J. M. McAnaIly, now deceased, was a prominent merchant of El Dorado, and during his career, was a leading factor in the commercial life of this city. Mr. McAnnally[sic] was born at Nicholsville, Claremont county, Ohio, June 17, 1845. He was left an orphan at the tender age of five years, and was reared in Ohio and educated in the public schools there. When he was about twenty-five years of age he removed to Champaign county, Illinois, where he was engaged in farming until 1878. He then came to Kansas, locating in Morris county, and in 1880, he came to Butler county, and located at El Dorado. Soon after coming here, he became associated with C. O. Beardsley, in the grocery business, and later he purchased the Musselman furniture stock, which was located in a small frame building on Main street. Soon after buying this stock, he sold a half interest in it to J. M. Noble, and the firm became McAnally & Noble, and they engaged in the furniture business on south Main street, and this partnership continued for twenty-eight years. They carried on an extensive furniture business in a two-story building on south Main street. Mr. McAnally died June 4, 1910, and the partnership was continued with Mrs. McAnally as the successor to her husband's interest, for three years, or until the death of Mr. Noble. All these years, the firm of McAnally & Noble was the leading furniture dealers of El Dorado.

Mr. McAnally was first married in Ohio, and shortly afterwards removed to Illinois where his wife died a few years later. Three children were born to them. His second wife was Miss Dora Jackson, who is also deceased. On October 4, 1904, Mr. McAnally was married to Miss Clara E. Hiatt, a daughter of Eli W. and Guinanna (Pore) Hiatt, the former a native of Bellefontaine, Logan county, Ohio, and the latter of Indiana.

In early life, Mr. McAnally was converted and united with the Presbyterian church. After his marriage to Miss Clara E. Hiatt, he attended the Baptist church, which was the denomination of her church, and Mr. McAnally became much interested in the affairs of this church. He served as a member of the building committee in the erection of the new edifice in El Dorado, and proved to be a valuable aid in a financial way. After the dedication of the new church, he united with the class, and was faithful to the end. Almost his last word was a Christian message to his wife and friends. At that time he called his pastor to his bedside and said, "I want you to tell all, that since last Saturday, I have had a new

vision of the spiritual life, and a larger vision of the love of my friends, not only during this sickness, but through all my life. I want to thank all of them. My spiritual condition is perfectly satisfactory. Everything is all right. I confront the change with faith, confidence, and peace." Mr. McAnally's death exemplified his life. He died as he had lived, a Christian.

Mr. McAnally was also prominent in lodge circles. He was a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, El Dorado Lodge, No. 74, and had been a member of that order for over forty years, and passed all the chairs. He joined the lodge at Nicholsville, Ohio, and was a member up to the time of his death. He was also a member of the Modern Woodmen of America. His widow, Mrs. Clara McAnally, resides on North Atchison street, El Dorado, where she has a modern and comfortable home. She is an estimable lady, of a high standard of culture, and has many friends. Majorie McAnally is an adopted daughter of Mrs. McAnally, adopted in 1914. She is attending the graded school at El Dorado.

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