Great Grandpa Mann's Birthday

Clarence Lemuel Mann would be 137 years old on June 18th, 2015.  He was born in 1878 in Peoria County, Illinois, the youngest son and second youngest child of William and Nancy Mann.  Of his 11 siblings, 5 did not survive childhood. His mother passed away when he was 16.

The Mann family came to Gage County, Nebraska when Clarence was about 2-1/2 years old.  July 5,1899 was the beginning of over 69 years of holy matrimony with Cora Gaisford.  Their family consisted of ten girls and four sons, the youngest son died at 4 months old.  

For most of his working years, he farmed in Jefferson and Gage counties using horses all through his farming career.  He moved to Beatrice about 1935 and worked for Dempster Mills for 9 years to the day, retiring in 1952.  In 1942, Clarence and Cora bought a home in Beatrice where they spent the rest of their lives.

Great Grandpa Clarence died in Beatrice, Nebraska on October 18, 1968 at age 90.  In addition to 13 children, he was survived by 39 grandchildren, 60 great grandchildren and two great-great grandchildren.  I was one of the 60.