Orizaba Manasco (1882-1919)

From the 1905 Birmingham Medical College composite portrait.

  Following December 24th's profile on Alabama state senator Shorter Clyde Hudgens, another oddly named Alabaman squeaks in under the wire before the end of the year--Orizaba Manasco of Walker County. Although he lacked length of years (he died aged 37 in 1919) Manasco carved a notable career for himself in his native county as a physician and state representative, dying in office before the completion of his term. The son of John (1852-1923) and Sarah Jane (Grace) Manasco, Orizaba Manasco was born in Townley, Alabama on January 28, 1882.

  Born into a leading Townley family, Manasco's grandfather was Gen. John Manasco (1800-1895), a fourteen term Alabama state representative who had earlier been commissioned a Brigadier General by President James Knox Polk. Manasco was also a delegate to the Alabama Constitutional Convention of 1875, and by the time of his death at age 95 had achieved near-legendary status in his county. Bestowed the unusual name "Orizaba" upon his birth, Manasco shares his first name with the like-named city in the Mexican state of Veracruz, an area that gained importance during the Mexican-American War. Sadly no source mentioning Orizaba Manasco (or his family) denotes why he gained the name of a Mexican city as his given name.

  A student in schools local to the Walker County area, Manasco decided upon a medical career at an early age, and following study at Howard University enrolled at the Birmingham Medical College. Graduating with his medical degree in 1905, Manasco established his practice in Townley in 1906 and married in April of that year to Elzodie Demaris "Hodie" Boshell (1885-1964). The couple were wed until Orizaba's death in 1919 and had five children, Fred Sinclair (1906-1975), Charles Mayo (1910-1983), Gilmore Kurley (1912-2005), John (birthdate unknown) and Sarah (1918-1921).

  In addition to practicing medicine in Townley Manasco became a leading figure in the civic and fraternal life of his community, holding memberships in the Masonic order, the Shriners, Knights Templar, and was a member of the Missionary Baptist Church. He began his political career in 1913 when he took office as a member of the Townley Board of Aldermen (serving until 1918) and in that year was elected as Walker County's representative in the Alabama state legislature "by a flattering majority."

From the 1903 Birmingham Medical College composite portrait.

  Manasco's tenure in the legislature saw him chair the house committee on temperance and held seats on the committees on Corporations, Education, Penitentiary and Criminal Administrations, and Public Health. Manasco's time as a state representative, although brief, was favorably reviewed in his 1919 obituary:

"Although a new, inexperienced member, Dr. Manasco soon became one of the leading figures in the legislature and fathered important legislation in reference to vocational education, temperance and health laws."

  In early 1919 Manasco developed severe health problems, later to be noted in his obituary as the effects of "emenia" (anemia/lead) poisoning. These health concerns led him to seek treatment at Hot Springs, Arkansas, and later at the St. Luke's Hospital in Little Rock. He failed to recover and died at that hospital, aged 37, on April 9, 1919. The loss of the popular legislator and physician was felt significantly in Townley, with his obituary noting an attendance of nearly 3,000 people for Manasco's funeral services. He was survived by his wife and children and was interred at the Manasco family cemetery in Townley.

Manasco's obituary from the Daily Mountain Eagle, April 12, 1919.