Maneely, John

John Maneely, familiarly known as Jack, was born in Dumfries, Ontario, Canada, on June 19, 1870. The son of Irish immigrants John Maneely and Catherine Johnston, he grew up in Canada before moving to Montana to work as a railroad fireman for the Northern Pacific. He later farmed near Richville, Washington, and served as a teamster for the United States government during the Philippine War in Luzon.

In 1904, John settled in Fresno County, California, where he purchased 100 acres near Barstow with his brother Alexander Maneely to establish a vineyard and orchard. After brief ventures working with the Associated Oil Company in Fresno and an ice company in Coalinga, he returned to his Barstow property to develop a top producing fruit ranch. Married in Los Angeles to Mrs. Gertrude Kelly Emery, he became an active member of the local Red Men and Fraternal Brotherhood organizations.