William M. Maneval. — A progressive and skillful agriculturist of Brady Township, William M. Maneval, whose farm lies one mile south of West Unity, is pursuing his pleasant and independent occupation with marked success, his well tilled land yielding bountiful crops. A son of Peter Maneval, he was born, September 2, 1862, in Lycoming County, Pennsylvania, the descendant of one of the earlier families of that state.
Born in Tioga County, Pennsylvania, Peter Maneval was there brought up and educated. Marrying when young, he settled near Williamsport, Pennsylvania, where he lived a number of years. Seeking a more favorable location, he came with his family to Ohio about 1872, and having settled in Williams County, a mile south of West Unity, he bought land and was subsequently engaged in tilling the soil until his death. Politically he was a stanch supporter of the principles of the republican party, and both he and his wife were active and worthy members of the Evangelical Church. To him and his wife, whose maiden name was Elizabeth Drum, four children were born, as follows: William M., the subject of this brief personal record; Emma, wife of Wilmer Heaton, of Fulton County, Ohio; Rose, wife of John Zink, of Iowa; and Frank, deceased.
Ten years old when he came with his parents to Williams County, William M. Maneval was educated in the schools of West Unity and Pulaski. Remaining with his parents until attaining his majority, he acquired agricultural knowledge and experience of value, and readily selected farming as his life work. Mr. Maneval has sixty-five acres of choice land in his own farm, but being a man of industry, energy and ambition he rents eighty acres of land adjoining his estate, and is managing the whole with highly satisfactory results.
Mr. Maneval has been twice married. He married first Miss Emma Buck, who died in early womanhood, leaving five children, namely: Florence, wife of Scott Baltosser; Alda, wife of Joseph Kehr, of Bryan, Ohio; Vernon, living in Montana; Howard, of Bryan; and Herman, also a resident of Bryan. On December 21, 1904, Mr. Maneval married for his second wife Catherine Weidler, who was born December 11, 1870, in Lycoming County, Pennsylvania, and came to Williams County, where she was married. Four children have blessed their union, Walter, Edith, Lloyd and Lola. Mr. Maneval is a stockholder in the Farmers Commercial and Savings Bank. He is identified in politics with the republican party, but has never been an aspirant, for public office. He is a consistent member of the Methodist Church at West Unity, to which Mrs. Maneval also belongs.
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.