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Charles N. Manning U.S. Passport photograph, 1924. [pmss_manning_photo.jpg]<\/p><\/div>The familiar line “C.N. Manning, Treasurer” appeared as part of the Pine Mountain Settlement School letterhead for 34 years. Charles N. Manning\u00a0was recognized often by directors, staff and fellow board members throughout his long service as a “careful and wise steward of Pine Mountain’s financial resources<\/a>” and a dedicated member of the PMSS Board of Trustees.<\/p>\n Manning began his association with Pine Mountain in 1913, the year the School was founded by Katherine Pettit<\/a> and Ethel de Long<\/a>. From the start, he served as Treasurer on the Board of Trustees.<\/p>\n Manning was present at the Board’s first annual meeting<\/a>, held in the Directors’ Room of the Security Trust Company, at Lexington, Kentucky, January 3, 1914.\u00a0<\/span>Besides Manning, the members present were Miss Pettit and Miss de Long,\u00a0Mrs. J.R. Morton,\u00a0<\/span>Samuel M. Wilson and\u00a0<\/span>Miss Elizabeth Hench<\/a>. At this meeting, the Articles of Incorporation were established for the School. Also, a motion\u00a0was\u00a0moved by Mr. Wilson and seconded by Manning, that<\/span><\/p>\n … a board be created, not to exceed one hundred, to be known as the General Advisory Board, selected by the Executive Committee, to have such power and authority as may be conferred by the Executive Committee, subject to the ratification of the Board of Trustees. Motion carried.<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n Records indicate that he was also present at the Board’s first meeting at Pine Mountain<\/a> in October 1919, which was actually the fifth annual meeting of the Board. At that meeting, he was re-elected treasurer.<\/p>\n By 1916, Manning was president of the Security Trust Company in Lexington, Kentucky, a position which he held until his retirement in 1945. (He was succeeded by Edward S. Dabney,<\/a> as Security Trust President and PMSS Board Treasurer.) His financial management skills as a banker greatly benefitted the School throughout his years as a PMSS trustee.<\/p>\n An example of Manning’s perceptive input is his response to PMSS Director <\/span>Glyn Morris<\/a>‘s\u00a0study of PMSS’s history, problems and opportunities. In his Study and Recommendations<\/a>, Morris suggested that the School convert to a Junior College. Manning responded as follows:<\/span><\/p>\n My conclusion after reading the survey, which is ably and thoroughly presented, is that there is no demand, much less need for converting or expanding Pine Mountain Settlement School into a junior college. Even if there were, I should oppose it at the present time on the basis of my present knowledge for the following reasons: (1)\u00a0<\/span>The financial support of the School will not warrant such a change;\u00a0<\/span>(2) The exigencies of the war would forbid it;\u00a0<\/span>(3) It would be inexpedient and unwise to attempt it unless and until there is a greater demand and need.<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n Besides attending Board meetings, Manning and his wife, Allie, visited the PMSS campus often, attending School’s events and participating in programs. In a letter dated September 10, 1918, Katherine Pettit enthusiastically invites him to the 1918 Community Fair Day<\/a>:<\/p>\n Aren\u2019t you and Mrs. Manning coming up to our fair the last Saturday in September? And may we count on you to make a speech? Please come if you possibly can, and let me know right away. Tell Mrs. Manning we are so anxious to have her come.<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n When PMSS set aside a day to honor the 100th birthday of the donors of land to the School, Uncle William<\/a>\u00a0and Aunt Sal Creech<\/a>, Manning led the morning Chapel service. According to the January 1946 issue<\/a> of Notes from the Pine Mountain Settlement School,<\/em><\/p>\n Manning spoke on the subject of faith and the simple Christian method of \u2018going about doing good\u2019 so nobly exemplified by the founders of Pine Mountain School, who with faith and works and unselfish love \u2018forgot themselves into immortality.\u2019<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n Charles N. Manning died unexpectedly on January 12, 1947, while at the First Presbyterian Church in Fayette County\u00a0to participate in memorial services for the late Samuel M. Wilson, a Lexington attorney and historian, and a fellow PMSS Trustee.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n The November Board minutes of that year included a memorial to Charles N. Manning, as reported in the 1947 issue<\/a> of\u00a0Notes from the Pine Mountain Settlement School:<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n Through his wise and careful investment of our funds, his unflagging interest in even the smallest detail of our life at Pine Mountain, the school has been able to grow from its simple beginnings into a field of far-reaching usefulness. A child of the Kentucky mountains himself, Mr. Manning knew the talents, abilities and the sterling qualities of the mountain people. Understanding their lack of opportunity for education, medical facilities, and improved farming methods, he devoted a lifetime of servic<\/span><\/i>e<\/span> to their welfare.<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n T<\/span>he Board takes deep <\/span><\/i>satisfaction<\/span><\/em> in the fact that Mr. E.S. Dabney, <\/span><\/i>Mr.\u00a0<\/span>Manning’s<\/span><\/em> successor in the Security Trust <\/span><\/i>Company<\/span> of <\/span><\/em>Lexington has<\/em><\/span> consented to serve as our treasurer.<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n Manning had indeed committed much of his life in service to the welfare of others. According to “Average, Yet Amazing Lexingtonians” on lexhistory.org:<\/p>\n During his lifetime, Mr. Manning gave generously to civic causes, serving on the Boards of Berea College, Frontier Nursing Service, Lexington Chapter of the American Red Cross, Lexington Public Library and the Lexington Cemetery.<\/em>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n In addition, Manning was\u00a0trustee and treasurer of E. O. Robinson Mountain Foundation, which operates a settlement school at Ary and chairman of the congregation of Central Christian Church in Louisville.\u00a0<\/span>He also served as the Chairman of the Kentucky Joint Stock Land Bank and as a director of the Lexington Water Company.\u00a0He owned considerable real estate, including business property in Lexington. <\/span><\/p>\n Charles N. Manning was born in Manchester, Kentucky, on May 10, 1875, the son of Isaac S. Manning, mountain medical leader, and Sallie T. White Manning. His siblings were an older brother, Hugh R., and a younger brother and sister, Laurence W. and Ethel L.<\/span><\/p>\n On June 19, 1895, he married Alice (Allie) H., (born February 13, 1873). They had one adopted daughter, Elinor F., who was born July 22, 1908, in Washington, DC. She later became Mrs. Elinor Manning Isaacs and had seven children.<\/p>\n Manning was educated at the University of Kentucky and entered the employ of the Security Trust and Safety Vault Company in 1893 on a part-time basis. In 1898, Mr. Manning became the Secretary and Treasurer and during 1916 the President of the Security Trust Company. <\/span>He continued to serve as President until May 3, 1945, <\/span>when he became Chairman of the Board. During his banking career, he led Security Trust through the Great Depression and the Second World War.<\/span><\/p>\n See Also: <\/strong><\/p>\n EDWARD S. DABNEY<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n
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