Decatur County Journal
February l9, l903

The family of MR. JOHN MANNING, well known in this locality, has been
recently sorely bereaved in the loss of their son, JOHN MANNING JR., who
was born in Decatur County, Ia., 6 miles east of Kellerton, March ll,
l890, and died at his father's residence in Kellerton, Saturday Feb. l5,
l903, at 9 o'clock a.m., being l2 years, ll months and 4 days of age.
When the deceased was an infant, 7 months old, he suffered an
irreparable loss in the death of his mother, who was buried in the Leon
Cemetery. Loving and sympathetic hearts, however, tenderly and
affectionately ministered to him in childhood, and he grew to be a noble
youth, loved and esteemed by all who knew him. He was an especial
favorite among those of his own age, as was evidenced in the presence of
l50 of his school fellows who passed in procession by his bier.

Funeral services were conducted at Kellerton Monday, Feb. l6th, at 3
o'clock p.m., by Rev. A.M. Molesworth of the M.E. Church. The remains
were brought to Leon Monday evening. A brief sermon was held by Rev.
I.N. Woodward, at the home of the brother of the deceased, MR. FRANK
MANNING, and interment was made in the Leon Cemetery Friday afternoon,
Feb. l6.
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Copied by Nancee(McMurtrey)Seifert
July 29, 200l

in the obituary for JOHN MANNING JR in Vol 1 Iss #238 there is reference to
his brother, FRANK MANNING of Leon. I believe this must be the person who,
with his wife, Lyda, ran the Manning Cafe in Leon for so many years.

When I first knew of it, it was located in the SW corner of the courthouse
square and in the SW corner of the intersection - just north of the
hardware store. Then it was moved to the NE corner of Main and Rte #2 - a
location that I believe has belonged to the Idle Hour Cafe for the past few
years.

Frank and Lyda had two daughters: 1) Marie, who married Pearl Weeks (for
many years the manager of the Leon water system, and; 2) Madge, who married
Tom Cowan, a manager for the Maytag Co in Newton.

My parents were close to all of these and, I'm sure, many former residents
of Leon enjoyed the high quality food and service at Manning's Cafe...jack