My Genealogy Hound

John McHaney, planter and stockman, of Friendship Township, Greene County, Ark., is a native of Wilson County, Tenn., born on the 22d of June, 1819, being the third in a family of twelve children in the family of William and Sarah (Word) McHaney, who were Virginians, and among the early pioneers of Tennessee. In the latter State the father was engaged in farming and school teaching for some time, and in 1840 emigrated to Marion County, Ill., where his death occurred ten years later, his excellent wife surviving him until 1875, when she too died, at the age of eighty-four years. John McHaney was reared to a farm life, and educated in the common schools of Tennessee, and began his independent career as a farmer in Illinois, remaining thus engaged in that State for seven years, when he emigrated to Gibson County, Tenn., in 1845. After living there until January 1, 1861, he moved to Greene County, Ark., and settled on the farm where he is now residing, purchasing 100 acres of almost totally unimproved land. He has since added to this purchase, until he now owns 200 acres of land, with ninety under cultivation, the greater part of which he devotes to raising corn. He has a fine orchard, and takes great interest in fruit culture. In 1863 he returned to Tennessee, and was there married to Miss Sarah Sims, who was born in Middle Tennessee, being a daughter of Chesley and Mary Sims, also Tennesseans by birth, the original stock coming from North Carolina. He lost his wife in 1870, and the same year was married in Greene County, Ark., to Mrs. Amanda (Allison) Shearer, who had two children by her former husband, both of whom are married. Of seven children born to Mr. McHaney’s first union only one is now living, Sarah, wife of Mr. McGlumphy, of Marion County, Ill. By his last wife he is the father of four children: John Lafayette, James Thomas, Almeda Alice and Minnie Estelle. The first named died at the age of five years. Mr. McHaney has seen many changes take place in Greene County, and has done his share in developing the same. He was a member of and assisted in organizing the first church in the township, which is now in a nourishing condition. He has been a patron of education, and donated the land for his home school building, and was one of a committee to re-district Greene County, and name the townships, giving the name of Friendship to the township in which he is now living. He has been a justice of the peace here for over twenty years. Socially he has been a member of Gainesville Lodge No. 168, in the town of Gainesville, and is also a member of the Agricultural Wheel. Mr. McHaney enlisted in the army in the latter part of 1864, and was captain of Company C, DeVee’s Battalion, Kitchens’ Division, and operated in Missouri and Arkansas, and was with Price on his raid through Missouri, Indian Territory, Kansas and Arkansas. He left the company at Fort Smith, Ark., and with a number of others returned home and resumed farming.