Michael Louis McManus, vice president of the First National Bank of Adair and for years a prominent merchant of that town, belongs to that class of representative men who recognize that earnest, persistent effort constitutes the basis of all honorable success and, realizing this, have so directed their labors that indefatigable energy has brought to them comfortable fortunes. Mr. McManus is a native of Jennings county, Indiana. He was born November 1, 1841, of the marriage of John and Mary (Connolly) McManus, both of whom were natives of Ireland. The father was born in the province of Leinster and became a farmer. The mother's birth occurred in County Leitrim. When a young man of eighteen years John McManus crossed the Atlantic, and Mary Connolly came with friends to the United States, both settling in New York city, where they met and were afterward married. In 1838 they removed westward to Jennings county, Indiana, where the father engaged in farming for about fourteen years. In 1852 he brought his family to Iowa, settling in Scott county, where he purchased a farm about fifteen miles from Davenport. After living upon that place for some time they took up their abode in the city of Davenport, where their remaining days were passed.
Michael Louis McManus spent his youthful days under the parental roof and worked upon his father's farm in Scott county. He attended school in both Indiana and Iowa and at the age of twenty years he responded to the country's call for troops, enlisting for service in the Union army in August, 1862, as a member of Company A, Fourteenth Regiment Iowa Volunteer Infantry. He was with that command until the 16h of November, 1864, and was mustered out at Davenport, Iowa. He was on duty with Sherman's army and took part in a number of hotly contested engagements, in which he was again and again in great danger. He participated in the Red River campaign and in the Atlanta campaign under General A. J. Smith, who at the head of a maneuvering column separated from the main army cooperated with General W. T. Sherman on that campaign. Mr. McManus was also in the Meridian expedition under General Sherman and was slightly wounded in the leg at the battle of Pleasant Hill, Louisiana, but never reported at the hospital. When mustered out he held the rank of sergeant and he returned home with intimate knowledge of all the experiences and hardships which constitute the life of the soldier.
When his military service had ended Mr. McManus returned to this state and in Davenport, in 1867, opened a grocery store which he conducted until 1870. He then removed to Bear Grove, Guthrie county, Iowa, where he purchased land and for then years engaged in farming. He then returned to Scott county and established a general mercantile store at Long Grove, there remaining for a year, after which he sold out. In 1882 he came to Adair, where he established a general store, conducting it until 1902. In that undertaking he was in partnership with several local men. On disposing of his interests in the business he retired from commercial lines. Afterward he served for a time as secretary of the Adair Cooperative Creamery Company and still later became one of the organizers of the First National Bank of Adair, of which he is now the vice president. In the creamery company, too, he has been advanced to the presidency and in these connections he is controlling important business interests. He is resourceful, ready to meet any emergency, and throughout his entire career he has never feared to venture where favoring opportunity has pointed the way. His plans are carefully formulated and when one avenue of opportunity seems closed he searches out another path that will lead to the desired goal.
On the 6th of November, 1866, Mr. McManus was united in marriage to Miss Ann Kerrigan, who was born in Ireland, April 6, 1846, the wedding ceremony being performed by the Rev. A. M. Pelamourgues. Her parents were Patrick and Ellen Kerrigan, both natives of Ireland. The father passed away in England in 1851. The mother and children then came to the United States, locating first in Ohio, later in Madison, Indiana, and subsequently in Davenport, Iowa. Mrs. Kerrigan died at the home of Mr. McManus of Adair, on the 25th of July, 1902. To our subject and his wife have been born nine children, as follows: Mary Ellen, who is now the wife of T. H. Walsh, of Adair, Iowa; Agnes, who is the wife of William Walsh, of Adair, Iowa; Ann Theresa, who gave her hand in marriage to Ed Brannan, of Guthrie county, Iowa; John F., who wedded Miss Therese McEvoy and is assistant cashier of the First National Bank of Adair, Iowa; Loretta C., at home; Vincent P., who is a practicing attorney of Manson, Iowa, and who was united in marriage to Mary Armstrong, of Winterset, Iowa; Josephine, who died in infancy; Joseph P., who is a practicing physician and surgeon of Parnell, Iowa, and who was united in marriage to Agnes Murphy, of Parnell; and Alice M., who is the wife of J. M. Walsh, of Adair.
The democratic party finds in Mr. McManus a stalwart adherent of its principles but at local elections where no national issue is involved he often votes for the man regardless of party affiliation. He has served for three terms as mayor of Adair and as chief executive of the city has earnestly worked to advance public interests. He is also the secretary of the Adair school board. He and his family are communicants of St. John's Catholic church of Adair and he belongs to the Knights of Columbus lodge at Atlantic, Iowa. He maintains pleasant relations with his old army comrades as a member of Washington post, No. 135, G. A. R., of Adair, in which he is now serving as quartermaster. During the Spanish-American war he received permission from Governor L. M. Shaw of Iowa to drill a company of men at no expense to the state and organized a company of eighty men who were thoroughly drilled and ready for service had President McKinley needed to call for more troops. He has deep love for the stars and stripes and has proven his patriotism and loyalty on more than one occasion. | 
