August 2, 2008-Margaman Manning-1840-1865

Margaman Manning was born January 29, 1840 in Walker County, Georgia to Thomas Manning, Jr. and Jane Stewart Manning. He was the fifth of eleven children born to Thomas and Jane. His name first appears on the 1850 census in Walker County and he is 11 years old. On the 1860 Walker County census, he is household #698. He is noted to be 20 years old and the head of the household. His wife is Harriet and she is 18. He is a farmer with $375 value of his personal estate. His father and mother are noted to be household # 699 on the 1860 census. That suggests they were living very close to each other.

In researching Margaman on various genealogy sites, his name is spelled Minjaman, Migamin, Margamin, Mingaman and Migamin. On the 1860 census, when he is living next to his parents, the spelling is Margaman.

Margaman's wife was Harriet Evelyn Thornton. She was born April 24, 1842 in Calhoun, Gordon County, Georgia. Her parents were Issac Thornton 1817-1906 and Clarinda Nuckles 1819-1862. Harriet's brother, Augustus Sterling Clark Thornton married Margaman's sister Mary J. Manning. Margaman and Harriet were married January 23, 1859. In 1861, Margaman and Harriet had a daughter, Julia Elizabeth Manning.

Margaman enlisted in Company C, 39th Georgia Infantry Regiment on February 28, 1862. On the military record of the 39th Infantry Regiment, he is shown to be a resident of Whitfield County, Georgia. Whitfield borders Walker County to the east. At the time of his enlistment, he was a 5th Sargeant. He was promoted to Full 3rd Sergeant on September 15, 1863 and to Full 2nd Sergeant in 1864. He was wounded at Jonesboro, Georgia August 31, 1864 and captured there by Union Soldiers September 20, 1864. He was sent to Camp Douglas in Chicago, Illinois and was a prisoner of war. Margaman died at Camp Douglas March 21, 1865.

It has been recorded that over 6,000 Confederate soldiers died at Camp Douglas. The winter of 1864 was apparently an extremely harsh one with frigid temperatures. It has been documented that the prisoners were not given adequate clothing, food or medical care. It is also recorded on various sites, the prison was filthy, filled with vermin, human waste and sick and dying soldiers. The site of the Encyclopedia of Chicago at encyclopedia.chicagohistory.org, has some photos of the camp as well as the history.

Harriet Thornton Manning remarried after Margaman's death. She married William Summerfield Dobson. Harriet died May 25, 1896 and is buried at Bald Knob Cemetery in Wise County, Texas. Julia Elizabeth Manning married John Robert Morris. Julia and John had five children. Their oldest was named Thomas Margeman Morris, apparently after Julia's father.
Julia died December 31, 1953 and is buried at Hubbard, Hill County, Texas.