James E. McManis, M. D., one of the leading practitioners of Havensville, Kan., who devotes much of his time to surgical work, was born in Ohio, Aug. 31, 1867. His parents were John and Mary (Edminston) McManis, the former a descendant of a fine old Scotch family that immigrated to America at an early day. John McManis was born in Ohio, March 9, 1837; his father was a native of Pennsylvania, but came to Ohio when the state had few settlers. John McManis learned the carpenter's trade but never followed it, as he spent his life on a farm. At the outbreak of the Civil war he enlisted in the Twenty-fourth Ohio infantry and served in the Army of the Potomac, taking part in the battles of Green river; Shiloh, where he was wounded and rendered unfit for service for some time; Perryville; and Stone's River, where a bullet passed through his neck, and he was sent to a hospital and then home on furlough. As soon as he recovered he returned to duty with his regiment and was present at the battles of Chickamauga, Lookout Mountain, Missionary Ridge, and Nashville. At the close of the war he was mustered out at Columbus and returned to his home in Ohio, but soon moved to Iowa and lived on a farm in Union county six years before coming to Mitchell county, Kansas. In this state he took up a half-section of land on a soldier's preëmption. It was unbroken prairie, but he had grit, was resourceful, and soon improved the land, built a home, and lived there eight years. Believing there was a good opening in Norton county he sold his farm and moved to one near Lenora, where he continued to reside until his death, in 1892.

James E. McManis was reared in the country and obtained his early education in the district schools of Mitchell and Norton counties. After finishing the grades he attended the high school at Lenora; but he desired more advanced work, and for that purpose went to Parkville, Mo., where he entered the academy. Recalled to Lenora by the death of his father he remained there until the family affairs were settled. While at school he had decided to dedicate his life to the study and practice of medicine, and with this end in view he entered the medical department of the University of Kansas, at Kansas City, Kan., where he graduated with the class of 1902. Immediately after receiving his degree Dr. McManis located at Havensville. He met with some of the usual discouragements at the beginning of his career, but has built up a satisfactory and lucrative practice that increases each year. The Doctor has been a member of the Masonic fraternity for some time and also belongs to the Modern Woodmen of America. In religious belief he is a Methodist. Politically he is a stanch adherent of the Republican party. In June, 1908, Dr. McManis married Jane V. Dunlap, a trained nurse of Leavenworth, Kan.