Obituary J. A. Manson

Hon. J. A. Manson Dead

The announcement of the death of Hon. Joseph A. Manson, which occurred at his home in Saulsbury, Thursday, January 24, 1901, will be read with deep sorrow. He had been in declining health for several year, and the end was not unexpected by his immediate friends. His remains were buried in the Saulsbury Cemetery with Masonic honors. The stores of the town closed and an immense crowd was present to pay respect to his memory.

Mr. Manson was born July 28, 1842, in McDonough, Ga. He was educated at Emory College, Oxford, Ga., where he was at school when the war broke out. He entered Company A., Cobbs, Ga., as private. In 1863 he was promoted to rank lieutenant; November, 1863 he received a wound from the explosion of a hand grenade, at Knoxville and was disabled for a month. April, 1865, he was captured and imprisoned at Johnson’s Island, where he was held two months. After his release be resumed his studies at college, graduating in the year 1867. He taught school at Bolivar, LaGrange, Tenn., and Saulsbury until 1880. He was elected to represent Hardeman County in the legislature in 1876, and served with so much credit and distinction that he was chosen each succeeding term until 1884, serving on term as Speaker of the House. In 1893 he was appointed by President Cleveland United Stated Marshal for the Western District of Tennessee, which position he held for several years and filled with signal success. He aspired to Congressional honors in 1900, but was defeated for the nomination. At the time of his death, he was one of the Trustees of the Western Hospital, having been appointed by Gov. McMillin. He leaves a wife and six children.

Source: original newspaper clipping in scrapbook created by Ada Clark Stroup of Saulsbury