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He lived first in Norridgewock, Maine, and then moved to Augusta. He published the Gospel Banner and the Maine Farmer in Augusta.³

He attended to public schools of Augusta and Abbott's Little Blue School in Farmington, where he fitted for college. His health, which had interfered with his early opportunities, forced the abandonment of a college education. He began the study of law in the Boston office of Sweetsir & Gardiner, and in September, 1863, graduated from Albany Law School.
He formed a law partnership in Augusta with H.W. True, and in 1865 was admitted to practice in the United States and district courts, and was appointed a commissioner of the latter court. From 1869 to 1876 he was special agent of the internal revenue department. After this he was in Washington as agent of the Pennsylvania railroad. In 1878 he purchased a half interest in the Maine Farmer.
In May, 1881, he was appointed postmaster of Augusta. During the first term in this office he instituted many improvements in the postal service and was untiring in his efforts to secure the fine post office building which now adorns the capital city, and to Mr. Manley more than to any other is due the credit of its erection. He was reappointed in 1889. He was a director in the First National Bank, president of the Augusta Savings Bank, treasurer of the Augusta Water Company, director of the Kennebec Light and Heat Company, of the Edwards Manufacturing Company, of the Maine Central, Knox and Lincoln, Portland and Rochester railroads, of the Portland, Mount Desert and Machias Steamboat Company, of the Portland Publishing Company, of the State Publishing Association. He was a thirty-third degree Mason. In 1889-91 he represented Augusta in the legislature. In 1899-1901 he was also a member of that body and its speaker the last year. In 1903 he was a member of the state senate. As a factor in the political affairs of the state and nation Mr. Manley was widely known. For twenty years he was a member of the Republican state committee, and for sixteen years its chairman ; was a delegate to the Republican National conventions in 1880 and 1888; was a member of the executive committee of the National Republican committee in 1888-92-96-1900, and its secretary in 1896 and 1900.⁶