The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1914-09-09
STARTED AS FARMER
FRIENDS TELL OF START OF Il. [.
MANNING IN LIFE
Worked On Farm OF Another Man
Living In Two Room House, Eatl
He Made Good.

Living In Two Room House, Iatl
He Made Good.
The following letter has been given
to the press:
We, neighbors of R. l. Manning,
hereby testify that the following facts
regard to him are ccrrect:
Richard l. Manning of Sumter, who
will make the second race for gov
ernor, is what is generally termed a
"self-made" man. He has worked
his way from the bottom rung of the
ladder, starting his career in very
humble manner. He is above all else
a farmer, not theoretically but practi-
cally. The story of his early life is
one of struggles to make way in the
world.
In 1880 Mr. Manning, then 22
years of age, started to farm on a
Door, sandy farrs. The land was un-
improved, the crops were small and
it was hard living at that period MIR.
Manning worked three plows on his
farm. In 1881 he was married. In
that very year there was general
crop disaster resulting in heavy
loss to the farmers in which Mr. Man
ming shared.
The disaster of 1881 caused Mr..
Manning to give up his farm and
work for some one else. He left his
own farm and moved to the place Of
another, which he worked on shares.
At that time he lived in a two-room
house with shed room. 1t was nee
sssary that he should live in most
economically manner At ever turn
he had to economic in order to make
ends meet. A small wagon with a
spring seat took the place of buggy
on the farm. When he was able to
purchase a $50 buggy Mr., Manning
conceived that to be a luxury at that
time.
The struggle lasted for several
years but each year from then on
there was improvement IN the crops
made and Mr., Manning was able to
make a little more than the neces-
sary living expenses. gradually in
creasing his farming operations.
By the exercise of care, economy
and industry Mr., Manning was able
to increase by degrees his savings ano
some time later he moved back to his
own farm. Here he farmed fer Is
wears. At the end of that time. after
wears of struggling. Mr.. Manning's
[ activities became wider and larger
and then it could be said that he was
successful and beginning to pfospe.
a little.
Later on he was elected presideni
of the Bank of Sumter on account o.
his success ir business. That banf
has always done large business witt
farmers and a good share Of the stocf
in this bank is owned by farmers.
Undoubtedly, Mr.. Manning has &C
cumulated what property he has b!
his own exertion, Industry and goot
management,
In all movements affecting thu
farming interests of the State, Mr
| Manning has been in the front ranks
to. help. He has worked hard on thu
cotton holding plan, has advocated
| the proper warehousins Of cotton 81
| that the farmer might obtain bette
price for the staple ane has alway
aided in movements to finance th'
|cotton crop, he is president of cot
ton warehouse in his home county.
! Not only locally but throughout tn
State has Mr.. Manning watched GU
for the farming interests. Ever aler
and active in any move looking to tn
lbetterment of rural conditions, ne ha
! given his best thought as trustee o
EClemsn cllege to building UP tina
! farmers institution, which teache
agriculture to the youth of the State
He is chairman of the fertilizer boart
of Clemson and here again he i
watching the farmers Interests. TIL
State fair is another agricultural in
| stitution with which Mr.. Manning ha
been identified for man years.
| Mr. Manning is first farmer ant
aext business man. He manage
| his own farm now and he knows init
|mately rural conditions. A success
tul farmer, business man of Wild
experience Mr.. Manning would o'
able as governor to work for all thu
people of this State
Albert E. Aycock, Wedgeheld.
r. NJ. Cooper, Wisacky.
H. T. Strange, Mechanicsville.