Biography - John McManus
John H. McMANUS, photographer, Litchfield, was born in Macoupin County, Ill., near Palmyra, December 2, 1843; son of G. F. and Emeline McMANUS, he, a native of Tennessee and she of Kentucky. In addition to the ordinary common-school education, young McMANUS attended the high school at Carlinville, Ill. He removed with his father to Athens, Henderson Co., Tenn., in 1855, where he lived three years, dividing his time between going to school and assisting his father in his cabinet-shop. His father removed to Texas in 1858, and our subject worked with him till the latter part of 1860, when he erected a large mill, in which he was engaged till January 8, 1862, when he enlisted in a company which ultimately became a part of the Twenty-second Texas Volunteer Infantry, and attached to the Trans-Mississippi Department of the Army of the Confederate States; in June, 1862, he became snare drummer, and remained till July, when he was transferred to a brass band, J. B. NORMAN, leader, and remained in it until the close of the war, in 1864-65, playing the leading instrument. In May, 1865, the army disbanding, Mr. McMANUS returned to Mt. Pleasant, Texas, where he attended a select school for some time, after which he accompanied his father to Dallas, where they took charge of the Osceloa Flouring Mills, where the son worked as engineer. In 1866, he came to Macoupin County and obtained the position of engineer at the woolen factory, which he shortly gave up, and worked at carpentering till the fall; the following winter he spent as a student in a private school, taught by Mr. COOLIDGE, and, June 7, 1867, he entered the photograph gallery of D. C. BACON, spending three months under instructions; then to Macoupin County, farming, going to school in the winter; continued farming in 1868, and worked at building with his father. During a portion of 1870, he assisted Mr. BACON in his gallery. In January, 1871, he bought his present gallery, in Litchfield, which he has since conducted with marked success, and turning out work equal in chemical effect and artistic execution to the best work done in the cities. Mr. McMANUS, having made a study of his present profession, is able to cope with the best artists anywhere, as he thoroughly understands the chemistry of photography, as well as that very important accompaniment of good portraiture artistic effect.
Extracted 19 Nov 2016 by Norma Hass from 1882 History of Bond and Montgomery Counties, Illinois, Part 2 Biographical Department, page 155.
