William Jefferson Ryburn1

b. 25 April 1846, d. 26 February 1909
FatherJohn Ryburn2 b. 24 Aug 1817, d. 2 Oct 1864
MotherJane Mathews McConkey2 b. 13 Dec 1809, d. 24 Apr 1892
Birth25 Apr 1846 William Jefferson Ryburn was born on 25 Apr 1846 in Washington County, Virginia.3,4,1 
Military William fought in the Confederate Army (Company H, 37th Virginia Regiment) during the Civil War and lost the use of his right arm after being hit by a bullet at Winchester, Virginia on 19 September, 1864.5 
Migration  After the war, between 1866 and 1869, he spent a few years prospecting in Texas.5 
Cens-18701870  But by 1870 William had returned to Virginia and was enumerated living with his mother and 3 siblings in the Goodson district of Washington County, Virginia.6 
Migration William did not stay settled long as he was living in the small mountain community of Erwin in Unicoi County, Tennessee, a few years later. 
  According to a history of the area, William was selling goods in the town when it was laid off in 1876.7,8 
Tax1876 He was taxed on one lot in the fifth district (town of Erwin) in 1876. 
  However William must not have remained in the town as he did not appear on the tax rolls for 1877 or later. 
 By November 1877 William had apparently incurred considerable debt. 
Court Record3 Nov 1877  On that date he executed a deed of trust in Washington County, Virginia, court to D.O. King, L.O. Byers and his brother Samuel Ryburn binding his two shares in the landed estate of his father John (170 acres adj S.W. Ryburn, George Rutherford and others). William stated that he was justly indebted to Mary Bushong for $250 and that D.O. King, L.O. Byers and S.W. Ryburn had signed as security on his note to Mary. Therefore he authorized the three individuals to sell his share of the land should he default on his debt.9,10 
Cens-188018 Jun 1880 William apparently paid his debts as he was still living with his mother on his father's land in Goodson township when the 1880 census was enumerated. Two of his siblings had married and one had died, leaving just William and his mother on the farm.11 
Court Record27 Sep 1880  Three months after the census enumeration county commissioners sold the land as part of a court case styled Worley vs Millard. Though the details are not known, some sort of settlement was apparently reached that allowed the Ryburn family to retain the land. However, by July 7th 1885, William, apparently still in debt, desired to sell his portion of the land. On that date he executed a deed to sell 158 acres of land to William Rhea. This represented approximately 2/5 of his father's acreage. On this and other documents relating to his father's estate William claims two shares and William's brother John (or his heirs) is not mentioned, suggesting perhaps that William had purchased his older brother's share. William's mother owned 12 acres of the property which ran between William's two parcels. She sold her acres in order to facilitate William's sale so that he could pay "other debts that he owes."12 
Milit-Pens1884 When the Virginia government passed a pension act for its disabled soldiers in 1884, William applied for and received an annual pension of $15.00.5 
  The following year he sold his share of his father's land as mentioned above and in 1890 at the age of 44 he married for the first time. His wife was in her early 20s. 
Marriage12 Nov 1890 He married Anna H. Latham, daughter of M. H. Latham, on 12 Nov 1890 in Washington County, Virginia.13 
Land-Patent1 Aug 1898 On 1 Aug 1898 William patented the south 1/2 of the northwest quarter of section 26, township 28N, range 11W in Texas County, Missouri. This land lay southwest of the town of Cabool and just off state highway 181.14 
Cens-19001900 William and Anna were recorded farming in Burdine township in Texas County in 1900. William was 54 and stated that he owned his home. Anna was 32 and "keeping house". The couple did not have children.4 
Death26 Feb 1909 William died on 26 Feb 1909 near Cabool, Texas County, Missouri, at age 62.3,15 
Burial He was buried at Cabool Cemetery in Cabool, Texas County, Missouri.3 
Will-Recd19 May 1909 William's will was recorded on 19 May 1909 in Texas County, Missouri. It left all his personal and real property to his wife, Anna. She was also named as his sole executor.16 

Related Links and Images:

Deed of Trust to D.O. King, L.O. Byers and S.W. Ryburn
William Ryburn and Jane (his mother) to William Rhea
William and Anna settled in Texas County, Missouri in the late 1900s. See the Missouri map (also accessible via the Misc. Locations link in the menu bar at the top of any page).
ChartsDescendants of William Ryburn and Mary (?)
Last Edited10 Dec 2013

Citations

  1. [S1205] Hattie King Owen Files, book #28, viewed Sept. 2000. Source consists of pages from a spiral notebook with the name "Mrs. Joseph Graham, O_ze - Iron Station NC" written in the margin. The pages contain a chart focused on descendants of John Sharp, d. 1823. The entry lists among the children of John Ryburn and Jane McConkey: "William Jefferson Ryburn, b. 4-25-1846 marr Minnie Latham."
  2. [S28] Gerald H. Clark, Guardian Bonds Washington Co., VA, p. 51. John Ryburn named guardian of John P.S., William J., Samuel W., Margaret M., Sarah J.M., and David K. Ryburn, children of the said John Ryburn and Jane M., his wife. Bond: $500. Surety: William S. Ryburn.
  3. [S1470] Texas County [Missouri] Cemeteries, Vol. 1, p. 34 (Burdine township). Stone in Cabool City Cemetery reported to read: William J. Ryburn, 25 Apr. 1846 - 26 Feb. 1909.
  4. [S1200] William J. Ryburn household, 1900 U.S. cens., Texas Co., Missouri, pop. sched., Burdine twp, ED 135, sheet 1B, dwelling 16, family 17, viewed online at Ancestry.com, March 2005, image 2 of 23. Enumeration includes: William J. Ryburn, b. Apr. 1846 VA, 54, marr 9 yrs, farmer, owns home; Anna H., wife, b. Jan. 1868, 32, marr 9 yrs, mother 0 children, b. VA; all parents b. VA.
  5. [S916] "Confederate Disability Applications and Receipts", The Library of Virginia (http://www.lva.lib.va.us). Pension application of Wiliam J. Ryburn downloaded July 2004.
  6. [S635] Jane M. Ryburn household, 1870 U.S. cens, Washington Co., Virginia, pop. sched., Goodson township, p. 108b (stamped), dwelling 410, family 435, viewed online at Ancestry.com, Jan. 2005, image 60 of 96. Enumeration includes: Jane M. Ryburn, 60, keeping house, value real estate: $3,200, pers. prop: $520, father of foreign birth; Wm J. 24, farming; Samuel W. 22, farmer; Sarah J. M. 18, domestic; Mary E. C. 14, domestic; all b. VA.
  7. [S1169] Viola Ruth Swingle, Ervin, p. 43.
  8. [S1171] History of Tennessee - Unicoi County - 1887.
  9. [S16] Deed of Trust filed in an undetermined Washington Co., Virginia Deed Book on 5 Nov. 1877.
  10. [S16] William, may have, at some previous date, purchased his brother John's share of their fathers estate. On the above mentioned deed, as well as on several other documents related to John Sr.'s estate, William is listed as the owner of two shares, and John Jr. (or his heirs) is not listed at all.
  11. [S165] Jane Ryburn household, 1880 U.S. Census, Washington Co., VA, pop. sched., Goodson District, ED 32 (128D stamped), page 223, dwelling 227, family Jul 2004, image 32 of 49. Enumeration: Jane Ryburn, 70, widow, b. VA, father b. Ireland, mother b. TN; William J., 34, son, farmer, b. VA, parents b. VA, viewed online at www.Ancestry.com.
  12. [S16] Deed filed in an undetermined Washington Co., Virginia Deed Book on 31 Dec. 1888; references sale of land of John Ryburn, dec'd made by commisioners on 27 Sept. 1880 in the cause of Worley vs Millard.
  13. [S123] William R. Wheeler, Washington Co., VA Marriage Licenses 1881-1890, p. 94, 63. William J. Ryburn, 43, sgl, b. & resid Washington Co. VA, farmer, s/o John & Jane Ryburn AND Anna H. Latham, 23, sgl, b. & resid WCV, d/o Hugh & Ellen Latham; 12 Nov. 1890.
  14. [S1471] Gregory A. Boyd Boyd, Family Maps of Texas County, Missouri, pp. 413, 417, 419.
  15. [S1201] Holston Pastfinder, Volume 10, Number 37: p. 40. Query submitted by Marie Hardy Falls (3644 Oak Cliff Dr., Fallbrook, CA 92028) seeking maiden name of Anna H. Ryburn; provided date and place of death of William J. Ryburn.
  16. [S1739] William J. Ryburn will (1909), Texas Co., Missouri Will Book 2: 1.