James E. M. McAnally is a son of Elisha R. McAnally, who was born in North Carolina, and who was a gunsmith and farmer by occupation. He married Feriba Bowdon, of Georgia, and they together reared a family of twelve children, and accumulated some property. He and Mrs. McAnally were members of the Christian Church, and he was a Whig in politics, and sided with the Union during the late Rebellion. His wife died in 1865, and he in 1873. Our subjects birth occurred in Wayne County in 1830. He began farming for himself at the age of twenty-five years, years, and after living in different localities in the county, finally, in 1870, purchased his present farm of 160 acres. Besides this, he owns about 500 acres in different localities in the county, and devotes the most of his land to the production of corn, small grain and peanuts. In 1855 he united his fortunes with those of Fannie Robnett, daughter of John and Nancy (Staggs) Robnett. She was born in 1834 and is the mother of eight children: Tolbert F., Houston, Ellender, Louisa, Esther, Margaret, Timothy R., and an infant, not named. Mr. McAnally and his wife are members of the Christian Church, and he has always been a firm Republican in politics.