Mannix, Ambrose B.

Published Biographies

From Biographical History of Northeastern Ohio Embracing the Counties of Ashtabula, Trumbull and Mahoning. … (Chicago: The Lewis Publishing Company, 1893), p. 431:

AMBROSE B. MANNIX, a merchant of Vienna, was born October 11, 1850, at Boston, Massachusetts, a son of Timothy and Margaret (Hickey) Mannix, both now deceased. His father was a merchant of Boston, and when the subject of this sketch was about five years of age, he removed to Malone, New York, where he purchased a farm, which he conducted until he died.

Our subject, one of a family of twelve children, eight sons and four daughters, was reared in Malone, Franklin county, New York, and received his education in private and high schools. At the age of nineteen years he accepted a position as watchman on the lake steamers plying between Ogdensburg and Chicago; later he spent two years on a farm at Newbury, Geauga county; next purchased an interest in a drilling outfit, and was engaged in drilling for coal in Geauga and Trumbull counties; afterward conducted a meat market in Vienna about twelve years, and then, in company with S. W. Squires, purchased the mercantile stock of D. M. McClurg, at Vienna. The firm of Squires & Mannix continued about two years, after which Mr. Mannix purchased the entire business. He carries a general stock amounting to $8,000, of dry goods, boots, shoes, notions, groceries, hardware, farm implements, buggies, etc. He also owns forty-five acres of land in the village of Vienna, where he now resides. Mr. Mannix is a self-made man, having begun life for himself at the bottom round of the ladder, but by good business management and sound judgment has amassed a handsome competency, and is now one of the leading men of Trumbull county.

At Vienna, February 22, 1882, Mr. Mannix was united in marriage with Carrie Chamberlain, a native of this county and a daughter of George and Mary (Wheeler) Chamberlain. In political matters, our subject affiliates with the Republican party, and has served as Treasurer of Vienna township. Socially, he is a member of the F. & A. M., Mahoning Lodge, No. 294. Mr. Mannix is one of the public-spirited men in his locality, and always lends a helping hand to any enterprise that might prove a benefit to the public in general. He has projected and is about to carry into operation an electric street railway running from Warren to Sharon, Pennsylvania, via Vienna, a distance of sixteen miles. He has secured the franchise and has also most of the right of way conceded.

From Harriet Taylor Upton, A Twentieth Century History of Trumbull County, Ohio, A Narrative Account of its Historical Progress, Its People, and Its Principal Interests (Chicago: Lewis Publishing Company, 1909), Volume 1, pp. 143-144:

A. B. MANNIX, known both as merchant and farmer, residing at the thriving village of Vienna, Trumbull County, Ohio, is a native of the city of Boston, Massachusetts, born October 11, 1852, a son of Timothy and Margaret (Hickey) Mannix, both natives of Ireland. They came to America in 1828, first settling in Boston, where he was in the grocery business several years, but later was employed by a large firm, with whom he continued to work until 1856, then removed to New York state, where he purchased a farm, having closed out his Boston business. He resided on this farm in York state until his death, which occurred about 1883. His good wife died about one year later, at Malone, New York.

A. B. Mannix was educated at an old log school building in New York; also at the academy of Malone. He remained at home until twenty years of age, then served as a watchman on a boat for some time. His next employment was as a farm hand, at North Newbury, for a son of Judge Stone, where he was employed for about two years, and while still thus engaged, he bought an interest in a drilling outfit and went drifting and prospecting for coal for about one year, then went to work for the Andrews Coal Company, of Vienna township. After two years he engaged in the butchering business, at Liberty, where he continued another year and returned to Vienna township, continuing the same until 1888. He next engaged in the mercantile business, in which he has been engaged ever since. He conducts a large general store, carrying about nine thousand dollars in stock; also owns a farm of ninety-three acres, a part of which is within the village plat of Vienna. Another one of his holdings is stock in the Jamestown Telephone Company; also in the First National Bank, at Girard. He is interested in the property known as the Opera House Hall, of Vienna, and the Masonic Temple, at Warren. With the passing of years, Mr. Mannix has been successful in accumulating much valuable property.

He is a member of the Masonic order, the Elks, Maccabees and is advanced in Masonry, including the Knights Templar degree. In his politics, he is a Republican, and was elected county treasurer November 3, 1908. He has served as township treasurer for the last nineteen years and has been postmaster for eleven years at Vienna. In church connection, he is a Presbyterian and has been the treasurer of this church at Vienna.

Mr. Mannix was united in marriage February 22, 1882, to Carrie Chamberlin (Find a Grave memorial), born in Vienna township, March 13, 1859, a daughter of George and Mary (Wheeler) Chamberlin. Her father was a native of New Jersey and the mother was born in Brookfield township, Trumbull County, Ohio. The father was born July 11, 1829, and the mother, September 8, 1834. The paternal grandfather, William Chamberlin, and his wife Mary, were both natives of New Jersey.

The parents of Mr. Mannix had twelve children: Patrick and Daniel, deceased; James, residing in retirement in Boston; Edwin, of Malone, New York, was a captain in the Ninety-eighth New York Regiment of Infantry during the great Civil war period; Timothy, who was a sergeant in the Sixteenth New York Infantry, now lives in Montana; William, a resident of the old homestead in New York state; A. B., of this notice; Mary, residing in Boston, wife of Morris Foley, now deceased, was a merchant; Margaret, deceased; Elizabeth, unmarried, residing in South Dakota; Kate, wife of John O'Rourke, residing in Malone, New York; John, of Montana.