Wednesday, May 13, 2015

Who Shot Callaway Manes? August 7, 1864




This photograph is purported to be Callaway Hodges Manes.  I believe this is Francis Marion Manes, his nephew, named Corporal of Company C, 48th Regiment Infantry Volunteers on September 5, 1864.

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Dedicated to:
      Daniel Callaway and Eula Malissa Lane Manes,
       our "storybook" grandparents

                                                             Image is property of Cindy Hart
               
And to Della Lou Manes McCann.
       our family genealogist
                                
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Please note:  Posts 2 - 8 contain a brief synopsis at the beginning of each post describing the information contained in it.  Comments and suggested corrections are welcome.
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                              Prologue

"No one knew who shot Callaway Manes."  It was difficult to believe that a popular pioneer preacher was shot in front of several witnesses and no one knew.

Like the misidentification of the photograph above, published accounts of the event misspell his name and incorrectly attribute his murder to bushwhackers.

When an account of his murder was published in 1960, the spelling of his name was altered to Calloway for some unknown reason.  In his own hand, as documented in these blog posts, it was spelled Callaway, as were his son's and grandson's names.

To my surprise the murderer's identity was only a small part of the story that has rewritten itself many times.  It's a story - based on tales told by family members living at the time of the murder and many hours of archival research - but still just a story.  The men present that night who knew the murderer could correct me or concur, but they are long gone.

Primary sources relate a description of the murder very different from published accounts.  The targeting of preachers by Union troops was well-documented in Union military reports and works published in that time period.  It has rarely been included in Civil War discussions, as is the case still today.

Thanks go to Pulaski County attorney Samuel Jasper Manes, Callaway's half-brother, who was 24 and serving in the Union Army at the time of the murder.  He, along with Roy Gladden, Ruth Hammock, and Jesse Gustin, endeavored to pass on the family stories.  Thanks also to Bud Brezeale who gathered thousands of family history documents.  Thanks to the staff at the Missouri History Museum in St. Louis, Missouri State Historical Societies in Columbia and Rolla, and the Missouri State Archives in Jefferson City for their assistance.

Callaway Hodges Manes was killed at his home in Pulaski County, Missouri, on Sunday evening, August 7, 1864, at the age of fifty-five. One account relates this story: "When he heard the men, Pa got up and opened the door. Pa said, 'Come in, gentlemen.' One man asked, 'Is this Callaway Manes?' When Pa said, 'I am,' the man pulled his pistol and shot him in the chest. Pa fell back against the stairs and Polly screamed. Pa whispered, 'Hush, hush, hush.' The same party that did the shooting called for a light and Polly got the candle. He made her hold a light so he could shoot Pa through the ear."(1)

The Callaway Manes' home is on the National Registry of Historic Places.

                                               Callaway Manes Home
                       Old Settlers Gazette 2012.  Published by the Old Stagecoach Stop Foundation

In a letter written in 1920 Samuel Jasper Manes remarked of the murder: "It was premeditated, cold-blooded murder, no motive only jealousy. None of the children seem to know but little. Strange, indeed!"(1) 
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Source:  

(1) Letter written by Samuel Jasper Manes at Richland, Missouri, on September 22, 1920, to Jesse Gustin. Manuscript of family history and letters written by Samuel Jasper Manes and Jesse Gustin.  These pages are contained in the collection edited by E.V. Brezeale.  The collection is available on microfilm at the Springfield, Missouri Public Library or the microfilm may be requested at any LDS Family History Center.

7 comments:

  1. .Your Blog has filled in a lot of information that I didn’t have. I have a few comments and corrections which I would like for you to consider. I am a greatgreat grandson of Seth Manes, brother to Calloway. My great grandmother was Catherine Mahalia Manes, 8th child of Seth (7 Oct 1849-23 Apr 1921). My grandfather was Leander Jackson Gladden (21 Apr 1871-16 Jul 1952). My mother was Hazel Irene Gladden (23 Jul 1915-11 Jun 2009). My parents, grandfather and great grandmother are all buried at Ideuma.
    I have been studying my family ancestors for more than 30 years and ( so far) have not found a place to stop. My name is Chester Bowling, born in California 11 Nov 1938. I currently live in Colorado blacksnk99@comcast.net
    Jacob Wilson Manes was not born in Moore Co NC because Moore Co NC was not formed until 1784. His father, Seth said in his application for pension that he served in the militia from Moore Co , but it was Cumberland Co. He probably didn’t leave until after the area became Moore Co. Seth didn’t go to Tennessee immediately after the revolution. He was on the Cumberland Co Tax list in 1783 and “Sephas Manas” is listed in the Salisbury District of Rowan Co NC, pg. 142 in the 1790 census.
    I have not yet found a marriage record for Seth and Susanna Fields, it might be in Guilford Co NC because Susanna’s mother, Mary requested and received land in Guilford Co NC subsequent to the death of Susanna’s father, Nathaniel Fields, who was killed in combat in New York 1 Apr 1777, while serving in the Virginia Continental Line. My first record of Seth in Tennessee is on the Hawkins Co Tn 1810 Tax list.
    You said that Archibald Evans’ wife was Mary Manes. What evidence indicated she is a Manes. I don’t believe the Manes’ were in Tennesse early enough for Mary to be a Manes. I raise this question because a few years ago I had my parents both tested for ethnic origin. Mom tested about one eighth Indian. I have subsequently concluded that the Indian is from the Evans’. If Archibald’s wife was of European origin, I will need to hunt up some more Indians. I concluded the Evans’ were Indian from the photo of Anna Evans Light (Camden Co Mo) in “ Find a Grave”. Also I found it a little strange that Seth and Susanna Manis joined the Blackwater Baptist Church in Hawkins Co TN in 1831. The Blackwater Baptist Church had several members who were Melongeons, free dark complected folks of unknown ancestry who were shunned by white folks in that era.

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    2. Thanks so much for your comments. I appreciate the info about the formation of Moore County in 1784. Next winter I hope to add posts about more of the characters in the Manes family history. I hope you'll allow me to include your information. I limited family history in these posts to focus on this story. The earliest date I have for the Seth Manes family in Hawkins County is the birth of Jacob's younger brother George there in 1785. With your added info it appears Seth and family moved to Tennessee between 1783 and 1785. Perhaps the Sephas Manas in Rowan County is not Seth. I have Archibald Evans born in Virginia in 1781. I've tried to pin down the origin of Mary Manes but failed. Several Manes families moved to Tennessee and Mary was a very common name. A great granddaughter of Callaway Hodges Manes participated in the DNA test with results that indicated 99 percent European, mainly western Europe. I appreciate your help.

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    3. I have seen photo that is purported to be Annie Evans Light and I agree that she does look as if she could be another ethnicity besides Caucasian, possible Native American. Interesting about the possible Melongeon connection. I'm a 2nd great granddaughter of Seth Manes through his son John Aaron. I've been researching the Evans family without much luck. It's nice to have these insights from other Manes family members.

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