People in Slabtown and Gridley and Tazewell were leaving their Amish and Mennonite churches to follow a “New Amish” way, one that was more conservative, yet more dynamic and emotional.
These new congregations met in houses and barns until they could build a church.
Val and Lena Maninger would convert too.
Continue readingBy late 1864, Val was back in Woodford County, home from the war. But Val didn’t stay in Farnisville and Woodford County. Why?
Val Maninger lay wounded in a cornfield by Whitney’s Lane. Around him lay the dead and wounded of Company H.
On the morning of May 19th, 1862, the 12th Texas Cavalry had annihilated Company H of the 17th Missouri Infantry in a rural lane near Searcy, Arkansas.
Continue readingIn April 1861, Fort Sumpter in Charleston Harbor was attacked, starting the Civil War. At that time, the United States Army consisted of 16,000 troops, most posted in small forts west of the Mississippi River.
Val bought a building and lot from Christian Farni and set up a boot and shoe business.
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Family Nibbles 