Hull, Lindley M., compiler and editor.  "A History of Central Washington,
Including the Famous Wenatchee, Entiat, Chelan and the Columbia Valleys."
Spokane: Press of Shaw & Borden Co., 1929.  p. 336.
 
O. C. McMANUS

     deceased. This subject arrived with his family from Nebraska in 1888. Mr.
McManus was not among the very first settlers, but he was here in ample time to
be identified with the constructive work that ultimately resulted in making what
is now the Cashmere country one of the most productive sections of Washington.
In appearance Mr. McManus was tall, lean, and swarthy, with a happy blending of
temper-mental gifts that make for good citizenship. He was justice of the peace
many years, and served the community in apparently inconsequential ways, but
which service taken as a whole make the sum a genuine contribution to society.
He was one of the strong supporters of the Peshastin Ditch and put into its
construction some of the best years of his life. He had the satisfaction of
seeing the completion of the project and the transformation it wrought, though
he did not reap the same measure of benefit that fell to the lot of some others.
     Mr. McManus was a native of Illinois, in which state his ancestors settled
in pioneer days. He was for a short time a resident of Iowa, and it was at
Toolsborough of that state in 1873 that he was married to Miss Lucretia Mallory,
whose people located there in the forties. Thus it will be seen that both sides
of the McManus family came of pioneer stock. Soon after marriage, Mr. and Mrs.
McManus removed to Blue River Valley, Nebraska, where they followed farming and
to a considerable extent engaged in cattle raising. Blue River Valley was and is
a rich farming section, and during the 14 or 15 years of their residence there
they reaped a measure of prosperity, though at times the barometer of fortune
registered low marks for them. Their herds grew, and some times the harvest was
abundant, but some years the drought destroyed the crops. And again this
particular country did not always escape the grasshopper nuisance.  Some seasons
these insects were so vast in numbers as to darken the sun by their flight, and
if they descended upon a farming community for a friendly visit of a few days,
they would strip the fields of the most beautiful crops of corn and other grain
that ever gladdened the sight of man. Mr. McManus' large herd of cattle was
smitten with a plague which entailed heavy losses, and he began to consider a
change of climate, where perchance he might escape misfortune. Accordingly he
disposed of all property and directed his course to Washington Territory. He
spent a short time in Kittitas Valley, where he investigated conditions with
reference to a location, which resulted in the selection of Wenatchee Valley. It
has been said of Mr. McManus that when he located at Old Mission, he still had
enough money left to build the entire Peshastin ditch. But unfortunately this
money had been entrusted to the care of banks that so completely failed as to
cause total loss to depositors. Notwithstanding this heavy reverse, Mr. McManus
with undiminished courage adjusted himself to the new situation and joined the
ranks of the empire builders in the Wenatchee Valley, and here made a record
worthy of the best traditions of pioneer life.
     About the year of 1912 Mr. McManus removed to California, and passed away
in that state, June 13, 1915.
     Seven children were born to Mr. and Mrs. McManus: Orville, who died in
1903; Bert, Lee, Hal, Fannie. Lydia and Sylvia. The last two were born at
Cashmere. Bert has an enviable record as a capable officer, having served as
sheriff of Chelan County nearly thirteen years. He retired from office with the
respect even of law breakers, some of whom have testified that Bert was
in-corruptible. Lee is musical instructor in high school at Bellingham,
Washington. Hal operates a ranch on Mission Creek several miles south of
Cashmere. Fannie is Mrs. Walter Whitaker and lives at Yuba City, California.
Lydia is Mrs. Fred M. Waters. Sylvia is Mrs. Harry M. Foss and lives at
Sacramento, California.

     
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Submitted to the Washington Biographies Project in February 2012 by Diana Smith.
Submitter has no additional information about the person(s) or family mentioned
above.