The daily Gate City and constitution-Democrat. (Keokuk, Iowa) 1916-1922, 1918-01-09
GOOD MAN HAS
PASSED AWAY
The Life Of Edward P. MeManus Was
Very Active and Useful one.
PreemInsntiy Life
Of Service.
THE BURDEN TOO GREAT
He Loved Ills Fellowmen and Took a
Great Interest in Young People
Always Active In Pub
ZIG Affairs.
THE BURDEN TOO GREAT

/ The life Of Edward p. MoManus,
whose sudden death was chronicled in
these columns yesterday, was very &C
tive, 1t Is almost certain that the
burden Of his duties was the cause of
his sudden taking away. IN addition
to his work as postmaster and looking
after his private business, he was
livery active in the war work of the
| government. being chairman OF the
Lee county food conservation commit
ltee. chairman of the county to mobilize
labor and chairman of the council of
defense Work In these various shines
with the rush of holiday business at
the postoftice kept him working at
long hours, and proved more than he
could bear.
| Mr.. McManus was born in Keokuk
June 26, 1857. He was the son Of Pet
rick and Ann McManus, who were
among the pioneers OF Keokuk, coming
here in 1s47. Edward received his
early education in st. Peters school In
this city. He then attended Baylies
Commercial college. and graduated
from that institution
| After his graduation he took a posi-
/ ton as bookkeeper with the Bruce &
Steele company, which he held three
years. He left the employee OF this
firm to take up school teaching and
followed that occupation for three
years. He then tried, work on the
road as commercial traveller for a
few years.
| He then took up the work Of farming
and stock raising il Charleston town
ship and was engaged In this busi-
ness for eight years. He left the farm
to become member of a contracting
! firm Of which his father was the head.
/ AT the death of his father he associat-
ed himself with George S. Tucker, the
firm taking the name OF Tucker &
! McManus. Mr.. Tucker withdrew few
years ago from the active business of
the firm, and since then Mr.. McManus
managed the concern.
| Early in life Mr.. McManus began to
take an interest In public affairs
While on the farm he was elected as
SCISSOR of Charleston township. He
was very active in the councils Of the
democratic party. and was for many
years chairman of the Lee county CEN
began in the township became state
wide. He was asked on more than
one occasion to stand for election as
!
he refused to make the race Most of
his political activities were for tho
benefit Of his party, and II was only in
recent years that he held political Of
flee of consequence. For many years
he served the party without asking or
expecting reward.
He was among the best public speak
ers in this part q the state, and he
In n IN oA r.
erings of various kinds He took an
active part in the Red Cross work a
few months ago and made several
speeches for the drive at other towns
In 1906 MIR. McManus was elected
tc the state senate, anu was reelected
in 1910. In that body he was; recog-
nized as one of its most Influential
members, and was made the leader Of
the minority. But his efforts were by
no means partisan. He was instru-
mental in getting through the senate
some important bills. He introduced
the bill for hospital for tubercular
patients at Oakdale. and fought hard
until it became a law. He also intro
duced a bill to build monument for
the unknown soldiers buried in the
National cemetery at Keokuk. and it
was largely through his efforts that
the bill became law.
| Probably the greatest efforts of Sen.
stor McManus in his legislative career
We're put forth for the measure pro-
viding pensions for old teachers. In
this the opposition was too great to
overcome, and this was a cause of
great regret to him.
In 1913 he resigned his seat in the
senate to become postmaster Of Keo-
kuk. and he was near the completion
of his first term. He was very pains
taking in this work. On Christmas
eve this year he took great satisfac.
I ton in telling his family that every
out-going package mailed in the office
had been sent out.
| Mr. McManus was always much in.
terested in young men, and had moth
| ing but words of encouragement for
all of them with whom he came in con.
tact. He believed that naturally there
were no bad boys, that only their en-.
yironments made them bad He was
a great believer in clean sports and
athletics, and was active in promoting
these. He was the president of the
Keokuk baseball club for several wears
and was one Of the leaders in organic.
ing the Central association, in which
the Keokuk club held membership for
several years.
1t could be tr1lthfully said of Mr..
McManus that his predominant virtue
was his love for his fellowmen, and he
proved this by word and action in his
daily life. He was always seeking to
find the good in men when others were
reviling them.
He was a member of st. Francis
a
ed his religion day by day He was a
member of De La Sale council No.
619, Knights Of Columbus and Keokuk
Lodge No. 106. 3. P o. E. He held
the ONCE Of district deputy in the
KNIGHTS OF Columbus for several years.