MANN, James

MANN

Posted By: Karon Velau (email)
Date: 5/31/2021 at 11:45:35

James Mann
born Aug 8, 1834

James Mann, a successful farmer and well-known citizen of Battle Township, Ida County, Iowa, has been identified with the agricultural interests of this place since 1881. Briefly, a sketch of his life is herewith presented: James Mann was born in Aberdeenshire, Scotland, August 8, 1834, son of Charles and Anna (Grant) Mann, natives of Scotland. His parents passed their lives and died in their native land, the father dying when James was six years of age. He was a carpenter by trade. Our subject was reared on a farm, and at the age of twenty came to America, first locating in Canada, where he spent seven months. He then came to Iowa and settled in Cedar county, near Tipton, where he was engaged in farming until the outbreak of the civil war. September 13, 1861, he enlisted in Company C, Second Iowa Cavalry, and participated in numerous important engagements, among which were those of Island No. 10, New Madrid, Corinth, Iuka, etc. He was twice wounded, at West Point and Nashville, Tennessee. July 17, 1864, he was honorably discharged at Davenport, Iowa, after which he returned to his home in Cedar county. He farmed near Clarence until 1881, when he came to Ida county and purchased 160 acres of wild land in Battle township, and now has one of the best improved farms in the neighborhood. He has a two-story residence, 16 x 24 feet, with an L, 14 x 16 feet, one story. His barn is 26 x 34 feet, with 16-foot posts. Cribs, sheds, stables, granary, feed lots, good fences, and a grove and orchard comprising four acres, are among the other improvements he has placed on this land. He is engaged in general farming and stock-raising.
Mr. Mann was married in 1866, in Tipton County, Iowa, to Isabelle Safely, a native of Red Oak, Cedar County, locating there in 1835. Mr. and Mrs. Mann had eight children, three sons and five daughters, namely: Willie A.; Charles J.; John S., who died at the age of eleven years; Mary, wife of Hugh Ferguson, of Louisiana; Bessie, wife of William Laing, of Battle township; Anna A., Cora B., and Fannie Laura. The great bereavement of Mr. Mann’s wife was caused by the death of his beloved wife, July 3, 1887. She was a devoted companion, a loving mother, and in every respect a most amiable woman. Mr. Mann is a Republican. He has served his township most acceptedly as a member of the School Board. He is a member of the Grand Army of the Republic, William Baker Post, No. 298, Correctionville.
Source: Biographical History of Crawford, Ida, and Sac Counties, Iowa, 1893, p.553