Anton was born on January 7, 1816 in the village of Schruns, which is in the upper valley of the Ill river called Montafon, located in the Voralberg Province of Austria. He was baptized Franz Anton Manahl in the same church as his ancestors were for some 300 years, back to the year 1600. His father was Josef Manahl, born June 8, 1777. His mother was Elizabeth Brugger, born August 28, 1776. Josef Manahl dies in 1857. This information was supplied by Robert Manahl of Evansdale, Iowa.
Anton migrated to America in the year 1844, landing at New Orleans. After a short stay he moved to St. Louis. In 1846 he finished his trip up the Mississippi river to Dubuque. There was a good friend named Godfried Ganahl who may also have made the trip with him, and perhaps another named George Ganahl.
Anton filed his intention to become a United States citizen on November 2, 1847 with the clerk of the District Court, Isaac P. Van Hagan, of Dubuque County, in the State of Iowa. On May 10, 1850 Anton Manahl and his friend George Ganahl took the oath of Citizenship in open court in Dubuque District Court of Iowa.
After his arrival in Dubuque, Anton met a certain Josephine Leute, and in 1847 they were married, most likely in Saint Raphael's (Cathedral)Church as this was the only catholic church in Dubuque at that time. They were blessed with nine children. They also raised another child by the name of Henrick Mack. This child may have been a relative of the Leute's, as a cousin of the Leute's also came over. Anyway, the father of this boy asked Anton and Josephine if they would raise this child. Perhaps the boys mother had died. Seems that this boy turned out to have been somewhat of a problem, as they did not tell him the fact that he was not a real member of the family, and Henry found out from his school mates. When he was about 17 years old, which would have been in 1867, he took off to California to join the gold rush. He apparently died at an early age, sometime after his foster father, Anton's death. The children tried to collect $5.00 a piece from each other so as to send someone to California to check on his estate, but could not get enough money together so someone could go. Henry did not marry as far as is known.
Anton's occupation was as a stonemason in the Dubuque area. He built or helped build a number of stone buildings on Jackson Street and throughout the city.
Anton died on a Sunday afternoon at 1:30 p.m. in his home at 1756 Jackson Street. He had been sick for about a year and confined to bed for two months. Anton and Josephine were members St. Mary's Church in Dubuque. They were buried in the German Catholic Cometary which is now known as Mt. Calvary Cometary.