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Rev. William H. Manning, farmer, sec. 34, Chippewa Tp., was born in Odelltown, Can, Aug 15, 1824, and is a son of Gabriel and Polly (Green) Manning, the former a native of New York and the latter of Vermont. His father was a farmer, and after his marriage went to Canada, and there died in 1866; his mother died in 1869.

Mr. Manning was reared on hi s father’s farm, which was situated in a rural district, and he obtained little education in early life. This defect he remedied after he had grown to manhood. He remained with his parents until he was 22 years of age.

Mr. Manning was married May 14, 1850, to Permelia, daughter of Preston and Lydia (Marsh) Groot, who was born in Whitby, Can., Nov. 23, 1830. Her parents were natives of Lower Canada and her grandfather was a soldier in the British army in 1812, and a Baptist minister. Her great-grandsire was a British officer in the war of the Revolution. Mr. And Mrs. Manning have eight children: Addison A., Celia, Lydia A., Bertha M., Ellen M., William G., Wallace P. and Lewis H.

After their marriage Mr. and Mrs. Manning resided in Canada until 1862, when they came to Michigan and located in St. Claire County, near Memphis, Macomb County. IN 1865, Mr. Manning connected himself with the Dryden (Lapeer Co) Conference, and entered upon his labors as a Christian minister. He was licensed to preach in 1850, while he lived in Canada. He was a licensed exhorter of the Dryden Circuit one year and then went to Dansville, Ingham Co., and was connected with that circuit for a year, and afterward supplied the Wheatfield mission one year.

In November, 1869, Mr. Manning came with his family to Mecosta County and located in Chippewa Tp., where he entered and proved a claim of 80 acres of land under the homestead law. He has been diligently engaged in farming, and has continued to preach at intervals as opportunity has served or occasion demanded. He is a Republican in politics.