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- John grew up in Illinois, moved to Harper, KS at the age of 22, becoming a more or less unsuccessful business man. Neither he nor any of his brothers cared for the seemingly eccentric faith of their parents so they broke away from the church entirely and never affiliated with any other religious group. He was an innovator living on a farm and from time to time got into side ventures which usually failed. He placed his farm as collateral for his loans and in 1922 was forced to declare bankruptcy in 1922.
From the book Kansas, published by Standard Publishing Company, Chicago (page 223):
John L. Maninger, a prominent farmer of Harper county, Kansas, is a native of Illinois, born at Gridley, June 2, 1868. He is a son of Valentine and Magdalena (Smith) [Schrock] Maninger. The father was born at Baden, Germany, September 29, 1834, and came to America in 1859, locating at Metamora, Ill. He was a shoemaker and followed that occupation until the Civil war broke out. While a resident of Metamora, he met Abraham Lincoln, who frequently came to that place in connection with his law practice, and Mr. Maninger and Lincoln, became very good friends, and frequently went on hunting trips together, in the vicinity of Metamora. When the war broke out, Mr. Maninger enlisted, as a private in Company A, Seventeenth Regiment, Missouri infantry. He took part in a number of important engagements, and was severely wounded at the battle of Pea Ridge, receiving five gun shot wounds during that engagement, one bullet passing entirely through his body, another one, he carried with him, to his grave. After recovering from these wounds, he was unfit for the regular duties of the soldier on the march and in action, and was then detailed on the hospital corps. He served in that branch of the service until the close of the war, making his term of service, in all, three years and eight months. He then went to Gridley, Ill., where he worked at his trade for a time, and later bought a farm in that vicinity and engaged in farming. In 1885 he came to Kansas, and bought 4890 acres of land, one mile south of Harper. Here he engaged in farming and stock raising and prospered. He bought additional land, and at the time of his death, July 4, 1913, he left each of his eight children, 160 acres of improved farm land. He was married October 22, 1867, to Mrs. Magdalena Neuhauser, a native of Butler county, Ohio, born April 27, 1841. They were the parents of eight children as follows: John L., the subject of this sketch; Frank; August; Emma; Joseph, William; Edward, and Frederick, all engaged in farming in Harper county. John L. Maninger received his education in the public schools, and has made farming the occupation of his life, and thoroughly understands the business. He was married November 29, 1889, at Harper, Kans., to Miss Priscilla Weyenett. She was born at Roanoke, Ill., August 30, 1870, and is a daughter of Jacob Weyenett. To Mr. and Mrs. Maninger have been born seven children: Silvia, Jesse, Eunice, Emily, Mattie, Clara, and Fern. Mr. Maninger is a member of the Knights of Pythias, and the Modern Woodmen of America, and is a Democrat. [1]
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1867 - 1944 (77 years)
