Recent feature stories down below!

Manning, Iowa
"Home of Pioneer Spirit" Where independent & rugged-thinking individuals (both past & present) work together to accomplish great things for the community!

If you stumble onto my web page or follow a search link here and had/have a relative who lived here in Manning, please contact me.
I'm interested in any/all old pix, history, and old items connected to Manning to scan and document.
I'll share with you if you share with me...

I'm posting the older Monitor articles I scan at this link so as not to over-load my main web page.

Monitor Archives scanned

I will continue to add more Monitor articles down below, as I continue to scan them, along with corresponding information for some of them, so you may need to scroll down on the right side to find some of the more recent articles featured.

If you don't think we are in BIG TROUBLE - watch this video which is all over the Internet.
I generally don't get into the ridiculous non-sense like this that we live in today but this clip is truly amazing! "Follow the science?" I watched this once and it is PAINFUL to watch and won't watch it any more!

Ramona Hughes

Click to see the tribute

Steven C. Rutz

Click to see the tribute

Another unique event at the Manning Veterans' wall.

January 3, 2026

What is this all about?

September 15, 1975

January 19, 1950, Manning Monitor Joe John, son of Joseph and Grace Parker Bullivant, was born May 7, 1912, in Zion City, Illinois. As a small child he moved with his family to Oregon and completed high school there. Following his graduation he worked on the family farm.
On February 18, 1942, Joe enlisted in the United States Navy where he was an electrician. While he was in the hospital recuperating from a service related injury he met a Navy nurse Bernice 'Patsy' Allen.
They were married in Havana, Cuba. Shortly after their marriage, Patsy was killed when the ship she was serving on was bombed. Joe received his honorable discharge in October of 1945.
He returned to Oregon and then in 1949 moved to Manning, where he did mechanical work until 1957. He also started farming part of the Parker farm just north of Manning (where Sheila Reitan and family currently live on an acreage).

Paul and Joe Bullivant WWII

June 1998 sale - Joe Bullivant on the farm just north of the Catholic Cemetery.

January 19, 1950, Manning Monitor

I haven't heard the term middlings for a long time

January 19, 1950, Manning Monitor

302 Main Street - January 19, 1950, Manning Monitor

I was completely surprised when I read where this demonstration was held.
My grandfather, August Kusel's farm...of course my dad and uncle Melvin would have been there.
I wished I would have known about this to ask them exactly what this device was and how it operated.
I'll have to ask Warren Puck to see if he remembers this device.

June 15, 1950, Manning Monitor

This was my mother's first cousin, Wilmer Ehrichs.
His dad, Emil, started the business and then moved to Denison in 1941 to start an Ehrichs Garage there.

June 15, 1950, Manning Monitor

Anyone know who Vincent Vinke is?
I can't find him in any obituaries of Delbert, Ralph, Averill...

June 15, 1950, Manning Monitor

June 15, 1950, Manning Monitor
I square up the pages before I scan them but sometimes there are columns that are crooked from when they were originaly set up on the plates.

Full page ad - June 15, 1950, Manning Monitor

I realize most people won't have the slightest interest in reading most of these Monitor articles, but for me, they are providing so much insight into the past about people I've known but never knew about them.
I never knew that Lowell Stribe was in a school chorus.
I've been sending Richard Zerwas various clippings about him and just discovered he played his trumpet on WOW-TV Channel 6 in 1950 and also at this Memorial Day service.
Dick was also a member of the first MHS golf team to go to state.
Then read about the "Mule Train" vs the "Hog Train."

I also found more specific proof that Manning's Children Day began in 1881...two articles farther down below document this.
I don't know who or when the first year statement was changed to 1883...

I've also been adding a lot of newly found obituaries in the Monitor pages, so check this out...

May 25, 1950, Manning Monitor

May 18, 1950, Manning Monitor

May 25, 1950, Manning Monitor

May 25, 1950, Manning Monitor

Who remembers the "Red Skelton Hour?"
Do you remember the words he spoke at the end of every show?

May 25, 1950, Manning Monitor
"Good Night and God Bless"
Something, sadly you won't hear anymore today on TV.

June 1, 1950, Manning Monitor

June 1, 1950, Manning Monitor

Ralph Vinke farm - scanned from the collection of Frank Ehrichs - Dave Kusel's great-uncle.

Back: Averill, Delbert, Ralph
Front: Detlef, Lois, Metha (Joachimsen), Luverne

I finally found the corroborating information to my previous information over the years that Children's Day had its beginnings in 1881.
I don't know when it got changed to 1883...

May 18, 1950, Manning Monitor
Here it further states the 69th Children's Day which puts the first one in 1881.

June 8, 1950, Manning Monitor

June 8, 1950, Manning Monitor
My dad purchased Doc's farm which was just north of the trestle bridge.
He lived in the house for a while after selling the property to dad.
I remember one day driving on the yard and there was Doc, up in the crotch of a tree digging out some bark.
Doc also made medicine for humans and bottled it with his name on - but got in trouble with this.

June 8, 1950, Manning Monitor

May 18, 1950, Manning Monitor

If fewer people support the Manning Monitor today - it won't be long before the oldest business in Manning will end!

May 18, 1950, Manning Monitor

May 18, 1950, Manning Monitor

Herman, Laura (Mohr), Walter

Lage farm - view from southeast

May 18, 1950, Manning Monitor

The main culprit for the major erosion of the past was the plow, in conjunction with "check-row" planting corn where a wire with knots spaced evenly was strung across the field.
So this was in a straight line, which means up and down the hills - there was no way to contour plant that way.
This type of planting allowed the farmer to cultivate one way and then cross cultivate the next time. My uncle Melvin said when you cultivated the second time you would fill in the gullies eroded after the first cultivation.
Not until plate-type planters came along was it possible to plant on the contour.

May 4, 1950, Manning Monitor

May 18, 1950, Manning Monitor

May 4, 1950, Manning Monitor

May 11, 1950, Manning Monitor

For decades I've been involved in/around the community but have basically stayed on the sidelines - with a few exceptions.
I preferred to stay independent but would attend meetings and events of various organizations and committees to listen and observe.
I've said for a long time that if more of us and the groups would work together better and not stick to their corners with their clicks, we could get a lot more accomplished.
One difference is that years ago, those disparate groups knew a lot about the history of the community and did occasionally listen to those who came before them, but today, I don't see these characteristics as much now.
This 1950 community promotional ad by the Manning Chamber of Commerce and businesses, definitely tried to emphasize "cooperation."

April 6, 1950, Manning Monitor

April 13, 1950, Manning Monitor

April 20, 1950, Manning Monitor

April 27, 1950, Manning Monitor
A perfect example of when so-called & self-appointed "environmental experts" push something...
When they really know nothing at all about the environment.
"Multiflora rose is one of the biggest conservation mistakes we made," Illinois Forestry Extension research specialist.
The plant now known as a troublesome invasive species and extensive eradication was necessary.

April 27, 1950, Manning Monitor

303 Main Street - April 27, 1950, Manning Monitor

April 27, 1950, Manning Monitor

Ernest Dammann WWI

Ernest Detlef Dammann, son of Claus and Anna (Biehl) Dammann, was born near Botna September 10, 1895, and attended rural school.
He served in World War I and returned to Manning, where he was a farm laborer.
He married Maxine Cooper November 7, 1942, and they have made their home in Manning. He died Monday morning, September 29, 1975.

March 30, 1950, Manning Monitor

Pastor John M. Ansorge - March 30, 1950, Manning Monitor

March 30, 1950, Manning Monitor

JOHN STEINHAUER
Funeral services for John Peter Steinhauer, 86, were held on Friday morning, June 25, 1971, at Zion Lutheran Church in Manning at 11:00 a.m., with Pastor Edward F. Heinicke officiating. Burial was in the Arcadia Cemetery, with the Ohde Funeral Home of Manning in charge.

Son of John and Anna Steinhauer, he was born February 17, 1885, near Arcadia, and attended school in Wheatland Township.
He was married January 19, 1910, to Christina Bauer, and they had one son, who died in infancy.
They farmed three miles north of Arcadia and in 1918 moved to a farm three miles north of Manning. In 1926, they moved to the Great Western Park, where he operated the park and also an insurance business. In 1942, they moved into Manning, and he continued to operate his insurance business. Mrs. Steinhauer died on September 3, 1946.

Look at all of the lumber yards, construction and supply companies Manning once had!

March 9, 1950, Manning Monitor

My great friend and relative, who helped me with so many Manning history projects over the years...

March 9, 1950, Manning Monitor

March 9, 1950, Manning Monitor

March 16, 1950, Manning Monitor

319 Main Street - March 23, 1950, Manning Monitor

813 Fourth Street - March 23, 1950, Manning Monitor

March 23, 1950, Manning Monitor

302 Main Street - March 23, 1950, Manning Monitor

Does anyone remember who Lucille was?
First found this information in the Manning Centennial book
Maurine Schram (Mrs. Morris Heider) opened Maurine's Klip and Kurl in September, 1930.
She purchased the shop from Evelyn (Ryberg) Crammer. It was located over the Martens Mercantile Store.

Also found this in the Aspinwall Centennial book
Sure glad I scanned both the Manning & Aspinwall Centennial books, so I have the text digitized and can quickly search for a word/name.
Lucille Lamp, daughter of Amelia and Hubert Lamp, was one of four daughters raised on a farm north of Aspinwall.
Her sisters are Eunice, Elverda, and Joanne. The girls attended Iowa Township No. 2 school.
Lucille was a 1941 graduate of Manning High School, receiving a Normal Training degree.
She was 16 at the time, and not eligible to teach until she was 18, although she did do some substitute teaching during the next two years.
After a number of years of teaching, Lucille left the profession and became a licensed cosmetologist.

She owned her own shop in Manning, the Klip and Kurl, located where the Manning Plaza was later built.

September 21, 1950, Manning Monitor

You often hear how businesses have to diversify - this is something I never expected to see from a feed & produce company.

September 21, 1950, Manning Monitor

September 21, 1950, Manning Monitor

405 Main Street - September 21, 1950, Manning Monitor

Darrel Bales September 1950

Harold Calvert September 1950

Joyce (Jensen) Schroeder, Bernice (Mundt) Spiese September 1950

September 21, 1950, Manning Monitor

October 5, 1950, Manning Monitor

September 14, 1950, Manning Monitor

September 14, 1950, Manning Monitor
I assume this was William Ramsey, son of Charles & Elizabeth (Campbell) Ramsey.
Siblings: Neva Hahn, Howard, Doris Rutz, Donald, Bob, and Merlin.

September 14, 1950, Manning Monitor - (Mevis L. Wiese)

I've known about this proposal since working on the Manning Schools history book in 2006.
This proposal was voted down, and I think there were a few other attempts at expanding.
Not until 1964 & 1972, did the community vote to build a new grade and then high school at its present location.
Today, way too many people want instant action but that is generally not the way the world works.
Hopefully and eventually an addition to the existing school will be built - it just may take more time than many of us would like.

September 14, 1950, Manning Monitor

September 14, 1950, Manning Monitor

As I continue to scan the Monitors, I run into all kinds of interesting things and names I've known for decades.
I ran into the Kleespies name in one of the Monitors and noticed I only had one Kleespies' obituary, so I started searching the Internet and stumbled into something that I had never expected to find.
I would guess that no one in Manning anymore knows of the Kleespies name - unless they read about it in my web page stories or what I put in the Monitor.

Follow this link to see the tragic account about DeNage Kleespies in 1980.
I also included pictures and other information while she was living in Manning.
We all have to face differing levels of tragedy but fortunately most of us don't face what DeNage and her husband had happened to them.

DeNage (Kleespies) Lowe

Click to see the VERY tragic story but also a time when she was young

I continue to add more items of interest from the Monitors so you need to scroll down to see newer ones.
I also have some questions about people and locations with some of the articles - so please help out if you know some of the answers.
The older featured articles can now be found at the Monitor Archive link above.

September 7, 1950, Manning Monitor

August 3, 1950, Manning Monitor

You don't often hear the word "Appreciation" in conjunction with buying local.

August 3, 1950, Manning Monitor

August 3, 1950, Manning Monitor
Erna (Porsch) Schultz, daughter of Adolph and Marie (Lehwald) Porsch, wife of Ray Schultz

1943 Roland Valentine, Ray Schultz

Ray Schultz WWII

August 10, 1950, Manning Monitor

Rita (Wanninger) Misselhorn - Mrs. Amos Misselhorn

August 10, 1950, Manning Monitor

August 10, 1950, Manning Monitor

Lorraine Grundmeier - (later Mrs. Merlyn "Buzz" Hargens)

Grant & Lorraine Grundmeier

Back: Shirley, Grant, Lorraine, JoAnn
Clarence, Gerald, Hulda (Jensen)

August 10, 1950, Manning Monitor

August 17, 1950, Manning Monitor

Craig Ruhde MHS 1968

August 17, 1950, Manning Monitor

It is little articles like this that will help to add to the military history for the various Manning Veterans in the Manning Veterans book.

August 17, 1950, Manning Monitor

Amos Misselhorn WWII

Rita & Amos Misselhorn

Kent, Twyla, Keith Misselhorn

August 17, 1950, Manning Monitor
323 Main Street

August 17, 1950, Manning Monitor

August 24, 1950, Manning Monitor

Unfortunately I have no military pictures of Hugo who was KIA in Korea, and very little military information

August 31, 1950, Manning Monitor

August 31, 1950, Manning Monitor

Back: Joanne (Mrs. Edward Drees), Eunice (Mrs. Julius Koester), Lucille (Mrs. Louis Boell)
Front: Elverda (Mrs. Eldor Schwitzer), Amelia (Westphalen), Hubert Lamp

August 31, 1950, Manning Monitor

August 31, 1950, Manning Monitor - 324 Main Street

August 31, 1950, Manning Monitor
Part of the F.D. Ross Ford Garage business, located in the Ford Garage (now Plastico)

July 20, 1950, Manning Monitor

July 27, 1950, Manning Monitor

July 20, 1950, Manning Monitor

July 27, 1950, Manning Monitor

Does anyone know who Clark was?

July 27, 1950, Manning Monitor

July 27, 1950, Manning Monitor
820 Third Street from 1945 - 1954 Leland "Tom" F. Knudsen
Today the location of John Altenhein's Auto Repair

When items are reasonable on E-bay, I try to purchase them.
Here is a recent purchase...

If you have old Manning items/history that you want to bring back and donate to Manning, please get them to me first.
I'll digitize them and try to find other information about the topic, and also record who donated them and the person/family who had them.
All too often stuff is donated and then put in boxes or hung on a display, not realizing that eventually those items continue to deteriorate, so digitizing them is the only way to preserve them long term.
Having worked on Manning history for over 50 years, I have the experience and know-how with preserving our ever-dwindling history.

I've been working on Manning IDs since the mid-1970s, and when I started my web page in 1996, I had assumed and hoped that I would get all kinds of help, but unfortunately, for whatever reasons, I seldom received help...I just had to depend on taking time showing pictures to the "old timers" around town who many times were helpful - folks like Art & Ila Rix, Ken Dethlefs, Max Detlefsen, Bill Ohde, Bud & Letha Johnson, Lyle & Dorothy Arp, Gerhardt Voge, my mother, and many many more.
Now they are ALL gone, so pix from those older generations will sadly go on forever unidentified, UNLESS someone younger has the same picture that is identified.
So if you see a picture I have posted and asking for help with IDs and you know - please let me know.
Once I no longer am able or around to do this, the old Manning pictures and history still in existence will end up in the trash heap of history since no one will take the time try to find out the IDs or be able to find anyone living who can help.

It's up to everyone connected to Manning who grew up here to help me...I can't do it by myself!

Judy Musfeldt, Joan Mohr, Judy Borkowski, Barb Doyel, Norma Luetje

I keep getting different names for the tall gal in the middle - is this Judy Borkowski?
The name sewn on her shirt is Darlys.

If you have a Manning Veterans uniform and don't know what to do with it - please contact me.
I'm trying my best to save as much Manning history as I can.
I often hear "you can't keep everything!" and then I tell them "everything" is almost gone, when it comes to my 50+ years perspective on the totality of Manning's past.

I'm looking for information and obituaries for Nicholas Dappen MHS 1966 and Joleen (Irlmeier) Wess MHS 1965.
If you know where/when they passed away and any other details to narrow down the search parameters online to find obits, please let me know.
Thanks,
Dave

This is another shout-out to anyone/everyone who in the distant past or recently have agreed to work with me on old Manning connected pix and history they have so I can scan those things and get them preserved in the Manning Historical Database I'm constantly working on.
I know you are busy and it is a hassle to dig out and send to me, but the only way that history you have will get preserved long-term is if I get it to scan and archive.
I know many people scoff at this and say that their family won't throw those things away and/or they have scanned those things - but I have 50+ years of experience to back up this statement...as I've seen one old family/Manning collection after another thrown away - I usually find out around 5 - 10 more collections that were thrown away each year.
So either lose it, or preserve it in my database...you don't have to spend much time but I'm the one who spends hundreds and thousands of hours scanning Manning stuff.
I've seen scans by people and most of the time it is way below par...and the other problem is very few have that data properly backed up on multiple hard drives and at off-site locations such as in a bank safe deposit box.
Dave

Does anyone know the location or contact information for Charles Scott who taught mathematics at Manning in 1972?
He was a Vietnam Veteran and I'd like to get some military information/pix for him to add to the Manning Veterans' book.
For that matter, any teacher at Manning who served that you know of their whereabouts - please let me know.
The list of Manning connected names who served keeps growing almost daily.

Please visit the Manning Exchange for local news, articles, and information...a work in progress.

Many upcoming events.

Korean War Veterans continues

There are lots of Manning Veterans of the Korean era with no pictures or information.
Will you be in the Manning Veterans' book???
Unless more post-WWII Veterans come forward there will be a lot of 1946 to present day Manning connected Veterans missing from the book.

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.

Click to visit the Manning Exchange

1 example from the Logeland Studio wedding packets.

There are still quite a few Logeland Studio wedding packets available.

Click to read about this important project.
It will help to financially support the Manning Veterans' history book project.

"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.

Amos Rutz WWII

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.

Are you a Manning connected Veteran? I would like to hear from you!!!
We are starting a Manning Veteran history book project and if you don't come forward you may not be included in the book. NOT because we want to intentionally leave you out but because you didn't come forward.
Same goes for those of you who have Veterans in your family who have passed away. If you don't come forward and help by submitting Veteran connected pictures and information your Veteran may not be included in this once in a life-time Manning Veterans' history book.

Please e-mail me about your Veteran questions manningveterans@davidkusel.com

The United States flag
is proudly displayed here and NO other flag is as IMPORTANT!

1 Manning citizen served in the War of 1812
106 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

Are you a Manning Veteran?
Are you currently serving and have a Manning connection?
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

There are a lot of WWI and some WWII Veterans pictures with no IDs.

Before you spend time scanning pictures
please look at these instructions
I appreciate your efforts scanning pictures for me but if you only make low resolution scans you are really wasting your time. High resolution scans are the best and only way to really preserve those old pictures.

Click to see the tutorial

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.

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