Biographical/historical information

Jacob Woodall was born in July of 1763 in Virginia. His parents were Sampson Woodall and Sarah Steele. In December of 1787 he married Rebecca Covington and had at least eight children: four daughters and four sons. His wife, Rebecca, died in 1805 and Jacob died in 1850.

Nathan T. Ryals was born in November of 1860 to Ransom and Emily Ryals. He was married to Lucy Ryals and had at least one child, Lillian Ophelia Ryals. In October of 1889, Nathan was certified to teach public school in Johnston County, N.C. He died in July of 1932 at the age of 71 and is buried in Four Oaks in Johnston County, N.C.

Scope and arrangement

The Albert R. Smith Collection contains the papers of N. T. Ryals and his ancestors, all of Johnston County.

Of considerable interest is the personal journal (1896-1900) of Ryals in which he preserved a daily one-line account of his work, the weather, and occurrences. Among the events noted in the journal are political conventions, congressional nominations, attendance at an 1896 William Jennings Bryan speech in Rocky Mount, "Red Shirt" activity in 1900, and Democratic election victories during each campaign. The journal also contains comments on the weather, marriages, deaths, accounts of income and expenses, and a resumé of agricultural activities.

Other items include a copy of the will of Jacob Woodall (1848), Johnston County deeds and plat (1859-1869), an arbitrator's report, a letter discussing family matters, accounts, receipts, a Confederate twenty-dollar bill, Johnston County teachers certificates (1889, 1890), two newspapers (The Smithfield Herald, Smithfield, N.C., Sept. 9, 1898, and The Lash, Moravian Falls, N.C., Jan. 1920), and two copies of a U.S. Department of Agriculture pamphlet entitled The Peafowl and Their Care (Nov. 1931). Newspapers in the collection are in the oversize folder.

Administrative information

Custodial History

September 21, 1967, 29 items; Papers (1848-1931) of Ryals family of Johnston County, consisting of a journal, a will, deeds, a letter, certificates, accounts, receipts, a report, newspapers, and a pamphlet. Deposited April 1966 by Mr. Albert R. Smith, Greenville, N.C.

Source of acquisition

Gift of Mr. Albert R. Smith

Processing information

Processed by D. Lennon, September 1967

Encoded by Apex Data Services

Copyright notice

Literary rights to specific documents are retained by the authors or their descendants in accordance with U.S. copyright law.

Metadata Rights Declaration

Key terms

Personal Names

Bryan, William Jennings, 1860-1925
Ryals, N. T.
Woodall, Jacob

Family Names

Ryals family

Corporate Names

Democratic Party (N.C.)--History

Topical

Agriculture--North Carolina--Johnston County
Deeds--North Carolina--Johnston County
Money--Confederate States of America
Teachers--Certification--North Carolina

Places

Johnston County (N.C.)--Genealogy
North Carolina--Politics and government--19th century

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