The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1915-01-27
MANNING AND HIS EIFF

:; MANNING AND HIS EIFF
SHORT SKETCH OF MAN WHO Is
! NOW GOVERNOR.
His Family Has Long Been Promi
nent in the History Of the Palmetto
State.
Richard Irving Manning, who was
Tuesday inaugurated governor Of
South Carolina, Is self-made man
He has been successful as a banker
farmer and business man.
Richard Irving Manning, son Of
Richard Irvine Manning. and his wife
Elizabeth Allen Sinkler, was born al
Homesley Plantation, Sumter county
South Carolina, August IS, 1859. The
father, man OF equable tempera-
ment and gentle and unobstructive in
| manner, was noted for his excellent
| Judgment and scrupulous uprightness
in life. He impressed all as an hon
| orable and just man and his-opinion
naturally in matters Of moment was
often sought. He was successful
farmer and served acceptebly in the
State Senate.
Gov. Manning's paternal ancestor,
Laurence Manning, was born in Ire
land and immigrated thence prior to
the American revolution and settled
in Craven, subsequently Clarendon
county. He married a daughter of
Richard Richardson, distinguished
patriot, born near jamestown, Va,
1904, where ne had been land sur
veyor, removed to Craven county,
South Carolina, where he engaged in
farming. During the Indian border
war he commanded q regiment; was
member OF the council of safety in
Charleston in 1774; and for his ser
vices in Quelling dangerous Loyalist
revolt in the "back country" receiv-
ed the thanks Of the provincial con-
gress and was promoted to the rank
Of brigadier general. He was nlanl-
Der of the legislative council in 1770.
and in the provincial congress OF
South Carolina, assisted in forming a
State constitution. Lord Cornwal!is
made fruitless efforts to gain him
over to the royal cause. Made prison
er at the capture of Charleston, he
returned from the prison at St
Augustine and died in few days
near Salisbury. N c., in September,
1881. His eldest. son, Col. Richard
Richardson, commanded the right
wing Of Gen. Francis Marion's army
at the battle of Eutaw and wss
wounded. Another son, James E.
Richardson, was governor Of South
Carolina, 1902 to 1904.
The same Lawrence Manning, great
grandfather of Gov. Richard /. Man
ming, was Revolutionary soldier and
was distinguished for his intrepid
courage and imperturbability OF de-
meanor in moments of great peril, in
stances Of which are narrated in
Gardens Anecdotes"
The early years OF Gov. Manning
were passed upon the plantation of
his father, and he grew up healthy
and active lad, fond Of horseback rid
ing and fox hunting. His father dy-
ing when he was quite young the re-
sponsible care of the plantation and
of his mother and sisters fell upon
him when he was mere lad. His
training was Of great value to him.
It necessitated daily intercourse with
the neighbors in varied matters OF
business, and impressed him with the
value Of the golden rule in all his
transactions, as well as accustomlnS
him to self sacrifice.
Gov. Manning's mother was high
ly educated and refined, a sincerely
pious woman Of a deep religious
faith, in whom all consideration OF
selfish comfort and pleasure were
subserviant to her duty to God, to
the cause Of humanity and the good
of her country. The special lines OF
reading which young Manning found
most helpful in fitting him, for his
work in life were primarily the Bible,
and the biographies of men famous
in the worlds progress. After at
tending the primary schools in the
vicinity of his birth place he was for
two years a student at the Kenmore
University high school OF the late h.
A. Strobe, in Amherst county, Vir-
ginia, and later at the University OF
Virginia, which he lett in 1879, De-
fore completing the course OF study.
He commenced the active work OF
his life in Sumter county as farmer
In 1880.
On February 10, 1881, he married
at Richmond, Va, Miss Leila Ber-
nard Meredith, daughter OF John A.
Meredith and Sarah Anne Bernard.
The first choice OF young Manning
was for the profession o. law, but his
eyesight being threatened, he aban-
doned the study.
Gov. Manning was elected to the
House in this State In 1892 from
Sumter and In 1894, although he de-
clined thu nomination, he was re-
elected. In 1898 he was elected q
member OF the State Senate, was re-
elected In 1902 and served as presi-
dent pro tenn of that body In 1905.
! He was also chairman OF the finance
committee, q II ,mber OF the sinking
fund commission and member OF
the Wade Hampton monument COM
mission. He was candidate for the
democratic nomination for governor
Of South Carolina at the primary in
l19O6, but failed OF success after
hotly contested campaign.