John Daniel Sharp Ryburn1

b. 5 September 1876, d. 29 October 1951
John D.S. Ryburn and Cora Lee (Ray) Ryburn
photo courtesy Roger Ryburn
FatherJohn Patrick Sharp Ryburn1,2 b. 24 Dec 1844 or 24 Dec 1845, d. 3 Apr 1899
MotherCaroline Agnes Crumley1,3 b. 30 Jan 1847, d. 2 Aug 1903
Birth5 Sep 1876 John Daniel Sharp Ryburn was born on 5 Sep 1876 in Johnson City, Washington County, Tennessee.4,5,6 
Migration1880 John was born in Washington County, Tennessee, but settled with his parents in the town of Erwin in Unicoi County, Tennessee, by 1880, if not earlier.7,2 
  He was an energetic young man who owned and operated a store in Erwin before he was 20 years old.8 
Military19 May 1898 He also served in the Spanish American War in 1898.9 
Cens-19004 Jun 1900  By 1900 he was back living at home with his mother and siblings, his father having died the previous year. John's stated occupation on that years census record was "selling groceries."3 
Marriage20 Aug 1901 He married Cora Lee Ray on 20 Aug 1901 in Washington County, Tennessee.10 
Cens-191020 Apr 1910 The 1910 census recorded John and Cora living in Erwin with the first 4 of their 9 children. A daughter Hattie, born in 1904 had died in 1905. John described himself as a dry goods merchant.11 
Cens-19202 Jan 1920  By 1920 the census questions were more specific and the family address was listed as "Carolina Avenue". The census taker visited the home on Jan. 2, 1920 and recorded John and Cora with their six sons.12 
3 Jan 1920  Interestingly, Cora gave birth to twin girls the day after the census taker visited the family. 
Death29 Oct 1951 John died from the effects of diabetes on 29 Oct 1951 in Erwin at age 75.4 
Burial31 Oct 1951 He was buried on 31 Oct 1951 at Evergreen Cemetery in Erwin, Unicoi County, Tennessee.6,4 
Obituary John's obituary described him as one of the communities pioneer merchants. John owned and operated the first drug store in Erwin and also ran a ready-to-wear and dry goods store.8 
  John's grandson, Roger Ryburn, also shared the following:

"I spent the better part of a full day not too long ago looking at land records in Unicoi County. My grandfather must have been somewhat of an entrepreneur. After copying about two full pages of land and property transactions by my grandfather, I gave up. He owned a grocery store around the time of the depression and as was the custom during that time, sold goods to people on the books. To make a long story short, the store burned down along with all the records of money owed to him. Long after his death, people used to knock on my grandmothers door and give her money saying that they owed it to my grandfather. He also set his brother-in-law, William Erwin, up in business with a clothing store called Erwins. That store was in business for many years."13 

Related Links and Images:

John's obituary
John's headstone14
Four of John and Cora's sons are also buried near this Ryburn monument14
John and Cora later in life
John and five of his siblings. Cllick camera icon for larger image14

Family

Cora Lee Ray b. 3 Feb 1879, d. 22 Dec 1968
Children
ChartsDescendants of William Ryburn and Mary (?)
Last Edited8 Nov 2011

Citations

  1. [S1141] Roger J. Ryburn, "John Patrick Sharp Ryburn-Caroline Agnes Crumley" family group sheet. Roger is the great grandson of John and Caroline (Crumley) Ryburn.
  2. [S913] Sharp Ryburn household, 1880 U.S. cens., Unicoi Co., Tennessee, pop sched., Dist. #5, ED 93A (stamped), page 96, dwelling 96, family Jul 2004, image 13 of 27. Enumeration states: Sharp Ryburn 33, farmer, b. VA, both parents b. VA; Caroline, 29, b. TN, parents b. TN; Minnie, 10, dau; Rebella, dau, 9; Valley J., 7, dau; Rhoinna, 6, dau; John D. 4, son; May V., 2, dau; all children b. TN; all fathers b. VA, all mothers b. VA. Note: mothers place of birth should be TN?, viewed online at Ancestry.com.
  3. [S1150] Caroline Ryburn household, 1900 U.S. cens., Unicoi Co., Tennessee, pop. sched., 5th District, ED 175, sheet 3A (92 stamped), dwelling 34, family 34, viewed online at Genealogy.com, Jan. 2005, image 5 of 18. Enumeration includes: Caroline Ryburn, b. Jan. 1845 wid, mother 9 children, 8 living, b. TN, parents b. TN; John D.S, son, 22, b. Sept. 1877, __ selling gr__; May V, dau, 21, b. May 1879; Annia P., dau, 19, b. Oct. 1880; Allie G., dau, 16, Jul 1883; Walter W., son, 12, b. March 1888; all children b. TN; children's father b. VA, mother TN.
  4. [S2590] "Tennessee State Death Records 1914-1950", FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org : accessed Feb. 2011). John Daniel Sharpe Ryburn death certificate #51-24285; family information provided by Mrs. J.D.S. Ryburn.
  5. [S915] Roger Ryburn, "Rambling Roots Wm Ryburn work," e-mail to D. Powell, 1 Feb. 2005. Roger states that the family bible lists John's date of birth as 5 Sept. 1876 however he also notes that the 1900 census lists it as 1877. John's headstone just says 1876-1951.
  6. [S1173] Unicoi County Historical Society, Cemeteries of Unicoi County, Tennessee, p. 302. Stone reported to read: John D.S. Ryburn, 1876-1951.
  7. [S1154] "J.D.S. Ryburn Retired Erwin Merchant", undated & unidentified newspaper clipping. John's obituary states that he settled in Erwin by 1895 however that is not supported by the 1880 census which documents the families presence in Ervin at least 15 years earlier.
  8. [S1154] "J.D.S. Ryburn Retired Erwin Merchant", undated & unidentified newspaper clipping.
  9. [S1141] Roger J. Ryburn, "John Daniel Sharp Ryburn-Cora Lee Ray" family group sheet. Roger cites "muster out rolls" on file in the office of the Adjutant General's office at Nashville, Tennessee.
  10. [S1141] Roger J. Ryburn, "John Daniel Sharp Ryburn-Cora Lee Ray" family group sheet. Roger is the grandson of John and Cora Lee (Ray) Ryburn.
  11. [S1151] John Ryburn household, 1910 U.S. cens., Unicoi Co., Tennessee, pop. sched., Erwin, ED 184, sheet 6A (40 stamped), dwelling 101, family 103, viewed online at Ancestry.com, Jan. 2005, image 11 of 30. Enumeration includes: John Ryburn, 32, marr 8yrs, b. TN, father b. VA, mother b. TN, dry goods merchant; Cora, wife, 31, marr 8 yrs, mother 4 children, 3 of whom are living, b. TN, parents b. NC; Lindsley, son, 7; Ray, son, 4; Earl, son, 1; all b. TN.
  12. [S1161] John D. Ryburn household, 1920 U.S. cens., Unicoi Co., Tennessee, pop. sched., Erwin, ED 188, sheet 1B, dwelling 12, family 15, viewed online at Genealogy.com, Jan. 2005. Enumeration includes: John D. Ryburn, 43, b. TN, parents b. VA, retail merchant, dry goods store; Cora L., wife, 41, b. TN, parents b. NC; Frank L., son, 17; Ray R., son 13; Earl D., son, 10; Jack, son, 8; Charles R., son, 6; William L., son, 2 8/12; all children b. TN; Mary Woodward, 19, servant; resid on Carolina Ave.
  13. [S915] Roger Ryburn, "Rambling Roots Wm Ryburn work," e-mail to D. Powell, 2 Feb. 2005.
  14. [S1376] Photo courtesy of Roger Ryburn.
  15. [S1141] Roger J. Ryburn, "John Daniel Sharp Ryburn-Cora Lee Ray" family group sheet. Roger is the grandson of John and Cora Lee (Ray) Ryburn and the son of John James Ryburn and Mary Elizabeth Weaver.