La Crosse Chieftain

Friday June 17, 1904

Front Page Column 3

Thomas A. Manley.

Our citizens were shocked Wednesday afternoon by the report that T. A. Manley had died suddenly at his home in this city. He had been in his usual health and was about starting for a drive, when as he was standing on his front porch he suddenly grasped a post for support, sank to the floor and in a few minutes expired without a word.

T. A. Manley was born in Tennessee Oct. 15, 1843, but his early life was spent in Alabama. During the civil war he followed his state and fought on the Confederate side, enlisting in an Alabama regiment. He was captured at Kennesaw Mountain, sent to Camp Douglas at Chicago and there took the oath of allegiance to the United States. From Alabama he went to Texas and shortly afterwards, came to Kansas, locating first near McPherson, and moved to La Crosse eighteen years ago. Here he engaged in the hardware business, selling out a few months ago to the Stover Mercantile Co. He was very successful in his business career. Mr. Manley was of a very hospitable disposition, of sterling honesty, and was well liked by all. His health has been failing for some time, he being afflicted with heart trouble, and yet the news of his sudden death came as a shock to his friends. Funeral services were held at his late residence yesterday afternoon, conducted by Rev. McArthur, and were attended by a large  number of friends and by the I. 0. 0. F. and A. O. U. W. lodges, of which he  had been a member. The interment  was in the La Crosse cemetery this morning.

He leaves a wife, daughter and two sons, and four brothers, the latter residing at Roanoke, Ala.

Note:  The obit states he was born in Tennessee census states South Carolina