Ralza Morse Manly

Notes:

FREEDMAN'S BUREAU

The Bureau of Freedmen, Refugees, and Abandoned Lands, commonly known as the Freedmen's Bureau, was created by an act of Congress on March 3, 1865, just a few weeks before Abraham Lincoln's assassination. The Bureau was initially chartered to operate for just one year, but continued until 1868 under the care of commissioner General Oliver O. Howard, who was aided by assistant commissioners in every Southern state and by hundreds of local agents.

As its full name suggests, the Bureau's work combined care for millions of newly freed slaves and the administration of Southern lands seized by Union forces during the war. The Bureau was authorized to distribute much-needed food, fuel, clothing, and medical supplies to the freedmen; to regulate labor and contracts; to aid in the founding of schools and churches; to ensure justice in all legal cases involving freedmen; and, perhaps most promisingly for freedmen in 1865, to distribute abandoned and confiscated Confederate lands among former slaves for rental and eventual sale.

At the local level, the Bureau was usually bitterly opposed by white Southerners and firmly supported by African-Americans. Its work was hindered by local opposition, inadequate funding from the federal government, and the politics of Reconstruction.

Source: Annual report of the Superintendent of Public Instruction, Virginia. Dept. of Education, 1880

SKETCH FROM REV. R. M. MANLY.

"During the last year of the war, colored regiments which remained in camp for any length of time had regimental schools under the direction of the chaplain, with such assistants as he needed. The attendance was voluntary, but embraced most of the younger men; the assistant teachers were provided by charitable associations North. The soldiers clubbed their efforts and built a rude school-house, which served also for prayer-meetings, and for preaching services in bad weather. Such schools were numerous at Alexandria, Fort Monroe, Hampton, Norfolk, Portsmouth. In these places, and in the country immediately adjacent to them, the colored children were quite fully provided with teachers. Colored churches, disused barrack-buildings and abandoned dwelling houses supplied school-rooms. During the twelve months preceding the close of the war there must have been as many as three or four thousand children under daily instruction in these schools. I have only my recollection to guide me, and cannot pretend to accuracy.

"There was a great development of this work in the spring and autumn of 1865, and for the five years following, during which the Freedman's Bureau assumed the general control of educational operations and contributed largely to their success, by the erection of buildings and the rental and repairs of others, school-furniture, etc, etc.

"The teachers were commissioned and paid chiefly by the following associations:

"The New York Branch American Freedman's Union Commission. "The New England Branch American Freedman's Union Commission. The American Missionary Association.

"And Missionary Societies in the Methodist, Baptist, Presbyterian, Episcopal Churches, and the Philadelphia Friends.

"In 1865 there were 200 teachers and near 13,000 pupils. A gradual increase from year to year until 1870 (when the whole system was discontinued), when there were 412 teachers and over 18,000 pupils. During the last two years Dr. Sears aided by supplementing the salaries of a large number of teachers, and in many schools a small tuition fee was collected.

"Teachers.?Time enough has passed for a dispassionate judgment of the temper, spirit, and professional skill of these workers?the teachers from the North. There was some drift-wood and a few pieces of rotten-wood. This was to be expected where the executive officers of the associations were sending hundreds of teachers, received on recommendations, to all parts of the South. But poor material or indifferent material was in very small proportion to the whole. And there was much of the best work I ever saw done. The young ladies were, in many cases, from homes of affluence and refinement and the highest Christian principle. I doubt if there is better teaching or better discipline in any school in this land than my assistant teachers did for me in my Normal school during its first six years.

I have always affirmed, and still believe, that during this period of five or six years not less than 20,000 learned to read, and some became good scholars and some excellent teachers.

Respectfully, R. M. Manly.

Richmond, Va., December 20, 1880."

Source: http://vshadow.vcdh.virginia.edu/fbureau/bureau_jackson4.html

Thomas P. Jackson to R. M. Manly, October 2, 1867

Jackson informs Manly of the availability of a school room in the basement of the Methodist Episcopal Church and asks $100 for supplies. He also states the community's preference for a male teacher.

R. M. Manly to Thomas P. Jackson, October 4, 1867

Manly tells Jackson that the only teacher he has available at the moment is a woman, and because the charitable societies have a shortage of teachers, it is unlikely that Jackson will find a male teacher for Staunton.

This website is a digital archive of the Freedman's Bureau in the Augusta Co. VA, Staunton and the surrounding counties. It contains a huge source of information.






Birth:
Other sources put his place of birth as Danby, Rutland Co. VT.

Buried:
Grave location, obituary, portrait, and tombstone photo:
http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=25421577

Ralza married Sarah Bemis Wright 16 Aug 1848, Randolph, Orange Co. VT. Sarah (daughter of Moses Wright and Sally Olin) was born 11 Jun 1822, Vermont; died 18 Aug 1881; was buried , Greenlawn Cemetery, Nahant, Essex Co. MA. [Group Sheet]

Ralza married Mary L. Patterson 05 Jul 1884, Genesee Co. MI. [Group Sheet]

Other Events:

• _UID: DDC4F512A3254D22A13AE63DEC1A02C0A500

Notes:

Married: 26 May 1872. Source: A Complete Record of the John Olin Family By Chauncey C. Olin, 1893, Page xciii

1880 United States Federal Census
Name: Catherine Russell
Age: 29
Birth Year: abt 1851
Birthplace: Vermont
Home in 1880: Richmond, Henrico, Virginia
Race: White
Gender: Female
Relation to Head of House: Wife
Marital Status: Married
Spouse's Name: Otis H. Russell
Father's Birthplace: Vermont
Mother's Birthplace: Vermont
Her parents, R. M. and Sarah Manley are living next door to them.

Last known residence: 616 North 9th Street, Richmond, VA
Burial records refer to her as Mrs. O. H. Russell

Buried:
Grave location, obituary, and tombstone photo:
http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GSln=russell&GSiman=1&GSbyrel=all&GSdyrel=all&GSst=48&GScnty=2929&GScntry=4&GSob=n&GRid=6680016&df=all&

Section L, Lot 128

Catherine married Otis Henry RUSSELL 25 May 1873, Randolph, Orange Co. VT. Otis (son of Warren RUSSELL and Hannah Elizabeth SMALL) was born 20 May 1845, Bloomsburg, PA; died 15 May 1933, Richmond, VA; was buried 17 May 1933, Hollywood Cemetery, Richmond VA. [Group Sheet]

Notes:

Buried:
Grave location and tombstone photo:
http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GSln=manly&GSfn=william&GSmn=m&GSby=1855&GSbyrel=in&GSdyrel=all&GSob=n&GRid=53792803&df=all&

Willilam married Mary Edith Masten 24 Oct 1880, Diamond Springs, Morris Co. KS . Mary was born 23 May 1862; died 04 Jan 1965, Morris Co. KS; was buried , Wilsey Cemetery Wilsey Morris Co. KS. [Group Sheet]

Notes:

Buried:
Grave location and tombstone photo:
http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=121650626

Ralza married Martha L. Seat 04 Sep 1881, Emporia, Lyon Co. KS. Martha was born 23 Nov 1863, Boonville, Cooper Co. MO; died 13 Mar 1935, Manhattan, Riley Co. KS. ; was buried , Sunset Cemetery, Manhattan, Riley Co. KS. [Group Sheet]

Notes:

Buried:
Grave location and tombstone photo:
http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=67856185

Notes:

Birth:
Source: A Complete Record of the John Olin Family By Chauncey C. Olin, 1893, Page xciii

Joseph married Ikey Neal Ward 1912. Ikey was born ca 1890, Nashville, TN; died 13 Feb 1919, Los Angeles, Los Angeles Co. CA. [Group Sheet]

Notes:

Birth:
Source: A Complete Record of the John Olin Family By Chauncey C. Olin, 1893, Page xciii

Mabeth married Newton Manly Perrins 22 Sep 1908, Richmond, VA. Newton was born 10 Dec 1883, Ansonia, New Haven Co. CT; died 1953. [Group Sheet]

Notes:

Buried:
Grave location and tombstone photo:
http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=53792795

Inscription:
(son or daughter of) WM & ME Manly
Aged 1 Mo 23 Ds
Budded on earth to bloom in heaven

Notes:

Died:
Social Security Death Index
Name: Vera Shelby
SSN: 521-18-0339
Last Residence: 80212 Denver, Denver, Colorado, United
Born: 3 Oct 1883
Died: Jan 1974
State (Year) SSN issued: Colorado (Before 1951)

Vera married Lewis Bliss Shelby. Lewis was born 04 Jul 1878, Darlington, Gentry Co. MO; died 10 Sep 1962, Denver, Denver Co. CO. [Group Sheet]

Notes:

Died:
Social Security Death Index
Name: Ralza Manly
SSN: 512-38-5643
Last Residence: 66064 Osawatomie, Miami, Kansas
Born: 19 Mar 1890
Died: Feb 1981
State (Year) SSN issued: Kansas (1955)

Notes:

Buried:
Grave location and tombstone photo:
http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GSln=MA&GSfn=w&GSpartial=1&GSbyrel=all&GSdyrel=all&GSst=18&GScntry=4&GSob=n&GSsr=481&GRid=53792815&df=all&

Died:
Social Security Death Index
Name: Will Manly
SSN: 514-38-2910
Last Residence: 66838 Burdick, Morris, Kansas
Born: 2 Oct 1892
Died: Dec 1983
State (Year) SSN issued: Kansas (1956)

Notes:

Name:
His first name may have been Harold.

Russell married Jessie Roberta Moore. Jessie was born 03 Jul 1902, Americus, Lyon Co. KS; died 06 Jun 1983, Estes Park, Larimer Co. CO. [Group Sheet]

Notes:

Buried:
Grave location and tombstone photo:
http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=38335262

Benjamin married Margaret Mary Gallagher. [Group Sheet]

Warren married Dorothy Freda Belt. [Group Sheet]

Mabeth married Donald Wilton. [Group Sheet]

Helen married Theodore Royen Robertson. [Group Sheet]

Notes:

Died:
Social Security Death Index
Name: Robert R. Manly
Last Residence: 38368 Reagan, Henderson, Tennessee
Born: 21 Jul 1928
Died: 21 Jun 2003
State (Year) SSN issued: Missouri (Before 1951)