Greenleaf Norton McMannis
Greenleaf Norton McMannis was born near Cross Plains, Ripley County, Indiana, July 1, 1841. In a family of seven children he was the second son. His father was Robinson McMannis, formerly of Winchester, Adams County, Ohio. His grandfather was Charles McMannis, a Revolutionary soldier. He was a private in the regiment of the Pennsylvania Militia. He was a pensioner of the State of Pennsylvania. He was born in 1754 and emigrated to Ohio in 1817, settled in Adams County, and died at Cherry Fork in 1840, in his eighty-sixth year, and is buried in the Cherry Fork cemetery. His wife's maiden name was Ellen Spears. He had been a farmer in Pennsylvania and had followed the same occupation in Ohio.
Our subject's mother's maiden name was Filner Shaw, a daughter of Russell Shaw, for whom Russellville, Brown County, Ohio, was named. Her mother's name was Reynolds, an aunt of the late Stephen Reynolds, of Peebles, Ohio The parents of our subject both died within a week of each other when he was not yet six years old. At the age of ten years, he made his home with a family named Duffey, of Winchester, and he remained there until he enlisted in Company C of the 70th O. V. I., as a private, November 1, 1861. He was made a Corporal and afterward a Sergeant, February 25, 1863. He was wounded in the right leg at the battle of Shiloh on April 6, 1862. He verteranized January 1, 1864, and was wounded in both arms in the attack on Fort McAllister, December 13, 1864 barely escaping amputation of the right arm by a reduction of a radius of five inches. He was discharged from the service June 23, 1865, after serving about three years and eight months. After returning home, he served as Deputy Treasurer under J. C. Duffey for two years. He was married January 3, 1867, to Elizabeth Waite. of Blue Creek, Ohio. In the Fail of 1867, he was a candidate on the Republican ticket for County Treasurer, but was defeated by Elijah Leedom on the Democratic ticket. In December, 1867, he removed from West Union to Blue Creek, where he engaged in farming and milling. In the Fall of 1884, he was appointed Deputy Treasurer of Adams County and served two years. In 1886, he was appointed Deputy Clerk under W. R. Mahaffey and served two years. In 1889, he was elected Sheriff of Adams County by a majority of thirteen, determined after a contest with W. P. Newman, the opposing candidate. He was re-elected in 1891 and served until 1894. The same year he removed to Peebles, where he now resides.
Mr. McMannis is a quiet, modest citizen, very diffident, but possessed of those sterling qualities which make one appreciated. He is noted for his integrity and honor in all the relations of life. His children are James O. McMannis, lately Probate Judge of Adams County, married to the daughter of Captain L. L. Edgington, and residing at West Union; Herbert W. McMannis, in the Eleventh Regimental Band in the Regular Army, now at San Juan, Porto Rico; Onania, the wife of P. A. Wickerham, now Chief Clerk to Gen. Howard, in Manilla; Charles N. McMannis, a graduate of Park College, Parkville, Mo., and now studying for the Presbyterian ministry at Auburn, New York, in the Theological Seminary there; Allen N. McMannis, in the mercantile business at Greeley, Colorado; Jay Wilbur McMannis, a student at Parkville, Mo., and Stella May McMannis, a student at Parkville, Mo. He lost a son, William, at eighteen months and a daughter, Edna, at eight years of age. All of his children are bright, intelligent and studious; all are ambitious, sought honorable and responsible positions in life, and none are more promising. He has great reason to be proud of them, and they have just reason to be proud of his record as a patriot, a public officer and a citizen.
From "History of Adams County, Ohio from its Earliest Settlement to the Present Time" - by Nelson W. Evans and Emmons B. Stivers - West Union, Ohio - Published by E. B. Stivers - 1900