History of Greenwood, (Steuben County) New York United States of America

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Jacob Merrill Manning, clergyman, was born in Greenwood, N.Y., Dec. 31, 1824; son of Jacob and Anna (Fuller) Manning. His father, a native of New Hampshire, was one of the five pioneers who settled in the wilderness of Steuben county, N.Y. Jacob worked on the farm and attended Franklin academy, Prattsburg, N.Y., 1842-46, supporting himself by teaching district schools. He was graduated with high honors from Amherst college in 1850; was graduated from Andover Theological seminary in 1854, and was pastor of the Mystic Congregational church, Medford, Mass., 1854-57. He was installed associate pastor of the Old South church, Boston, March 11, 1857, and served as such, 1857-72. When the American flag was unfurled from its steeple, May 1, 1861, he made an eloquent patriotic address. He was appointed chaplain of the 43d Massachusetts volunteers and embarked for North Carolina, Nov. 5, 1862. The exposure incident to the nine months' service undermined his health and in June, 1863, he was seized with malarial fever and on July 5, 1863, returned to Boston. He resumed his duties at the Old South church, Dec. 13, 1863, and continued as associate until the autumn of 1872, when Dr. Blagden resigned and he became sole pastor. The fire of November, 1872, damaged the church so seriously that Dr. Manning was in favor of abandoning the old site and erecting a new church on Copley square, where they already had a chapel unfinished. This action evoked much criticism on the ground of historic association, but in April, 1873, the society authorized the erection of the new Old South church and Dr. Manning dedicated the new building, Dec. 15, 1875. He preached a patriotic sermon, May 30, 1875, at the beginning of the Centennial celebration of that year, and besides his duties to the society assumed those of a member of the Boston school board for many years; an overseer of Harvard college, 1860-66; a trustee of the state library, 1865-82; and lecturer at Andover Theological seminary, 1866-72. He received the honorary degree of D.D. from Amherst in 1867. He is the author of: Half Moths and the Moth (1872); Helps tea Life of Prayer (1874); Not of Man, but of God (1883); Sermons and Addresses (1889); and numerous sermons and addresses published in pamphlet and contributions to The Bibliotheca Sacra. A memorial address by the Rev. William M. Taylor, Sunday, Feb. 28, 1833, together with the funeral services, Friday, Dec. 1, 1882, was printed (1883). His health failing, he resigned his active pastoral duties and accepted those of pastor emeritus, naming March 11, 1882, the twenty-fifth anniversary of his installation, as the time. On the first Sunday in March, 1882, he took part in the services of the church for the last time and he died while on a visit to his brother-in-law, the Rev. W. H. Fenn, Portland, Maine, Nov. 29, 1882.

From: Twentieth Century Biographical Dictionary of Notable Americans, Johnson, Rossiter, editor

History of Greenwood, (Steuben County) New York

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