Lawrence democrat. (Lawrenceburg, Tenn.) 1884-1925, 1905-11-21
J. E. MeAnaIIy.

~ 80 't> ihbe"shy
As l am the oldest McAnally living
in this country thought would give
ahistory of my people thinkingi it would
be of interest to some of the younger
ones that don't know much about our
ancestors.
My grandfather John McAnally
immigrated from Stokes County, North
Carolina more than 100 years ago, |
think they settled not far from Nash
vile, Tenn, while and moved to
Giles County on Richland creek. They
were the FIRST settlers in that country, it
was perfect cane brake and was
quantities of game, bear and deer and
all kind of smaller game that ever was
in this country. had five uncles which
will give in detail later on. Game
was what they were after. They would
kill from so to 60 bear of fall and
winter. Grandfather was q gun expert
and they all knew how to handle a gun.
They had to have little dogs to run the
bear, if a big dog got after them and
got close to the bear he would fall back
on his back and grab tie dog in his
arms and squeeze him to death, while q
little dog would slip out. My father
was not lazy enough to carry gun but
he would go with them and when he
would hear the dogs coming he would
climb up sapling. A bear can't climb
a sapling. The bear would come riding
over the cane with his mouth open and
they would stick gun in his mouth and
/ fire, | have heard him say the muzel of
their gun was all SCARED up with
! their teeth. They would very often
kill bear that would weigh 400
pounds.
They didn't try to save any of that
good land They had negros to clear up
| land and farm it and reckon that land
now is worth one hundred dollars per
acre.
When the game gave out they moved
down here in Lawrence County and
settled on the head of little Buffalo
creek not far from where 10 Loote now
| lives. Uncle John and uncle Charley
went of, one to Illinois, and the other
to Mississippi. Uncle Jessie married a
! Timmon and settled where 10 Loots
now lives and died there, his family
all left this country, and uncle Martin
McAnally was Doctor but died when
| was very small, just can reeollect him.
Uncle Bill rs called him settled on
little Buffalo where Abner Courtright
now lives. He made considerable
fortune, he had about 80 negroes when
the civil war came up and lots of money,
he lost his negroes and never did know
what went with his money, he moved
to Henryville, Lawrence County before
! the surrender and died there, no civil
law in force and the negroes turned
loose, and the biggest dogs got the
money. Bill was a big stout much of a
man, he married Elizabeth Stone a
consumptive woman, but she out lived
him. They raised s children. s girls
and 8 boys and reckon they all died
with consumption. had one aunt, she
married jim Garrett, aunt Betsy Garrett
as we called her. | don't recollect Of
ever seeing her.
My father Elijah r. McAnally
married Ferby Bowden. They raised
~ children, boys and girls, all dead
now but myself and Frank and Lon
NV father WAS gun-smith and was al
old time Whig till the war and he was
then Republican His people was nj
Methodist's but he belonging to the
Christian church.
When my father married he esettled on
the head of 4S mile creek in Wayne
/, County. Some may be anxious to know