JOHN ROGER "Uncle John" McANALLY
Birth: 10 Jun 1858
Death: 30 Oct 1939
(age 81 years, 4 months, 20 days)
John & Maggie (Kutch) McAnally
John Roger McAnally was born in Grainger County, Tennessee on June 10, 1858. He was the fifth of eleven children born to Jesse McAnally (1827-1892) and Amanda Deboard (1829-1901). He came to Texas when he was about 18 years old and first settled in Tarrant County where he lived for several years.
On December 30, 1886 he married Margaret Samantha Kutch in Parker County. Maggie Kutch was born in Parker County on January 2, 1867. She was one of five children born to Daniel Kutch (1807-1874) and Margaret Miller Lafferty (1830-1917).
In about 1890 John and Maggie then moved to Parker County and settled near Godfrey’s Chapel in the Wright Community. John and Maggie raised four children: Jessie Margaret who married Samuel Eugene Cumming; Thomas Owen who married Clota Vaughan; Mary Rosalia who married Fred Phillips; and John Lloyd. John Lloyd had stomach cancer and died at the young age of 23. He is buried at Clark Cemetery.
On December 30, 1886 he married Margaret Samantha Kutch in Parker County. Maggie Kutch was born in Parker County on January 2, 1867. She was one of five children born to Daniel Kutch (1807-1874) and Margaret Miller Lafferty (1830-1917).
In about 1890 John and Maggie then moved to Parker County and settled near Godfrey’s Chapel in the Wright Community. John and Maggie raised four children: Jessie Margaret who married Samuel Eugene Cumming; Thomas Owen who married Clota Vaughan; Mary Rosalia who married Fred Phillips; and John Lloyd. John Lloyd had stomach cancer and died at the young age of 23. He is buried at Clark Cemetery.
The John Roger McAnally Family
Front row: Jessie, John, Lloyd & Maggie
Back row: Tom and Rosalia
Front row: Jessie, John, Lloyd & Maggie
Back row: Tom and Rosalia
On February 12, 1897 John William Godfrey deeded ½ interest of all his land to JR McAnally. The deed read as follows:
“The said John R. McAnally agrees to provide for and support us the said John W. Godfrey and wife Mary H. Godfrey the balance of our natural lives.”
According to Jean (McAnally) Morris, granddaughter of John McAnally, John had promised to care for “Grandma Ward & Aunt Mary” for the rest of their lives and so he did. “Grandma Ward” refers to Margaret Miller Lafferty who was married three times, first to John Criswell, second to Daniel Kutch and then Henry Ward. And of course her sister, “Aunt Mary” (Mary Henderson Lafferty), was married to John William Godfrey. John Godfrey died in August of 1897; about six months after signing the deed and Mary went on to live another 16 years and passed away in January of 1913. John and Mary Godfrey were both laid to rest at Clark Cemetery.
“The said John R. McAnally agrees to provide for and support us the said John W. Godfrey and wife Mary H. Godfrey the balance of our natural lives.”
According to Jean (McAnally) Morris, granddaughter of John McAnally, John had promised to care for “Grandma Ward & Aunt Mary” for the rest of their lives and so he did. “Grandma Ward” refers to Margaret Miller Lafferty who was married three times, first to John Criswell, second to Daniel Kutch and then Henry Ward. And of course her sister, “Aunt Mary” (Mary Henderson Lafferty), was married to John William Godfrey. John Godfrey died in August of 1897; about six months after signing the deed and Mary went on to live another 16 years and passed away in January of 1913. John and Mary Godfrey were both laid to rest at Clark Cemetery.
The house built by John Godfrey in 1867
John Godfrey built the house on the property in 1867. The logs for the house were shipped in from Galveston, Texas. Somebody else had ordered the logs but he had passed away before the logs made it to Parker County so Godfrey bought the lumber instead. Godfrey built the interior walls of the home using log beams and rock for the walls. And there was also a large rock fireplace. “Grandma Ward and Aunt Mary” would sit next to the fireplace dipping their snuff and spitting into the fire. I’m sure it was a sight to see!
After John and Maggie moved into the house an enclosed sun porch was added to the east side. Other renovations were made to the home throughout the years. Other heirs to the home, Tom McAnally and his son Charles Vaughn McAnally had covered the rock walls with sheet rock just after World War II. Since this time the house has been torn down. There was an old cellar out back. The cellar had been dug out and what remained of the old home, except for beams which were saved by Charles McAnally, was pushed in and buried just a few years ago. Charles Vaughn McAnally owns the property today. He inherited it from his brother, Roger McAnally. Roger had built a new log home on the property once owned by John Godfrey. Charles’ son Kent McAnally currently lives in the home with his wife
Jean describes “Grandpa Mac” (most people knew him as “Uncle John”) as a “jolly ole’ fella who always had a wild story to tell about something or somebody.” He was a tall and strong man standing at about 6 ft 2 and 200 pounds. She remembers him with a “big chock of white hair” and “standing on the front porch waving to us for as far as he could see us when we’d drive off”. He would do this every time they’d visit. As a young girl Jean lived with her two brothers, Charles & Roger, and her parents Tom & Clota, at Veal Station - “about 2 miles away as the crow flies” - so she usually saw her grandparents 2 or 3 times a week. John’s house was the meeting place for the family and was also often visited by the Kutch family, kin of Maggie.
John was a farmer by trade. In fact, him and his son Tom farmed together. Tom raised hogs. They weren’t dairy farmers but there were about 10 to 12 large Holstein cows that they would milk by hand everyday. They would use the “old fashioned cream separators” and would sell the cream in town. Farming didn’t make John rich and despite the fact that his son Tom did a lot of the work, Jean recollects “Grandpa Mac always managed to have a little bit of money in his pocket.”
When he wasn’t farming John went to church at Godfrey’s Chapel Methodist Church, which was only about a mile or so from his home on the Upper Denton Rd. Jean remembers riding in a covered wagon to “Grandpa and Grandma’s” and from there they would all get in the truck and drive down to the church. Back then the family only had one vehicle so they shared. John and Maggie also belonged to the Home Demonstration Club. There were two meeting places close to their home, one at Veal Station and one at Godfrey’s Chapel. They also liked to play 42 and Jean was taught to play when she was only 7 or 8 years old.
After John and Maggie moved into the house an enclosed sun porch was added to the east side. Other renovations were made to the home throughout the years. Other heirs to the home, Tom McAnally and his son Charles Vaughn McAnally had covered the rock walls with sheet rock just after World War II. Since this time the house has been torn down. There was an old cellar out back. The cellar had been dug out and what remained of the old home, except for beams which were saved by Charles McAnally, was pushed in and buried just a few years ago. Charles Vaughn McAnally owns the property today. He inherited it from his brother, Roger McAnally. Roger had built a new log home on the property once owned by John Godfrey. Charles’ son Kent McAnally currently lives in the home with his wife
Jean describes “Grandpa Mac” (most people knew him as “Uncle John”) as a “jolly ole’ fella who always had a wild story to tell about something or somebody.” He was a tall and strong man standing at about 6 ft 2 and 200 pounds. She remembers him with a “big chock of white hair” and “standing on the front porch waving to us for as far as he could see us when we’d drive off”. He would do this every time they’d visit. As a young girl Jean lived with her two brothers, Charles & Roger, and her parents Tom & Clota, at Veal Station - “about 2 miles away as the crow flies” - so she usually saw her grandparents 2 or 3 times a week. John’s house was the meeting place for the family and was also often visited by the Kutch family, kin of Maggie.
John was a farmer by trade. In fact, him and his son Tom farmed together. Tom raised hogs. They weren’t dairy farmers but there were about 10 to 12 large Holstein cows that they would milk by hand everyday. They would use the “old fashioned cream separators” and would sell the cream in town. Farming didn’t make John rich and despite the fact that his son Tom did a lot of the work, Jean recollects “Grandpa Mac always managed to have a little bit of money in his pocket.”
When he wasn’t farming John went to church at Godfrey’s Chapel Methodist Church, which was only about a mile or so from his home on the Upper Denton Rd. Jean remembers riding in a covered wagon to “Grandpa and Grandma’s” and from there they would all get in the truck and drive down to the church. Back then the family only had one vehicle so they shared. John and Maggie also belonged to the Home Demonstration Club. There were two meeting places close to their home, one at Veal Station and one at Godfrey’s Chapel. They also liked to play 42 and Jean was taught to play when she was only 7 or 8 years old.
John McAnally with his grandchildren
Backrow: Herb & Alton Cumming
Middle row: Bob Cumming, Jean (McAnally) Morris & Roger McAnally
John seated center with Charles McAnally in the front
(picture taken at John's 80th birthday party June 10, 1938)
Backrow: Herb & Alton Cumming
Middle row: Bob Cumming, Jean (McAnally) Morris & Roger McAnally
John seated center with Charles McAnally in the front
(picture taken at John's 80th birthday party June 10, 1938)
John was a great man and patient grandfather. “Grandpa Mac taught me to drink coffee while I was sitting on his knee but it was mostly sugar and cream,” she recalls. “My grandpa had quite a personality, he was always full of fun. He always had a joke”. Jean also said that John bought apples by the bushel. “Grandpa always kept apples in that cellar and whenever we’d sleep over one of the biggest thrills was we’d always have an apple before we went to bed.”
On the contrary Jean describes her grandmother, Maggie (most people knew her as “Aunt Mag”) as “something else”. “Grandma was a little bitty thing, red headed and wiry. She kind of ruled the roost so to speak but that never did bother Grandpa. He went ahead and did what he wanted to do. He didn’t pay much attention to her”. Maggie wasn’t quiet as patient with the grandkids as John. She was “slap happy”, Jean states, “She wasn’t a very good housekeeper and would get things done the quickest way she could to hide it so she could sit down and crochet”. She said, “Grandpa was the one we went to when we wanted something”. Quite the character herself, Jean seems to have inherited her grandfather’s sense of humor. She was the only granddaughter and admits to being a “little rotten”.
“Anytime you went to Grandpa’s house you ate”, recalls Jean. The main dinner was usually at noon and if there was anything left they would eat it at supper. But John liked his fried chicken for breakfast. He’d go out to milk the cow and after a little bit he’d come in carrying a chicken and say, ‘Ma, he called Grandma Ma”, Jean interrupted, “Ma, the old cow kicked this chicken in the head. You better dress it and fry it for breakfast”. All along he had been the one to hit the chicken in the head.
On the contrary Jean describes her grandmother, Maggie (most people knew her as “Aunt Mag”) as “something else”. “Grandma was a little bitty thing, red headed and wiry. She kind of ruled the roost so to speak but that never did bother Grandpa. He went ahead and did what he wanted to do. He didn’t pay much attention to her”. Maggie wasn’t quiet as patient with the grandkids as John. She was “slap happy”, Jean states, “She wasn’t a very good housekeeper and would get things done the quickest way she could to hide it so she could sit down and crochet”. She said, “Grandpa was the one we went to when we wanted something”. Quite the character herself, Jean seems to have inherited her grandfather’s sense of humor. She was the only granddaughter and admits to being a “little rotten”.
“Anytime you went to Grandpa’s house you ate”, recalls Jean. The main dinner was usually at noon and if there was anything left they would eat it at supper. But John liked his fried chicken for breakfast. He’d go out to milk the cow and after a little bit he’d come in carrying a chicken and say, ‘Ma, he called Grandma Ma”, Jean interrupted, “Ma, the old cow kicked this chicken in the head. You better dress it and fry it for breakfast”. All along he had been the one to hit the chicken in the head.
newspaper article from John & Maggie's 50th wedding anniversary
John and Maggie celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary on December 27, 1936. More than 100 guests visited with the couple at the open house celebration hosted by their daughter Rosalia. And on June 10, 1938 John celebrated his 80th birthday at the home of his son Tom. Tom’s wife Clota was quite the host. Many family members joined him for this celebration as well.
John Roger McAnally lived in the Godfrey house for 48 years until his death on October 30, 1939. He was 81 years old at the time. He died in his home from a stroke. After John’s death, Maggie moved into town with her daughter Jessie. Maggie died about eight years after John on September 1, 1947. The house was then passed to Thomas Owen McAnally and then later to Charles Vaughn McAnally. John and Maggie were both laid to rest at Clark Cemetery just a short distance from their home.
John Roger McAnally lived in the Godfrey house for 48 years until his death on October 30, 1939. He was 81 years old at the time. He died in his home from a stroke. After John’s death, Maggie moved into town with her daughter Jessie. Maggie died about eight years after John on September 1, 1947. The house was then passed to Thomas Owen McAnally and then later to Charles Vaughn McAnally. John and Maggie were both laid to rest at Clark Cemetery just a short distance from their home.
Family photo at the home of Tom McAnally from John's 80th birthday June 10, 1938
The Kutch sisters standing behind their husbands
back row:Maggie (Kutch) McAnally, Mary Elizabeth (Kutch) McAnally, & Susan Ann (Kutch) Godfrey
front row, John Roger McAnally, John Pierce Hackley, & William J. Godfrey
back row:Maggie (Kutch) McAnally, Mary Elizabeth (Kutch) McAnally, & Susan Ann (Kutch) Godfrey
front row, John Roger McAnally, John Pierce Hackley, & William J. Godfrey
Story told by Jean (McAnally) Morris (granddaughter of John & Maggie McAnally)
Photos courtesy of Kimberly (Woody) Boretsky & Jean (McAnally) Morris
Photos courtesy of Kimberly (Woody) Boretsky & Jean (McAnally) Morris