Distinguished by a long white beard and a long Biblical name, my grandfather was Theophilus Winfield Manahan, born in Pontotoc County, Mississippi, on July 22, 1847. With the Civil War brewing and Mississippi's great river being a focal point of battle, T. W.'s father, John Franklin Manahan, son became an officer in the 31 Regiment of the Mississippi Infantry His 16 year old son joined him in 1863. T. W. fought in many battles, but on September 16, 1864, he was seriously wounded in the Battle of Jonesboro, Georgia. Aline Manahan Edson, one of granddaughters, remembers knowing that that he carried that embedded musket ball in his left chest until his death.

After the War, T. W. married Mary Henrietta Mannahan (kinship despite different spelling is unknown) in Mississippi on May 7, 1867. They had four daughter before Mary Henrietta bore a son. She died when he was born, and he died shortly thereafter. Theophilus and four little girls were left alone in Mississippi since his parents had moved to Texas after the War. Lonely for family and needing help to raise his daughters, T. W. packed up and moved to Texas in 1879. He settled near his parents in Freestone County, where he and his father farmed in the Cotton Gin Community near Teague. There he met a red-haired school teacher, Florence Amanda Kennedy. Married July 11, 1883, they had eight children grow to adulthood. My father, Hugh B. was the youngest, born January 3, 1900.
Theophilus was active in the life of Freestone County. He was deputy sheriff and the jailer for a number of years. During the time , the family lived in the Freestone County Jail in Fairfield with T. W.'s wife cooking all the meals for the inmates. A favorite family tale tells of T. W. being sent to Wortham to pick up a prisoner to return to the jail. In the Tehaucana Creek Bottoms, the prisoner attacked him, trying to get his gun. A violent struggle ensued, but T. W. won. He had chewed on one of the prisoner's fingers to subdue him an finally delivered him intact, though his finder had to be amputated later. T. W. also served two terms as Freestone County Tax Assessor Collector.

Theophilus died in 1925 and is buried in the Salem Cemetery near Teague. As we were growing up during the depression years, our annual trip to "Salem" was the highlight of our summers. We loved the huge watermelon patches, the bubbling creek behind Aunt Florence's farmhouse, the adventurous dry creek bed full of stickers and redbugs, and the laughter that flowed between stories of family members past present. Contributed by Hugh Delle Manahan Broadway

BIRTHDAY ANNIVERSARY. On June 22, 1919, T. W. Manahan of Teague celebrated his seventy-second birthday. His children arranged an entertainment for their father and most of them were here including Miss Mattie Mae, H. B., and L. W. Manahan of Houston, Texas

Mr. Manahan is much older the he looks and says he accounts for this by the the fact that a few years ago he became unable to work and has taken excellent care of himself for the past few years. He is the father of fourteen children, eleven of whom are now living. He spend three years in the Confederate Army. He says now his greatest pleasure is to visit among his children.
(The Teague Chronicle, August 1, 1919)


AGED CITIZEN DIES IN TEAGUE
Mr. T. W. MANAHAN, aged about 80 years, died in Teague last Friday after a long period of declining health. His remains were interred in Salem Cemetery five miles Southeast of Teague the following day. Mr. MANAHAN served in the Confederate Army and recieved wounds in battle. He had long been a resident of Freestone County and served as a Peace Officer of the Fairfield Precinct and also as County Tax Assessor. He is survived by a number of grown children and one brother, Mr. W. E. MANAHAN near town, also many grandchildren and other relatives. Fairfield Recorder, Fairfield Texas. Friday, September 18, 1925


T W MANAHAN PASSES AWAY IN TEAGUE, TX T W Manahan, died at the home of a daughter, Mrs. W. H. Goolsby (Florence Asenath Manahan) at 4:00 a.m. on Friday, September 11, 1925, following a short illness brought on by the frailties of age. Funeral services were conducted by Elder J. W. Hamilton, assisted by Rev. J.C. Byars, at the resident of Mr. and Mrs. W. H. Goolsby at 3:00 o'clock Saturday and interment was made in Salem Cemetery at 4:30 o'clock.

Following is a brief sketch of the life of this noble old gentleman, who had been a resident of Freestone County for 48 years: The last of a noble family save one, has fallen asleep. Theophilus Winfield Manahan was born in Pontotoc County, MS on July 22, 1847, and died in Teague, TX September 11, 1925, at the age of 78 years, 1 month, and 19 days. He enlisted in the Civil War April 6, 1862, was wounded in the Battle of Jonesboro, GA on September 19, 1864. He was married to Miss Mary Henrietta Manahan on April 7, 1869. To this union five children were born, of whom three survive. His first wife died on December 27, 1878. The move to Texas soon followed. On the 11th day of July, 1883, he was married to Florence Amanda Kennedy, and to this union nine children were born, eight of whom survive. Death called his second wife on May 2, 1918.

He leaves a living posterity of ten children, 17 grandchildren, and three great grandchildren, one brother and a host of friends who will hold him in loving remembrance and mourn his death.

Mr. Manahan was elected tax assessor of Freestone County in 1903, and served two terms, to credit of his family and his constituency. Now after a life of three score and 18 years of faithful service, he is at rest. He ran the race, fought the fight, kept the faith, and has gone on to his reward.

Surviving children are Mrs. W.M. Watson, Teague; Mrs. G.H. Elliott, Teague; Mrs E.L. Johnson, Teague; Mrs. Ben F. Kilburn, Houston; J.K. Manahan, Vivian, LA; Mrs. W.H. Goolsby, Teague; T.W. Manahan, Houston; L.R. Manahan, Houston; Mrs. O.E. Ables, Oklahoma City; Hugh B. Manahan, Houston. One brother, W. E. Manahan of Fairfield also survives him. (Teague Chronicle, Teague, Texas)