John Perkins Ralls Sr. (1822 - 1904)

Born 1 Jan 1822 in Greensboro, Greene, Georgia, United States

Ancestors

Descendants

Died 23 Nov 1904 at age 82 in Gadsden, Etowah, Alabama, United States

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Biography

John Perkins Ralls: b. 1 January 1822, Greenesborough, Greene Co., Georgia; d. 23 November 1904, Gadsden, Etowah Co., Alabama; m. Agnes Mary Hamilton 1 August, 1847, daughter of Joseph and Sarah T. (Blount) Hamilton, at Cassville, Cass (now Bartow) Co., Georgia.

Graduated from the Medical College at Augusta, Georgia in the spring of 1840, and began practicing medicine in Cassville, Georgia in the summer of 1844. Additional medical studies in Paris, France in 1846 and 47.^[1]

Settled in Cherokee County, Alabama in 1850.

Served as delegate from Cherokee County, Alabama to the Secession Convention in 1861, a member of the Confederate Congress in 1862 and 1863, delegate to the Alabama Constitutional Convention in 1867, and member of the Alabama legislature of 1878^[1], though he disclaimed being a politician having "litterally [sic][been] pressed into service, for I dearly love the quiet of house with wife and children"^[2].

As a Methodist Minister from the age of 19, he was a sought-after preacher who filled in for many a pastor in his district, and was a lay delegate to at least two general conferences of that church.^[3][2]

Died 8 PM Wednesday, 23 November 1904 "after several weeks' illness from complicated troubles of old age". Funeral at 10 AM at the First Methodist Church in Gadsden, services being conducted by Rev. J. F. Sturdivant; interment at Forrest Cemetary, Gadsden.^[4]

Sources

1. ↑ ^{1.0 1.1} Ralls, John Perkins, Biographical Memoranda, 5.2.[19]03, photocopy provided by unknown researcher to Gordon C. Ralls, reportedly from the surname microfilms in the Alabama State Archives
2. ↑ ^{2.0 2.1} J. P. Ralls to Mr. W. O. Ralls, Letter, 3/23/04, privately held by John D. Ralls.
3. ↑ Will I. Martin, "Dr. John P. Ralls and His Family", Gadsden Times, Gadsden, Alabama, 1949.
4. ↑ "Venerable Dr. Ralls Passes to the Beyond", The Evening Journal, Gadsden, Ala., November 25, 1904

Acknowledgments

• WikiTree profile Ralls-186 created through the import of Thompson Family 001_2011-11-30.ged on Dec 1, 2011 by Patrick Thompson. See the Changes page for the details of edits by Patrick and others.