Manney, John

MANNEY, RIDGEWAY, METIER

Posted By: Mary H. Cochrane, Volunteer
Date: 7/2/2019 at 10:45:56

Biography ~ John Manney, Jess Ridgeway, A. H. Metier
Garden Grove, Iowa

Leon Reporter
Leon, Iowa
Thursday, September 10, 1903

The following is a bit of history we recently learned concerning three Decatur County boys:

Twenty years ago last March, in 1883 A.H. METIER, JESS RIDGEWAY and JOHN MANNEY started from S. METIER'S farm overland for South Dakota and landed where Centerville, S.D., now is. From there they went to Douglas Co. to where Armour now is and located on claims, went back to Centerville and worked till in July and then went back to file on the claims, and found Hollanders raising crops on them and they failed to hold them. The boys went to where Geddis now is and JOHN MANNEY gave a man $10 to show him a claim that was not filed on and they went to Wheeler to file on it. They were informed that the agent was away but the man informing them said he was authorized to file claims and got the keys to the land office and took the numbers of MR. MANNEY's claim, and, looking at the records said the claim had been filed on. The boys staid (sic) there a short time and came home. MR. METIER was over the same territory two weeks ago and learned from the State's Attorney that the man that took the number of MR. MANEY's claim was a swindler and had filed the claim himself and that he and a partner had made $50,000 apiece at that business, but they both had lost (*can't read, paper torn) and working by the day. MR. METIER on coming home, started to raise shorthorn cattle with one cow and has become one of the most prominent breeders in the country. JOHN MANNEY died some years ago and JESS RIDGEWAY is a prominent farmer at Tonganoxie, Kan.

--GARDEN GROVE EXPRESS.

Copied by Nancee (McMurtrey) Seifert "With permission from the Leon Journal Reporter" ~ March 22, 2003