Ora R. Manning, born on January 17, 1875, in Deerfield, Michigan, is a traveling salesman residing in Pioneer, Williams County, Ohio. Initially working for the Interurban Electric Railway in Toledo, he later sold Hudson automobiles for seven years before focusing on candy sales in 1920. Manning married Alice M. Bartoe on September 4, 1907; Alice hails from Pioneer and owns 131 acres in Madison Township. They have an adopted son, James Lewis. Manning is a member of Pioneer Lodge No. 441, Free and Accepted Masons. The couple is well-regarded in their community.
Ora R. Manning. — Among the traveling salesmen identified with the automobile industry who make their homes in Williams County, one who is achieving success in his chosen field of endeavor is Ora R. Manning, whose residence is at Pioneer. Mr. Manning is a native of Deerfield, Michigan, born January 17, 1875, and received a district and public school education in his native place. As a young man he went to Toledo, Ohio, where he found employment in the service of the Interurban Electric Railway, and continued to be identified therewith until he took up the handling of Hudson automobiles, which he followed for seven years, the while he handled a full line of candy selling to the trade. In 1920 he gave up the automobile business and is now devoting his entire time to selling of candy on the road.
On September 4, 1907, Mr. Manning was united in marriage with Miss Alice M. Bartoe, who was born in Williams County, Ohio, reared in Madison Township, and educated in the public schools of Pioneer. She is a daughter of William and Josephine (Anderson) Bartoe, her father being a native of Wayne County, Ohio, born near Wooster, in 1840. He was reared near Reedsburg, where he married Josephine Anderson, who was born in Wayne County, Ohio, and educated there and at Mount Vernon. They came to Williams County in 1865 and engaged in farming, their home being made at Pioneer. Three children were born to them: Viola, who is the wife of F. L. Masters, of Seattle, Washington; Alice M., and Clara, the wife of J. C. Ewing, of Pioneer. Mr. and Mrs. Manning have no children of their own, but are rearing an adopted son, James Lewis, who is now attending the public school at Pioneer.
Mr. Manning is a member of Pioneer Lodge No. 441, Free and Accepted Masons. The modern Manning home is located at Pioneer, in addition to which Mrs. Manning is the owner of 131 acres of valuable farming land in Madison Township. Both Mr. and Mrs. Manning are highly esteemed at Pioneer, where they have numerous warm and appreciative friends.
Source: Bowersox, Charles A. ed. A standard history of Williams County, Ohio: an authentic narrative of the past, with particular attention to the modern era in the commercial, industrial, educational, civic and social development , 2 vols. Publisher Chicago: Lewis Pub. Co. 1920.