Levi Manning
Levi Manning | |
---|---|
Mayor of Tucson, Arizona | |
In office 1905–1907 | |
Preceded by | Charles J. Schumacher |
Succeeded by | Charles F. Slack |
Personal details | |
Born | Halifax County, North Carolina, C.S. | May 16, 1864
Died | August 6, 1935 Beverly Hills, California, U.S. | (aged 71)
Resting place | Evergreen Cemetery Tucson, Arizona, U.S. 32°15′55″N 110°58′44″W / 32.2654°N 110.9788°W |
Spouse |
Gussie Lovell O'Connell
(m. 1898) |
Parent |
|
Relatives | Van H. Manning (brother) |
Residence(s) | Tucson, Arizona, U.S. |
Alma mater | University of Mississippi |
Levi Howell Manning (May 18, 1864 – August 1, 1935) served as Mayor of Tucson, Arizona from 1905 to 1907.
Early life
Levi H. Manning was born second in a family of four brothers and four sisters in
In 1883, during summer break while attending the University of Mississippi, Manning and a fraternity brother acquired the use of a circus elephant. The elephant escaped from Manning and rampaged through town. Upon hearing the story, Manning's mother advised him to get out of town before his father found out. Consequently he moved to Tucson, Arizona, in early spring 1884.[1]
Career
Upon arrival in Tucson, Manning worked as a reporter for The Daily Arizona Citizen and later The Arizona Daily Star.[1] He later bought a controlling interest in and was general manager of the Tucson Ice & Electric Light Company for two years, making a “considerable fortune” when he sold it.[1] He was chief of the Mineral Department in the office of U.S. Surveyor during the latter half of Grover Cleveland's first administration. In 1893 President Cleveland appointed Manning as Surveyor-General of Arizona, which he held until 1897.[2]
Manning developed several mines in
In 1904 Manning homesteaded 160 acres in the Rincon Mountains to the east of Tucson, building a cabin that still exists today.
Mayor of Tucson
Manning was elected mayor on an anti-gambling ticket. Though gambling was legal in territorial Arizona, Manning and the city council enacted local ordinances that put the Tucson gambling houses out of business.[5]
In 1906 Manning was instrumental in bringing an electric trolley system to Tucson that replaced horse and mule drawn vehicles.[1]
Personal life
On May 28, 1898, Manning married Gussie Lovell O'Connell, who had been born in San Jose, California.[5] He died August 1, 1935,[5] in Beverly Hills, California, and is buried Evergreen Cemetery in Tucson.[1]
Manning was described as "far-seeing," "a man of vast schemes," and "ranked with the most important builders Southwest."[2]
The Manning House, and the street Manning House Way are in downtown Tucson.[5]
References
- ^ a b c d e f Allen, Paul (May 5, 2005). "Early Mayor Levi Manning left lucrative legend". Tucson Citizen. Retrieved December 15, 2013.
- ^ a b c "Room given to UA for Gen. Manning". Tucson Citizen. January 4, 1946.
- ^ "Manning Cabin". Learning Center of the Southwest. Retrieved 16 December 2013.
- ^ Leighton, David (April 27, 2015). "Street Smarts: Country Club, Golf Links used to be one road". Arizona Daily Star. Retrieved April 28, 2015.
- ^ a b c d Leighton, David (May 18, 2015). "Street Smarts: Manning kept Owls Nest flying". Arizona Daily Star. Retrieved May 19, 2015.