Old Settlers' Stories
by Charles E. Manby Family
Charles Manby was born in West Liberty, Iowa, in 1882, of Eugene and Carrie Gaskell Manby. His father died when he was two and his brother Harry four. His mother became postmaster at Holland, Iowa, and later married Lincoln Ferguson and gave Charles two half-brothers and two half-sisters.
Charles went to Des Moines to school to learn telegraphy and business in order to work for the Chicago, Rock Island and Pacific Railroad who also handled messages for Western Union. At the age of 18 (1900), he had his first station at Tripp, South Dakota.
His second station was Holmes, Iowa, where he met Harriet Eleanor Smith (born in 1883 at Reinbeck, Iowa), daughter of James and Jenet Smith. She attended school and grew to womanhood in the Goldfield, Iowa, area.
His third station was at Klemme, Iowa, and in order to see Harriet he would ride his bicycle 28 miles back on Sunday night. They were married May 25, 1904, and lived in Klemme, until transferring to Ocheyedan in January of 1906.
They joined the Congregational Church in 1906, and remained members until their deaths. Charles served on the church board and then was treasurer for many years. Harriet was active in church activities.
Charles served the Ocheyedan station from 1906, and remained members until their deaths. Charles served on the church board and then was treasurer for many years. Harriet was active in church activities.
Charles served the Ocheyedan station from 1906 until he retired in 1952, except for nine months served in Clarion, Iowa, in 1913.
In the early days the agent took care of all the freight, carried mail to the post office (later this was taken up by dray), operated Western Union messages and delivered them. Many times these messages were painful to deliver to friends, especially during war time. One occasion was the government message to the Sehr family (who happened to live next to us) of the death of their son, Albert. The bad news turned to good when the government was wrong and Albert was still alive.
Farmers came by horse and buggy about 2 or 3 a.m. for Charles to go to the depot and give them their freight so they could get back home to work in the field after daylight.
Charles was very active in other than the railroad. He kept books for the Farmer's Elevator, Johnson's Elevator, and the Calendar Elevator. He became may but quit to become city clerk and remained in that position until about 1926. He served on the school board in the 1930's, and then served as school treasurer for many years.
We had a very happy home life and half block to play in. All children were welcome to come and play in our yard with us.
When Superintendent Harry L. Comer started the first school band in 1926, we played at the Osceola County Fair, Clay County Fair and also at the Soybean Days at Sheldon. The first and second years Sup't Comer took the band to a contest at Sioux City sponsored by the Sioux City paper and a large hotel. The first year they won a radio for the school for being the youngest band there. The second year we won for being the most popular band.
Harry L. Comer left Ocheyedan school at the end of the first semester in January of 1929. He went to the Philippines for the government to set up the school system there. He was killed in a chemical explosion to his home in Manila, the spring of 1933.
Charles and Harriet had four children. Orma graduated from Ocheyedan High School in 1929, attended Iowa State Teachers College, then taught in rural schools around Ocheyedan for four years. She met Thomas Miller when he was teaching in Ocheyedan (1929-1932). He taught 7th and 8th grade and all of the vocal music, band and orchestra. They were married and moved to Renwick, where Tom was teaching. In 1959, they moved to Babbitt, Minnesota, where Tom taught and Orma became the librarian. Tom retired from active teaching about twenty years ago but has stayed involved in community activities and summer ball. Orma retired from the library in 1988. They had two children.
Merton graduated from Ocheyedan High School in 1931; he went to art school in Minneapolis. He worked for Erwin Glade when he built the building that is now Customer's Choice. He moved permanently to the Los Angeles area in the fall of 1935. He married Wanda Mathison in 1937. He went into construction work and built apartment buildings, houses, stores, etc...until his wife became ill with multiple sclerosis. He is now retired and lives in Granada Hills, California. They had four children, all daughters.
Murnace was born in 1915, graduated from Ocheyedan High School in 1933, and resides in Ocheyedan.
Beth Irene was born in 1923, graduated from Ocheyedan High School in 1940, and was active in all levels of music. She attended Iowa State Teachers College, then taught in the Ocheyedan area for one year before marrying Neal McCann of Cedar Falls, in the fall of 1942. She still lives in Cedar Falls and is now retired. Neal passed away in 1977. They had five children.
-Transcribed by Roseanna Zehner