Hon. J. A. Manson, a resident of Saulsbury, was born July 28, 1842, in McDonough, Ga. His parents were Dr. F. E. and Mary B. (Bethune) Manson. The father was born March 19, 1800, in Virginia, and immigrated to Georgia about in 1820, where he was prominently connected with the political affairs of that day. He was a member of the Legislature a number of terms, being a Representative at the time Georgia seceded. His death occurred in 1874. The mother was born in Georgia, in 1810, and departed this life in 1852. She was a sister to the distinguished Gen. James Bethune of Pennsylvania. Our subject received an excellent education at Emory College, Oxford, Ga., where he was at school when the war broke out. He entered Company A, Cobbs, Ga., as private. In 1863, was promoted to rank of lieutenant; November 29, 1863, he received a wound from the explosion of a hand grenade, at Knoxville, and was disabled for about thirty days. April 6, 1865, he was captured, and imprisoned at Johnson’s Island, where he was held about two months. After his release he resumed his studies at college, graduating in 1867. He taught school at Bolivar, La Grange and Saulsbury until 1880. In the meantime, 1873, he received the degree of A.M. He was elected to represent Hardeman County in the State Legislature, in 1876. He served with so much credit and distinction that he was chosen each succeeding term until 1884. In 1885, he became speaker of the house. July, of the same year, he was appointed deputy revenue collector, which position he still holds. He is a strong Democrat, and very influential. He is intelligent, enterprising and honorable. He has, by his own efforts, accumulated considerable fine property and means. He is a sincere member of the Methodist Episcopal Church South, and prominently connected with the Masonic order, K. of’ H., and K. & L. of H. June 28, 1870, he married Miss Fannie E., daughter of W. W. Elliotte, Sr. To Mr. and Mrs. Manson an interesting family, consisting of three boys and two girls, have been born: Joseph A., Minnie J., Frank E., Mary J. and Grover Cleveland.
Source: “The Goodspeed Publishing Co., History of Tennessee, 1886”