the Texas Cavalry at San Antonio and became one of Teddy Roosevelt’s Rough Riders. He fought in the battle at San Juan, Cuba, and raised the flag over Morro Castle when the Rough Riders won the battle. He enlisted with the U. S. Coast Artillery at San Francisco in 1899 and served with the 60th company in the Philippines, discharged in 1902 at San Francisco.
Charles Mann married Grace Breneman at Newkirk, Oklahoma, on March 26, 1905. Grace was born at Benton, Kansas, the daughter of Abraham and Emma Hafer Breneman, moving to the IXL Community when Grace was a little girl. The Breneman family came to America in 1709 from Switzerland. Grace’s father was born in Pennsylvania to Henry and Anna Nissley Breneman, and her mother was the daughter of Godfrey and Mary Phillips Hafer of Jackson County, Kansas.

Charles and Grace Mann first set up their home in Sumner County, where their first daughter was born. In 1909 they lived in El Dorado and Eureka before returning to Silverdale in 1930. They had nine daughters and one son, Grover, who died at age twelve. The girls were raised as farm hands. Charles also raised and trained horses, some of racing stock, and he also did carpenter work. Charles and Grace Mann also ran boarding houses to make ends meet. Grace spent many hours hand quilting and darning socks by hand. Grace Mann also made lye soap as most people did in the early 1900s. Many Sundays were spent making home-made ice cream, with grandchildren taking turns setting on the freezer while older ones turned the crank, a good time had by all.
Charles Mann died in 1949 and Grace Mann in 1966. Both are buried in Riverview Cemetery along with their son.
Today, two daughters still live in Cowley County: June Mann Miller and Mary Mann Gilmore, along with several grand and great grandchildren.
[The story about Charles and Grace Mann Family was submitted by Virginia Schimmel.]

 

Cowley County Historical Society Museum