A search on any of the Internet search tools, such as Google for the name "Mansker" will inevitably turn up a reference to The Mansker Series of soils. What is the Mansker Series, and how did it come to bear our family name?
The Soil Survey Division of the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) is a subdivision of US Department of Agriculture. It has the responsibility of conducting soil surveys in order to meet the needs of farmers, engineers and others. Soils are studied, classified and categorized; they are also given names. Usually the name is suggested by some local landmark of the area in which the type of soil was first discovered.
This is the case with the Mansker Series of soils. It was first identifed in Union County, New Mexico, near the school and hamlet named for Robert T. Mansker, long-time peace officer in the area. Robert T. was a son of Joseph/Josiah Mansker (see the Descendants Page and the Texas Manskers Page) who was born in McLennan County, Texas, in 1861 and died in Mansker, New Mexico, in 1916.
You can see a picture and read the full description of the "Official Family Dirt" on the U of Idaho page The Mansker Series
