Extracted from The News-Star (Monroe, LA)
Tuesday, October 18, 1927

PIONEER CITIZEN OF NORTHEAST LA. CALLED BY DEATH

Ross H. Manly Settled Here When Railways Were Unknown.

Ross Homes Manly, who died at a local sanitarium Sunday, was born April 16, 1855, in Columbus, Mo. In 1882, with his cousin Eugene Hollie and his wife, came to Columbia, La., coming down the river during a highwater siege.

In 1884, he married Miss Narcissus Dunn and settled near Columbia where he lived until January, 1918, when he removed to near Kelly, La., where he was a fruit grower and maintained a nursery until shortly before his death.

Some time before his death, he was ill and came to Monroe, where he stayed with his daughter, Mrs. F. C. Childers, and received medical treatment. He became better and returned to his home near Kelly, where he remained until about a week ago, when he returned to Monroe, then entered the sanitarium.

Mr. Manly was a veritable pioneer of this section, settling near Columbia where there were no railroads, and none of the modern conveniences of today. His life was rich in the experiences of the “good old days.”

He was a man of exemplary character and prospered well in his profession, in which he was more widely known than the average farmer of this section due to his shipping connections to many points, of his fruits and trees.

Surviving are the widow and the following children: Mrs. W. E. Kirkland of Kelly; Mrs. F. C. Childers of Monroe; F. H. [sic S. H.] Manly of Riverton. Nine grandchildren also survive.
______________________________________

Extracted from The Caldwell Watchman (Columbia, LA)
Friday, October 21, 1927

R. H. MANLY DIES IN MONROE SAT.
IS WELL KNOWN
________________

R. H. Manly, prominent truck and fruit grower, of the Kelly neighborhood, died in a sanitarium at Monroe on last Saturday afternoon. His death came as a shock to many in this parish, as he was a long-time resident in this parish, residing near Columbia before moving to Kelly where he has been engaged in growing fruit and truck and nursery stock since 1918. He was born in Missouri on April 16, 1855, and came to Caldwell Parish in 1882 and has since been a resident of this parish. In 1882 [sic 1884], he was married to Miss Narcissus Dunn who survives him.

Mr. Manly was a consistent believer that Caldwell parish was an ideal section for fruit and truck, and this belief made him noted in every section of Caldwell and adjoining parishes for his fruits, strawberries, etc. His farm was called the Manly Demonstration Farm by all who visited it.

Mr. Manly leaves to mourn his departure a widow, two daughters, Mrs. Kirkland of near Kelly and Mrs. Fred Childers of Monroe, one son, S. H. Manly of near Riverton, and a number of grandchildren.

The remains were laid to rest in the Columbia cemetery Sunday afternoon, Rev. J. H. Brooks, of Standard, conducting the funeral services.