McManus - McManis - McMannis Families Found on the Frontier of Western Pennsylvania 1700-1850

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The McManis Family in Adams County, Ohio

written by Doris Lucille McManis Camden

    Little can the people of today appreciate the work, hardships and privations of the early pioneers of this country. Many were the obstacles, some of them almost insurmountable, that had to be overcome just to survive from day to day. Some of the tragedies and heartaches of our ancestors can be noted by the statistics and stories of the McManis family births and deaths. There were large families of children, but many of them did not survive more than a few-short years. Mothers died young, leaving small children to be raised by someone else. Families were chased from their homes by hostile Indians. Young men joined the Armed Forces at an age that we consider to be youngsters. Disease was rampant in many forms, and the McManis family did not escape this. Moving was a very common occurrence, leaving behind families that might never be seen again. Transportation was extremely difficult, so we know there was no return visit, unless it was to stay for a long period of time, or to set up housekeeping back where they came from. There was that ever constant shift from east to west shown by the migration of the McManis families over the years, until they spread into almost all of the states, and at the time of this writing, it is believed there are McManis descendants in all of the fifty states, in all walks of life—people who can proudly bear the name of McManis, because of their hardy ancestors, and because of their own place in society, proof that they are the good, solid citizens which this country needed in the past, needs today, and will need in the future.

    Today, we have fears created by the threat of use of the atom bomb, germ warfare, pollution, and a third world war, but how can we imagine the terrors of the parents when the children went to attend to chores, wondering if an Indian was lurking behind a tree—the fear of a husband when it was necessary to go to a neighboring community, leaving his wife and possibly a sick child behind—the sadness when a young family felt it was a responsibility to move to a distant area that would provide a better life. These things are our own personal history. Everyone was needed, and everyone had a hand in the history and formation of the area in which he lived. We should be extremely grateful and proud of our heritage, and we must continue to contribute in any way we possibly can.

    McManis men were to be found in the Armed Forces of the United States of American at every crisis, many of them volunteering together, fathers, sons, brothers and cousins. Some of them have given their lives defending what they believed to be the only way of life in their attempt to defend right from wrong. To them we should be extremely appreciative.

    At least one line of McManis has been proven for acceptance into the Daughters of the American Revolution, which will also provide for membership into the Sons of the American Revolution (SAR) and the Children of the American Revolution (CAR). This is the line of Charles, born in York County, Pennsylvania, in 1762. It is hoped there will be others who will want to join these most patriotic of organizations.

    It is rumored that our Scotch-Irish McManis family was first represented in America by seven brothers who came from England or Scotland, and whose name was spelled McManus. One of them, so the story goes, decided he would be unique, and he changed the spelling to McManis. However, this is all just rumor and not proven.

    Over the years, numerous spellings have been used, sometimes several variations in one document. Recording information and preparing legal documents was laborious when it was done in pen and ink. Not everyone could write, and many had to rely on the scrivener for the spelling of his own name. The present-day spelling by this particular family is McManis.

    Charles McManis was born in York County, Pennsylvania, in 1762, according to his own statement in his papers in the Archives in Washington, D. C. He died at his home two miles; east of Winchester, in Adams County, Ohio, in 1840. He is buried in Cherry Fork Cemetery near Cherry Fork, Ohio, and his grave is marked with a gravestone. The wife of Charles McManis was Eleanor Spear or Spears, also known as Ellen or Nellie, and she was born about 1769 in Pennsylvania.

    The father of Charles McManis, who may have been named Joseph McManis, with his family was driven by the Indians from their dwelling on the frontier settlement of western Pennsylvania in February of 1778, according to Archives records. They took shelter at Ligonier Garrison in Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania. Beginning in his sixteenth year, Charles McManis served twelve months in the Ligonier Garrison under Captain Samuel Shannon, Captain Robert Knox and Colonel Broadhead. In the summer of 1780, he enlisted at said Ligonier Garrison and served as a private in Captain Thomas Campbell’s Company, Colonel John Gibson’s Virginia Regiment, and he was on active duty with the Ninth attached to the 13^th Regiment in the Virginia Line on continental establishment. Shortly after enlistment, his company was marched to and stationed at Fort Crawford on the Allegheny River about eighteen miles above Pittsburgh where they remained about five months, then to Pittsburgh to spend the winter, and on to Hannahstown, Pennsylvania. Charles McManis was discharged at Hannahs town about April 1, 1781, having served nine months. According to military records, he was allowed pension on his application executed July 24, 1832, while residing in Jackson Township, Brown County, Ohio.

    Eleanor McManis, wife of Charles McManis, died at the home east of Winchester, but it is unknown where she is buried. Eleanor and Charles McManis had moved to what is now Brown County, Ohio, in 1815 and settled in Jackson Township near Carlisle Village. The family lived there several years, then moved to Adams County, east of Winchester. Adams County census records for 1850 show Ellen McManis, aged 81, was living with Charles A. McManis, her son, and Polly, his wife.

    It should be noted that Brown County was formed from a division with Adams County officially on March 1, 1818.

    A deed transferring 73 acres from Charles and Eleanor McManis, his wife, to Andrew McManis is recorded in Adams County Courthouse in West Union, on February 2, 1838. The property was on the waters of the west fork of Brush Creek, and the selling price was $146.00.

    According to the military papers of Charles McManis, he had a brother, James, who lived in Brown County, Ohio, in 1832 and served in the same military units, as did Charles, at the same time. There is no pension claim by James.

    Because of the lack of dates of birth of the sons of Charles and Eleanor McManis, there can be no chronological order in following the next generation, that of the children of the Charles McManis family.

    In his pension application, Charles referred to his son, John, who lived in the State of Indiana in 1832 and who had a record of the age of Charles McManis in his possession.

    It is believed that the James McManis who lived in Adams County, Ohio, about the same time as the Charles McManis family was known to have lived there, was the son of Charles and Eleanor McManis.

    Joseph McManis, son of Charles and Eleanor McManis, was born in 1796 in Pennsylvania and moved with them to Brown County in 1815, according to "History of Brown County, Ohio", by W. H. Beer & Co., 1883. Joseph McManis was a resident of Brown County for about forty years, then moved to Adams County and located eight miles east of West Union. The family remained in this location for eleven years, then moving to near Pontiac, Livingston County, Illinois, where he remained until his death in November 1872.

    The first marriage of Joseph McManis was to Jane Donaldson on March 30, 1820, in Adams County, Ohio [sic the marriage took place in Brown County, Ohio]. It is believed they had nine children. Jane Donaldson McManis, who died in May of 1838, is thought to have been the daughter of William Donaldson.

    The second wife of Joseph McManis was Mary Bishop, also known as Polly, daughter of Peter Bishop. The marriage took place on March 21, 1839 or 1840. Her death occurred in June of 1845. There were three children born to this marriage.

    Ruth Mathias was the third wife of Joseph McManis. She was born about 1825 in Brown County, and the marriage took place in November 1847, in Adams County. There were nine children born during this marriage. After the death of Joseph McManis in Livingston County, Illinois, Ruth Mathias McManis married again, and her name became Rush.

    Charles A. McManis, son of Charles and Eleanor McManis, was born March 7, 1806 or 1807, in Pennsylvania. He died March 3, 1867, and is buried in Cherry Fork Cemetery in Adams County. He was a veteran of the Black Hawk War, according to "Genealogical Gleanings", by Colletta, 1964. The marriage of Charles A. McManis to Polly Hall Wright, also known as Mary, was performed on December 7, 1837. Polly Hall Wright McManis was born on November 18, 1817, in Ohio, died on March 29, 1906, and is buried in Cherry Fork Cemetery. Her parents were James Wright and Margaret Parks Wright. There were four known children. There are gravemarkers for both Charles and Polly McManis in the Cherry Fork Cemetery.

    Andrew McManis, son of Charles and Eleanor McManis was born March 6, 1809, in Pennsylvania. He died October 4, 1887 and is buried at Cherry Fork Cemetery in Adams County. Andrew McManis moved with his parents in 1815 to Ohio. On October 10, 1837 in Adams County, Andrew McManis was united in marriage with Eliza Duffey, daughter of ~ and Elizabeth Ramsey Duffay, both of whom lived near Winchester. Eliza Duffey McManis was born July 15, 1817, in Ohio, died February 14, 1887 and is buried in Cherry Fork Cemetery. There were three known children.

    Robinson McManis, another son of Charles and Eleanor McManis, was born in Ohio and died about 1846, probably at Cross Plains, Ripley County, Indiana. His wife was Philena Shaw, daughter of Joanna Reynolds Shaw and Russell Shaw, founder of Russellville, Brown County, Ohio. Robinson and Philena Shaw McManis were married September 26, 1830 in Brown County, Ohio and moved to Cross Plains. There were seven children born to this marriage. Much sadness came to this family when these parents died within a week of each other. According to Brown County, Ohio, Courthouse records, Russell Shaw, maternal grandfather of the children was appointed Guardian of all of the children on April 11, 1848, and they were raised to maturity by different families.

    With the grandchildren of Charles and Eleanor McManis came further migration to the west. It is reported that the total Civil War service of the sons of Joseph McManis was fifteen years. It is believed that all of them returned from the war, although some of them had been wounded severely and suffered the remainder of their lives from the effects of the injuries, and the same was true of other grandsons.

    The oldest known son of Joseph and Jane Donaldson McManis and grandson of Charles and Eleanor McManis was James McManis. James McManis was born June 12, 1825 in Brown County, Ohio. He died on January 19, 1908 in Keokuk, Lee County, Iowa, a town on the Mississippi River. He married Catharine Lain, daughter of W. S. and Mary Lain of Ripley, Brown County, Ohio. The marriage ceremony was performed by Zachariah Connell, a Methodist pastor, in Ripley on October 10, 1848. James McManis enlisted in Cincinnati to serve in the 1^st Regiment, U. S. Veteran Volunteers Engineers in Tennessee from October 11, 1864 to his date of discharge, September 26, 1865, such discharge taking place at Nashville, Tennessee. At the time of enlistment, he was thirty-nine years of age and had several children. His military record description states he was five feet, eight inches tall, dark complexioned, with blue eyes and light hair, his occupation being that of a carpenter. His military occupation was artificer, and he suffered knee and ankle injury at Carter’s Creek, Tennessee when timber fell on him while helping to build blockhouses to protect railroad bridges. In later years, he walked with a cane.

    Catharine Lain McManis wrote a book of poetry called Laughter and Tears," which was published in Seattle, Washington in 1906 and was dedicated To My Loved Ones. James and Catharine McManis lived in Marshall County, Illinois, in 1856, then moved to Hamilton, Hancock County, Illinois, where James McManis was once mayor of this Mississippi River town. Later they lived in Keekuk, Iowa, at one time resided in Clark County, Missouri, just across possibly in St. Louis. Catharine McManis died on June 6, 1907, in Keokuk, and James McManis stated that he did not care to live much longer, that he felt he would not survive another year, and he did succumb in six months’ time. Catharine’s remains were kept in a family vault, and double services were held for them. There were fifteen children born to this union, and they raised three grandchildren from babyhood.

    Lot #25 in Rome, Adams County, was transferred by James and Catharine McManis, Marshall County, Illinois, to Washington Cross for $400 on November 4, 1856.

    Samuel McManis, son of Joseph and Jane Donaldson McManis, was born in October of 1827 in what is now Jackson Township, Brown County. He was reared on a farm in that area, and in April of 1851, he married Martha Greathouse, who was born in September 1832 in Adams or Brown County, and died November 25, 1887. They were members of the M. E. Church, and it is believed that Samuel was a Trustee of Mt. Olive Methodist Church in Brown County on May 31, 1886. He owned 104 acres of well-cultivated land. In 1883, he lived near Winchester. Death came to Samuel McManis, a highly respected citizen, on March 21, 1916. Three children were born to this couple.

    Hiram McManis, son of Joseph and Jane Donaldson McManis, was born January 27, 1835, in Brown County, Ohio and died January 8, 1917 at Wilbur, Lincoln County, Washington. On July 4, 1867, he married Rachel Owen at Long Point, near Pontiac, Livingston County, Illinois, who was born June 25, 1844 at Waynesburg, Green County, Pennsylvania. This is another son who served in the Civil War, having enlisted at age 26, on May 25, 1861 in the 17^th Regiment, Illinois Volunteer Infantry and served as a private in Illinois until discharged at Springfield, Illinois on June 4, 1864. His Civil War record described him as being five feet, eight inches, with fair complexion, blue eyes and light hair. His occupation at time of enlistment was farmer, and in later years he had a wheat ranch. The fact that he was crippled in later years may be from war injuries, but this is not known. There were four children born. Hiram McManis lived in Illinois from 1864-71, Montgomery County, Iowa, from 1871-83, and from 1883 on in Lincoln County, Washington.

    The next son of Joseph and Jane McManis was named John and he was born March 9, 1837 in Brown County, Ohio. His marriage to Mary Edmisten took place on March l6, 1864 in Adams County. At time of enlistment John was described as five feet, eight inches and a fraction tall, dark haired and with fair complexion. He enlisted at age 24 on May 27, 1861, in Adams County, and served until October 9, 1865, when he was discharged as a 1^st Lieutenant at August, Georgia. He served in Ohio Infantry and the 24^th Regiment, Ohio Volunteer Infantry. Severe wounds in the neck were suffered by this soldier on December 30, 1862 at the Battle of Stone River in Tennessee by buckshot passing through his neck and throat. In the Battle of Nashville, on December 15, 1864, he was wounded by gunshot in the ankle. He was serving as a nurse at U. S. A. General Hospital at Nashville in February 1863. John McManis died June 1, 1889, at Lenora, Kansas, the father of seven children.

    Little is known about the other children of this family. William McManis probably died before 1883. Charles McManis was a son, and his wife’s maiden name was purportedly Seaman.

    Margaret Ann McManis was born about 1830 in Ohio and married Joseph Cross on April 1, 1851 in Brown County, Ohio. Her sister, Mary Ellen, was born November 9, 1832 in Ohio, married James Edmisten on October 15, 1856 and died February 4, 1915. James Edmiston was born February 2, 1832 and died August 28, 1920. It is believed there was a son named Robinson in this family, in the family of Joseph and Jane McManis.

    Alexander McManis, first son of Joseph and Mary "Molly" Bishop McManis, was born May 26, 1841, in Brown County, Ohio. He enlisted the day after his twentieth birthday on May 27, 1861, at West Union and served as division teamster in the 24^th Regiment of Ohio Volunteers and 18^th Ohio Volunteers. He was mustered out on October 9,1865, at August, Georgia, the same any and place as was his half-brother, John McManis. In the Battle of Chickamauga, Georgia, on September 20, 1863, Alexander was wounded in the left arm and carried the bullet the rest of his life. When on furlough on March 10, 1864, he married Mary Ann Waite at Blue Creek, Adams County, daughter of David Waite. Mary Ann Waite was born September 19, 1845 in Adams County. According to a handwritten diary of Alexander’s, on September 15, 1867, he and Mary Ann "packed our few belongings in a wagon and started for the west. First stopped at Blair, Washington County, (Nebraska) but land was too high priced there, so in May, ‘72, we loaded up again and went west some more. Stopped this time in south central Nebraska, Fillmore County. Stopped there late in May. Stopped out on the bare prairie six miles to the nearest well where we could get a decent drink. We had a lake near where could get water for stock and by boiling it we could drink it and did. 14 miles to the nearest grocery store but that did not matter as we only had $2.30 in cash and no produce. We had a cow and ½ dozen hens and two yoke oxen. Pretty blue but had some grit in them days, so we bet our Uncle Samuel $16.00 we could stay on a quarter section of his land 5 years, and we won, and after staying on it 6 years and breaking out 120 acres we sold it . . . and packed our goods again and come to Kansas and in April 1877 bought a ¼ section near Solomon (?). 1900 moved to Manhattan.

    On January 8, 1932, Alexander McManis was struck by a train and killed instantly when crossing a main street in Americas, Kansas. Mary Ann McManis died in Manhattan on February 1935. There were 11 children; Emer, Ella and Orpha were born in Ohio. Last surviving of this family is Benjamin, youngest son, born 1888, now living in Thermopolis, Wyoming, at Pioneer Home.

    Francis Joseph McManis, known as Frank, was the second son of Polly Bishop and Joseph McManis. Frank McManis was born in Brown County, Ohio, April 11, 1845. His Civil War papers show that he was a farmer, had blue eyes, sandy hair, a florid complexion and was five feet, nine inches tall. He enlisted at age twenty-one at Manchester, Adams County! On September 12 or 20, 1864, serving as a private as a teamster On September 7, 1865, he was married to Martha Sharp, born June 10, 1847 in Adams County. He served in 182^nd Reg. Ohio Volunteer Infantry and was honorably discharged at Nashville, Tennessee on July 7 or 17, 1865. Possible earlier service was May 2, 1864 to September 3, 1864. While doing pioneer work lifting logs in November or December 1864, at Nashville, he was injured and permanently disabled. There were seven children. Francis McManis died in Hubbell, Thayer County, Nebraska, on November 2, 1889. Martha McManis by 1897 was married to a man named Wilcox. Elizabeth McManis, daughter of Mary Bishop and Joseph McManis died as a child.

    Andrew Jacob McManis was the oldest known son of Joseph and Ruth Mathias McManis, having been born on October 28, 1848 in Brown County, Ohio. He married Emma Jane Masterson on November 15, 1873 in Walla Walla, Washington. Andrew Jacob McManis was not a Civil War veteran, having stayed at home to help in the absence of his older half-brothers who were serving, since their father was crippled and needed help on the farm in Adams County. Andrew moved to Seattle, Washington, was a purveyor near Mt. Ranier, kept a store and traded with the Indians at Wallula. His death was December 20, 1941, and he is buried in Walla Walla. There were four known children.

    Daughters of Joseph and Ruth Mathias McManis included Sarah Jane McManis, born in 1851, and Martha Elizabeth McManis, born in 1853. Both sisters married men named Capes. Laura McManis married Will Render. Eliza Lavina McManis was born February 2, 1855 in Adams County, Ohio. She married John C. Taylor, had four children and raised three stepchildren. At least a part of her life she was blind. She died March 8, 1942, in Zion, Illinois. Emma or Emily A. McManis was born in 1857 and married John Piper in Adams County. Catherine J. and Lydia McManis were-other daughters.

    Mathias Wilson McManis, known as Willis, was born August of 1870 in Pontiac, Livingston County, Illinois and married Emma Capitola Luckey. He died April 25, 1925 in Seattle.

    The children of Charles A. and Polly Hall Wright McManis included Ellen J., born about 1844 in Ohio, who married John Ryan. Margaret Isobel McManis, born January 13, 1846, in Ohio, married January 7, 1869, to Sylvester Silvenes Mathews, and died October 15, l915. Both she and her husband are buried in the Virginia Cemetery, Seaman, Ohio. Their grandson, William H. McCormick, lives in Seaman at the present time. Samuel R. McManis was a son, born about 1849 in Ohio, and his first wife was named Swisser, the second being named White. Mary E. McManis was born about 1852 and married James Cunningham.

    The 1850 census for Adams County shows Ellen, 81, mother of Charles A., living with this son, and also in this home were Greenleaf, 9, son of Robinson and Philena, and Alexander, aged 61, relationship unknown. The 1860 census shows Alexander, aged 75, born in Pennsylvania, still with this family.

    James McManis, son of Andrew and Eliza Duffey McManis, was born February 27, 1839 in Ohio and died November 20, 1859, according to his Cherry Fork Cemetery tombstone. Elizabeth E. was born about 1840 in Ohio. Charles Alexander McManis. the third child, was born April 7, 1842 near Winchester, Adams County, and died February 13, 1931 at Berwyn, Illinois. He volunteered October 8, 1861, at Hillsboro, Ohio, in the 2^nd Regiment, Ohio Heavy Artillery Volunteers and served in 60^th Regiment Ohio Volunteer Infantry, in Tennessee, and prisoner of war records show he was captured and paroled at Harpers Ferry, September 15, 1862. He was described in his military record as six feet, with dark eyes, dark hair and dark complexion. He was a farmer and schoolteacher before enlistment was discharged as a 1^st Lieutenant on June 24, 1865, and returned to Winchester. He married Inez Jane Wood of Genesee County, New York, on July 25, 1878, in Chicago. They raised one foster daughter.

    Adams County records show on June 9, 1875, 22 acres were deeded by Andrew and Eliza McManis to Charles A. and Elizabeth E. McManis for $1.00, love and affection. Elizabeth may not have married, as she was at home with her parents at age 28 in 1870.

    Among the children of Robinson and Philena Shaw McManis who were orphaned in 1846 were Byron, born about 1832, and Russell R. born in Brown County, Ohio and who enlisted on October 12, 1861 in the 11^th Regiment and 6^th Regiment of Ohio Cavalry. He was a blacksmith and served at Ft. Laramie, I. T. Mary was born about 1834. At age 16, she was living with her maternal grandfather, Russell Shaw, in Brown County from where she went to Georgetown, Kentucky, to live with a family named Latham. She did not marry and died about 1919 at Georgetown, Kentucky, and is buried in the Latham family lot. Martha was born about 1836, and her married name was Pitzer. Experience McManis was born July 21, 1838 in Ohio. She was believed to be living in 1850 in the home of Joseph and Ruth McManis in Adams County. Elizabeth, the youngest daughter of this family married Calvin Bayless. It is believed that in 1850 Martha and Elizabeth were living with Andrew and Eliza, and in 1860, Elizabeth was still with them.

    Greenleaf Norton McManis, another son, was born July 1, 1841, in Cross Plains, Ripley County, Indiana, where the family had gone to live. At the age of six, he went to live with a family in Fincastle, Brown County, Ohio. Then at ten years of age, he went to the home of Ramsey Duffey near Winchester, Ohio, and there remained until enlistment on November 1, 1861 at West Union, as a private with the 70^th Regiment, Ohio Infantry. He was wounded in the right leg during the Battle of Shiloh, on April 6, 1862. After many months of treatment at General Hospital at Hilton Head, South Carolina, he returned to his outfit and in the storming of Fort McAllister, Georgia, on December 13, 1864, the wrist bone in his right arm was shot away, and on June 25, 1865, he was discharged as a sergeant for full disability, with his Arm, record showing "hand drawn inward, nearly useless; so little strength in arm and hand that he cannot perform any manual labor." His Army record in 1864 described him as five feet, ten inches, with grey eyes, dark hair, fair complexion.

    On January 3, 1867, Greenleaf married Elizabeth Waite of Blue Creek, half-sister of Mary Ann Waite McManis, at West Union. He served as Deputy Treasurer of Adams County under J. C. Duffey for two years. In December 1867, he moved from West Union to Blue Creek and engaged in farming and milling for seventeen years. The father of Elizabeth, David Waite, built the first grist mill in southern Ohio at Blue Creek, which may be still partly standing. Her family was also active in the Underground Railroad and had to appear in Cincinnati in Court for assistance to slaves, but they were exonerated. In the fall of 1884, Greenleaf was appointed Deputy Treasurer of Adams County for two years. In 1886, he was appointed Deputy Clerk of Adams County and served two years. In 1889, he was elected Sheriff of Adams County and reselected in 1891, serving until 1894, when he moved to Peebles, Ohio. Greenleaf and Elizabeth McManis celebrated their ‘golden wedding anniversary on January 2, 1917. In West Union, Elizabeth died of pneumonia while visiting their son, Jay Wilbur McManis, in Kansas City. Kansas on February 1921, Greenleaf died in a military home in Hampton, Virginia, on April 30, 1924. He was a lifelong member of the Grand Army Republic and was buried with full military rites in West Union in the IOOF Cemetery, where his wife is buried. The family was of the Presbyterian religion, and there were nine children.

    The great-grandchildren of Charles and Eleanor McManis begin with the children of James and Catherine Lain McManis, some of whom were born in Ohio, probably Adams County, namely, Charles R., born about 1849; Mary, born about 1851, who married a Hixson; Georgia, born about 1860, who later was a teacher in Colorado and Washington State, reportedly a writing teacher who made plates for the Palmer method-writing pads; and James, born about 1865. There were fifteen children.

    Adams County great-grandchildren, of the family of Samuel and Martha Greathouse McManis, included Edwin McManis, born April 19, 1853, in Ohio, who married Martha E. Howard. It is believed all of this family lived in Adams County. A daughter, Maria, was born about 1856, her married name was Francis, and her daughter, Emma Fenton, is believed to live in Winchester at the present time. A third child, Barton Lowe, was born June, 1859, studied to be a minister and died of pneumonia August 26, 1886 or 1887, while on his first charge.

    Children of Edwin McManis and his wife, Martha Howard, were Ethel, born November 5, 1880, who married J. Wesley Behm, in September of 1905; Howard McManis, born March 24, 1882, died April 4, 1884; Clara Elizabeth McManis, born January 24, 1884; Barton McManis, born August 13, 1888 in Scott Township, died October, 1888. Samuel Easton, the youngest child, was a minister, born October 1891 and died March 21, about 1916.

    Of this family, Ethel McManis Behm is living at the age of 91, a resident of Winchester throughout her life. Her children were Martha Marguerite, born July 29, 1907 and died on June 9, 1920 of appendicitis; Samuel and Andrew, twins, now living near Winchester; Carl M. Behm, born August 30, possibly 1913, who was killed in an automobile accident in March, 1944; and Lewis Wilson Behm, who is living at Hillsboro, Ohio, with his wife, Lida DeVore Behm.

    The children of Greenleaf and Elizabeth Waite McManis included James Oscar McManis, born September 6, 1867 in West Union, a resident of that town until his death on November 25, 1952. On December 12, 1894, he was married to Elizabeth Margaret Edgington, daughter of Captain L. L. Edgington, well-known merchant and teacher in West Union, at her home. James Oscar McManis was former Adams County Engineer, banker and Masonic leader. ‘He was president of the First National Bank of West Union and the Adams County Agricultural Society, president of Scottish Rite Club of Adams County, a prominent member of the Presbyterian Church, serving as elder for many years, superintendent of the Sunday School, and a lifelong member of the choir. He served as Probate Judge from March 14, 1898 to November 26, 1898, appointed by Governor Bushnell to fill a vacancy. Elizabeth, his wife, was a school teacher, having ridden to her school on horseback, served as teacher in the Presbyterian Sunday School for many years, and as secretary of the Ladies’ Aid and Missionary Society, and also was District President of the Presbyterial Society.

    James Oscar McManis was instrumental in obtaining the grave marker for Charles McManis which is in Cherry Fork Cemetery.

    The second child of the Greenleaf McManis family was William Ramsey McManis, born April 12, 1869 at Blue Creek or West Union, and died September 17, 1870. He is buried in the little Waite Cemetery on the point overlooking the conjunction of the creeks of Blue Creek, Church Creek and Ohio Brush Creek, into which they run.

    Herbert Waite McManis, the next son, was born October 11, 1870 in Adams County, married Ethel Crawford and for a number of years served in the Eleventh Regimental Band in the Regular Army, at San Juan, Puerto Rico at the time of Spanish-American War. His three children included Philena, named for her great-grandmother, Philena Shaw; Victor Herbert McManis, and a daughter who died at one year of age. Herbert Waite McManis died on February 18, 1909.

    Orin McManis was born in Adams County on July 2, 1872, married Peter Ammon Wickerham of Peebles, Ohio, on November 12, 1891, who was in service in Manila. There were five children, and Oriana died in Phoenix, Arizona, on January 12, 1962.

    Charles Neriah McManis was born November 12, 1874, in Adams County, married Medora Withrow and died in March, 1959 in Lead, South Dakota. He graduated from Park College, Parkville, Missouri and the theological seminary in Auburn, New York. lIe was a Presbyterian minister and had no children.

    Allen Norton McManis was born September 19, 1876 in Adams County, at Buena Vista, married Cecelia Anna Meeker [sic name corrected to Cecelia A. Gabinski per Henry Norton Carle carle@alaskalife.net], there were three children, including twins, and he died January 26, 1966, in Spanaway, Washington. Jay Wilbur McManis was born December 25, 1879, at Blue Creek, in Adams County, attended Park College in Missouri and was a teacher of industrial arts: Woodwork, metal and mechanical drawing, in Kansas. He served in the Nat; and 1 rearm and married Zora Wilson, of which marriage there were three children. After the death of his first wife, he married Edith Deskins. Jay Wilbur McManis was the last surviving member of this family, his death occurring on October 1, 1971, in Kansas City, Kansas. Wilbur, in his last months, related memories of visiting with his parents, Greenleaf and Elizabeth, in the home of Greenleaf’s adoptive parents, the Duffeys, and hearing Mrs. Duffey play her harmonium, as she sang, always "Juanita".

    Stella Mae McManis was born November 25, 1881, in Adams County and was married May 16, 1907 to Harry Norman. She played organ in the Presbyterian Church in West Union when the organ was first installed and she was about fourteen years old. Until that time, there had been no accompaniment for hymns. Some of the congregation held the old view it was wrong to have an organ, so at times, some would request a hymn, adding, "Without the organ, please." Stella McManis Norman lived many places in the United States and died on December 25, 1959 in San Rafael, California. She attended school in Parkville, Missouri, and there were two children in the Norman family.

    Mary Edna McManis, the youngest of this family, was born in August of 1884 in Adams County and died February 14, 1892.

    The four children of James Oscar McManis were born in West Union and still are residing in Adams County. Edna Ruth, known as Ruth, is a retired music teacher, a graduate of Wooster College, Wooster, Ohio, Oberlin Conservatory of Music, with further degrees in music from Conservatory of Music in Cincinnati. She studied in Chicago under Percy Grainger and taught in colleges in Missouri and North Dakota and was supervisor of music in public schools in Ohio and Michigan. She is a member of Daughters of 1812. Since retirement, she is living in what has been the lovely family home of her parents since a gracious lady enriching the lives of the younger generation of West Union with her private piano lessons.

    The second child is Lowell Edgington McManis, who grew up in West Union, attended Wooster College. He later joined his father as Cashier in the First National Bank of West Union. He became an insurance agent and still pursues this business in his hometown, though retired. He married Nelle Crawford of West Union on August 23, 1923. There are no children.

    Dorothy Elizabeth McManis was married to Dr. Emerson Gibboney who practiced dentistry in West Union, until his death in November, 1954. Their son, Thomas McManis Gibboney, was born September 21, 1920 and died March 10, 1959. In 1961, Dorothy McManis Gibboney was married to Herschel C. Gaffin, who died on July 2, 1969. Mrs. Gaffin resides in West Union and is active in women’s groups, hospital auxiliary, is a deacon in the Presbyterian Church and member of the Board of School of Retarded Children

    Myron Waite McManis was born in West Union and studied bass tuba and string bass with Mr. Walter Huston, a member of the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra. He traveled for nine years with dance bands, settling in Richmond, Virginia, where he married Blanche Williams of that city. They returned to Ohio after several years. After serving overseas in the U. S. Army for two years, he went to Seaman, Adams County, was employed by Columbus Power and Light Company civic organizations at Seaman. There are no children in this family.

    Not previously mentioned are Samuel McManis and his wife, Margaret Donaldson McManis. They were married March 29, 1829, in Brown County, Ohio. It is believed they are a part of this family, although this is not established as yet, and they lived in Adam County, and in later years moved to Illinois.

    Compiled and written by:

    Mrs. Doris Lucille McManis Camden
    139 Grace Village Drive,
    Winona Lake, IN  46590

   Reprinted with permission and submitted by Charles McManis

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