Ladysmith news-budget. [volume] (Ladysmith, Rusk County, Wis.) 1907-1927, 1922-11-03
UN The DEATH Ui
JUDGE w. s. MANNING

Deeming it appropriate to bring
formally to the notice of the circuit
court of Rusk county, the recent death
of Judge Manning, Atty L. E. McGill
was chosen by the bar association of
the county to present memorial on
their behalf, which he did on Monday,
and to which Judge Wickham made
an appropriate response The me-
mortal:
May it Please the Court:
The Rusk County Bar Association
have chsoen me, in it's behalf, to pre-
sent here a memorial, with such re-
marks as / may deem appropriate to
the occasion, announcing the passing
of a highly respected member of this
Association, Judge William S. Man
ming, closing his history on the rec
Ords of this court where he served
since the birth of the county in 1901.
The duty l am commissioned to per-
form is characterized by degree of
sadness. I knew Judge Manning in
timately for q years, four of which
| practiced before him when he was
county judge. He came to what is
now RuSk county short time before
| did, and we were pioneers together
in what was then new and wholly
undevelOped section. We were at that
period much in each others company
in business and friendly way, which
afforded me an opportunity to know
him in many walks OF life and to form
an estimate of his character.
Judge Manning departed from us on
October q, 1922 at his residence in
Ladysmith in his 6Sth year, survived
only by a noble and loving wife, and
was buried at his old home at Mus
coda in Grant county, which was the
scene of his boyhood days and where, |
he as a yong man, taught school and
studied law.
His death came suddenly and the |
shock was greater because he was a
man of strong physique, 1.-the and act |
i've up to within a week of his passing, |
enjoying life, home and friends, having !
as late as October II, attended an an
nual banquet given by, the Real Estate
Association of the county. of which he
was q member.
The sedentary, indoor life of law
yer did not appeal to him, and he
sought a wider field of operation away
from the narrow details and close ap-
plication of such life With him a |
trial was a battle which irritated his |
gentle, retiring disposition, and which j
he avoided as he did all strife and con-
trOversy in private life.
He loved the outside world, and |
nothing afforded him more pleasure
than a long tramp in the woods with |
which he was very familiar every /
where in the county. Possessing |
such a disposition he gradually drew |
away from the active practice of law,
and for many years devoted himself |
to dealing in real estate and other pur-
suits, continuing only the practice of
the law as suited his pleasure.
AS one of the early pioneers he took |
an active part in creating this county, |
and in it's subsequent development, |
particularly in the city of Ladysmith,
which was a hamlet of less than 100 !
people when he, with few other men
of vision, began it's development TWEEN
ty-twO years ago. He predicted that |
large city would displace this ham /
let and bent his energies to the fulfill
ment of his prediction, and backed his
judgment in this respect as early as
1901 in the erection of a beautiful |
dwelling for himself, which stands to-
~ l.. sr1Yr f,.x
foresight, personal and civic pride. 1t
is gratifying, too, that he lived to see
his Dream City" become one in fact |
with population of 5000 people,
whom he also served as Postmaster
for several years.
His manner and address were al
ways that of a born gentleman. About |
him was pleasing dignity fast dis
appearing in the present generation.
His mode of life was simple. He be-
lieved that men should live within
their means and discharge their OBJ
legations to others before indulging |
themselves in luxury. He met and re-
PEELED reverses with courage and OPP
timism. He left behind him a pleas |
ant memory, well earned by his hon.
est endeavOrs as a citizen and man |
among men.
My pen would fam record in the
records of this court, faithfully, the |
life history and good deeds of our
good brother lawyer, but this l can
not do. His loss is deplored by the
Bar and the community at large. Es-
pecially will he be missed next month
by his hunting companions at his lodge