John J. Manning facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
John J. Manning
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| Born | February 2, 1842 Kilkenny County, Ireland
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| Died | September 13, 1911 (aged 69) Deadwood, South Dakota
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| Burial place | St. Ambrose Cemetery, Deadwood, South Dakota |
| Nationality | Irish-American |
| Citizenship | United States of America |
| Occupation | frontiersman, lawman, gold prospector, rancher, and saloon owner |
| Political party | Democrat |
| Spouse(s) | Frankie Scott m. August 28, 1877 |
| Children | 2 |
| Parent(s) | James & Julia Manning |
John J. Manning (born February 2, 1842 – died September 13, 1911) was an Irish-American frontiersman and lawman. He was also a gold prospector, rancher, and saloon owner. John Manning was an important person in Deadwood, South Dakota, from 1876 until he passed away.
Manning was the first elected sheriff of Lawrence County, South Dakota. This county included Deadwood. He served several terms as sheriff. He also owned saloons, horse stables, and a ranch in Belle Fourche, South Dakota.
Contents
Early Life and Moving West
John J. Manning was born in County Kilkenny, Ireland, on February 2, 1842. His parents were James and Julia Manning. In 1847, his family moved to the United States. They settled in Highland, Wisconsin. John grew up there with his parents, older brother Thomas, and younger sister Mary. His father was a farmer.
John stayed in Highland until 1860. After that, he headed West. He first went to Colorado, then Idaho, Montana, Dakota, and Alaska.
Adventures in Montana
In 1860, John Manning moved to Colorado during the Pikes Peak gold rush. When gold was found in Montana, he went north. He lived for a time in Beartown, Montana. Beartown was a big gold rush site in the late 1860s and early 1870s. Thousands of gold seekers came there.
While in Deer Lodge County, Montana, Manning became a Deputy Sheriff. He was in charge of a large area. It stretched from the Idaho border all the way to Canada. Manning also loved horse racing. He was often seen with his racehorses at Olin's Racetrack.
In 1874, John Manning moved to Carroll, Montana. He built a cabin there. Carroll was a trading post on the Missouri River.
Life in Dakota Territory
When gold was found in the Black Hills of Dakota Territory, John Manning was one of the first to arrive. He came to the mining town that would become Deadwood in August 1876. Within days, he opened one of Deadwood's first saloons. It was called the Senate Saloon, and his partner was John Mahan.
At the Senate Saloon, Manning dealt cards to Wild Bill Hickok. This was shortly before Hickok was shot and killed. When Deadwood started its first fire department, Manning was chosen as its foreman.
Family Life in Deadwood
On August 28, 1877, John Manning married Miss Frankie Scott in Deadwood. They had met a few years earlier in Montana. Their wedding was held at the Sahler House. Friends and a brass band from the Bella Union Theatre joined the celebration.
John and Frankie had two children, Francis and Mary Ethel. Both were born in Deadwood.
Becoming Sheriff
A few weeks after his wedding, John Manning was chosen to run for sheriff. This was for Lawrence County's first election. The other party chose Seth Bullock for sheriff. Bullock had been appointed sheriff by the Governor until elections could be held.
In November 1877, John Manning won the election. He defeated Seth Bullock. This made Manning the first elected sheriff of Lawrence County, which included Deadwood. He served for one year. In November 1878, he was re-elected for a two-year term. He defeated Seth Bullock again. In 1882, Manning ran for sheriff once more and won another two-year term.
Sheriff Manning's Actions
In 1878, during his first term as sheriff, Manning showed his bravery. He arrested a person named William Bell. When an angry crowd wanted to harm Bell, Sheriff Manning protected him. He surrounded the jail with armed deputies. This stopped the crowd from taking the law into their own hands.
That same year, Manning was told to get official records from the County Treasurer. The Treasurer was suspected of wrongdoing. He refused to hand over the records. Sheriff Manning, with his gun drawn, successfully got the records and arrested the Treasurer.
Early in his first term, Manning also tracked down a person named George Healy. Healy had been robbing stagecoaches. Manning found and arrested Healy in a Deadwood saloon.
The Deadwood jail was known as the "Hotel de Manning" during his time as sheriff. It held many different types of people. Since Deadwood's streets were often muddy, Sheriff Manning had prisoners work to improve the roads.
Ranching and Other Adventures
Besides being sheriff, John Manning owned a horse and cattle ranch. It was in Belle Fourche, about 27 miles north of Deadwood. Even as sheriff, Manning's ranch had problems with stolen animals.
In 1881, a person named Brave Bear tried to steal horses from Manning's ranch. Manning, with help from neighbors, chased Brave Bear. They captured him and turned him over to authorities.
In 1884, gold was found in Idaho. John Manning quickly traveled there. But the amount of gold was not very good. So, Manning returned to Deadwood.
Stopping a Mob
In 1897, John Manning was no longer sheriff. But he still helped keep order. A large group of angry citizens wanted to harm a person named Charles Brown. The sheriff and police chief needed help getting Brown safely to jail. They asked John Manning to help. With guns ready, Manning and other officers protected Brown from the mob. They got him safely to jail.
John Wallace Crawford, known as the "Poet Scout," knew John Manning well. He wrote a poem about Manning:
Good bye you brave old pioneer,
There never breathed a truer friend
Than honest Johnny none more dear
Where honesty and justice blend
We knew you on the wild frontier
When savage foe and outlaws too
Were curbed and cowed in abject fear
Because to duty you were true
We knew you when your cabin door
Was open wide to those in need
And bounteously from out your store
You gave that hungry men might feed
Ah Johnny Manning friend of mine
You'll die as poor as Job's old fowl
But on the heavenly range you'll shine
While devil broncho busters howl
Years later, Manning and John Crawford met again. They helped organize the first Fourth of July celebration in Dawson City, Canada.
Later Life and Passing Away
In 1897, gold was discovered in the Klondike, Canada. John Manning was one of the first to arrive in Dawson City. In Dawson, Manning owned the Northern Saloon. He was also a partner in other saloons. For five years, Manning spent several months each year in the goldfields. He managed saloons and looked for gold.
In 1898, Manning was in Seattle, waiting for a ship to Alaska. A person asked him for money for food. Manning gave him 50 cents. But he followed the man to make sure he bought food. When the man went into a saloon and ordered drinks, Manning went in and poured them out. Outside, the man pointed a pistol at Manning. Manning quickly drew his own pistol. The man apologized. Manning then hit the man on the head, knocking him out. He took the man to a doctor. Then, Manning boarded his ship for Alaska.
By 1905, Manning had moved back to Deadwood for good. He lived there until he died on September 13, 1911. His friends and family called him "Johnny." He was the first foreman of the Deadwood Pioneer Hook & Ladder Company. He stayed active in that group. He was also one of the first members of the Society of Black Hills Pioneers. He remained active in that group until his death.
John Manning is buried at St. Ambrose Cemetery in Deadwood, South Dakota.
Images for kids
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John J. Manning
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John Wallace Crawford.jpg
John Wallace Crawford, the "Poet Scout"
