My Genealogy Hound

John Maness is a descendent of an old German family, who were among the early colonists that came to America, settling in Pennsylvania. John Maness, the grandfather, was a North Carolinian, and his son Stephen, who was born in the same State, moved to East Tennessee before his marriage. Mary Myers became his wife, and their union resulted in the birth of five children: Laynes, John, William, James and Lucinda. In 1854 the father became a resident of Newton County, and the farm which he cleared and cultivated is still in possession of his sons. He lived to be eighty years old, and died in 1875. He was a Republican in politics. John Maness, the subject of this biography, was born in East Tennessee May 24, 1826, and was reared on a farm. Mary Harmon became his wife and the mother of his three children, one of whom is living, George W. Mrs. Maness is a daughter of John and Elizabeth (Key) Harmon, natives of Tennessee. Mr. Maness has a good farm of 160 acres. He is a Republican in his political views, was a stanch Union man during the war, and was in the State Militia a short time. He was robbed of all his stock and grain during that period. He is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and has always been an honest and upright citizen. His son, George W. Maness. was born on his grand-father’s farm in McDonald County in 1852. He received a fair education in the English branches, and in 1872 married Mary Amos, a daughter of Isam Amos. They have six children: James W., John E., Florence, Alice, Curtis and Hubbard M. Mr. Maness, like his father and grandfather, is a Republican, and takes an interest in all worthy enterprises.