For the last week or so I've been running into a lot of amazing early Manning history.
Amy from Rhode Island, sent me several pictures of the Sweger family, I discovered 2 pictures on E-bay of Dr. Williams and his 1st wife, and Connie with her tireless efforts in helping preserve Manning's history has found a ton of obituaries and information for these families and also the Loptien family in Manning...all of whom were very early Pioneers of the Manning area.
Follow these links and please spend some time reading the information...you'll learn a lot about early Manning history and the people who helped make this town into what it is today.
You will also read about how tragic events also occurred in the past.

It is so amazing when people who have no Manning connections find my web pages and then contact me to share what they found...just wish more Manning connected people would work with me, but that's the way things go historically for this perspective...I'll just keep plugging my way as best I can.

Loptien history

Sweger history

Dr. Williams history

Here is one example where I ran into the name John Vossbeck...
Connie and I couldn't find much about John, but more common than not anymore, when I search my database I'll find something for that name/event, etc.
I've started making Non-obituaries so that when I run into a name, I can search my obituary page and maybe at least find some basic information for starters, without having to search for hours.

Non obituary developed from various sources:

John J. Vossbeck

Birth February 18, 1855
Death May 29, 1919
Burial Saint Marys Cemetery, Bismarck, North Dakota

J.J. VOSSBECK
Mr. Vossbeck was born in Germany but came to the United States in 1870 and located at Davenport, Iowa. He came to Manning in 1883, and he now owns the leading and largest blacksmith shop in the city. Mr. Vossbeck owns and occupies a brick building, which is 25x60 feet. Machinery run by gasoline engine. Horseshoeing and plow work a specialty. He employs two men who are experienced blacksmiths. Mr. Vossbeck has a good home in the city, and has a large number of friends and acquaintances.
Carroll Sentinel, June 5, 1899

IOWA TOWN BADLY SINGED
Eight Business Houses Were Destroyed by Fire at Manning
Manning, Iowa, September 12
This city was visited by a most destructive fire, and eight business houses, including the First National Bank, were totally destroyed.
The wind was blowing a furious gale, and for a time it looked as though the entire business portion of the city was doomed. It is supposed that the fire originated from a spark from the engine in the blacksmith shop.
Following is as complete list of the losses it is possible to secure at this time:
First National Bank, $8,000; W.H. Parrott, butter and eggs, $400; A. Cloughly, $500; Ferguson Brothers, restaurant, $500; N. Nupnaw, meat market, $1,000; H. & A. Dethlefs, hardware, $5,000; Free Press office, $1,200; Peter Wacker, saloon, $1,200; John Vossbeck, blacksmith, $1,000; A.W. Blakeslee, dentist, $200; A. Cook, wagon maker, $500; C. Reinholdt, damage to building and hardware stock, $2000; Barnes, $500; total loss, $33,000.
The following lodges were burned out: German Odd Fellows, Masons, Woodmen, Workmen and American Odd Fellows.
Deadwood Evening Independent, September 13, 1895

VOSSBECK & SON
Success to Bismarck Imps Company's Blacksmith business.
Blacksmithing - auto work, carriage and wagon repairing neatly and properly done.
Expert horseshoers and Spring Works specialty
For first class service call phone 137
714 Thayer Street
Bismarck Tribune, January 4, 1916 - newspaper ad


1916 ad Connie found in a Bismarck, North Dakota, paper


Purchased on E-bay from Portland, Oregon, in 2010.

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