The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1904-09-14
MAJ. G. M. RYALS
DIED IN HOSPITAL
DEATH FOLLOWED OPERATION
AMPUTATION OF HIS RIGHT LEG
WAS LAST RESORT.

Towards Recovery Gave His Fam
lily and Friends Ground for Hope.
End Came at 4:15 O'clock in the
Afternoon With Members of Fam
lily at His Bedside-His Funeral
Tomorrow.
Maj. Garland Mitchell Ryals died
at AIS o'clock yesterday afternoon at
the Savannah Hospital, after an ill
ness of several weeks from diabetes.
His death followed the amputation of
his right leg.
From the time of the ope-
ration on Sunday until IL o'clock
yesterday morning, his physicians con-
sidered that he had made satisfactory
progress, and his family and friends
had reason to hope for his ultimate
recovery. AT that hour, however, a
change for the worse occurred, and he
sank rapidly. All of the members of
his family were at his beside when
the end came.
Several weeks ago, Maj. Ryals went
North and while in New York over
eXerted himself. He visited his son,
Mr.. Edwin Ryals, in Washington, and
later went to his sisters home at Cliff
ton Forge, Va. While there his right
foot gave him considerable trouble and
his condition was such as to cause
him concern. He telegraphed to Wash
ington for his son, who accompanied
him South as far as Charlottesville,
Maj. Ryals making the remainder of
the trip to Savannah alone. AS a re-
suit of the diabetes, from which he was
| suffering, gangrene had set in, and it
was found that the amputation of his
leg was necessary. He stood the opera
ton we'll, and was apparently inn
proving until few hours before he
died.
No man in Savannah. or in Geor-
gia, perhaps, was better known than
Maj. Ryals. His war record was one
| of which he had reason to feel proud,
! and he had made a record in the bust
| ness world which won for him the es-
TEEN and respect of all with whom he
came in contact. Maj. Ryals was
known as a successful farmer and took
a great pride in his truck and peach
farms. He was an apt story teller,
| always jovial and good natured, and
his wit found it's way even into the
J White House.
Was Born in Virginia.
Maj. Ryals was the pioneer truck
farmer of Georgia. He was born in
the county of Cumberland, Va May
81 1899, of Vincent c. and Hardenia
(MitchelD Ryals. His parents COM
bined farming and merchandising at
their little country place, known as
oak Forest" For the first few years
of his boyhood he attended the old
field schools of the neighborhood dur
ing the week, and on Saturdays, holi-
days and vacations assisted his father
in the farming operations and behind
the counters of the store.
At II years of age he was consid-
cred an expert salesman and a good
collector, and at 10 was sent to
boarding school in Buckingham coun-
ty. The sessions of this school com
menced very soon after sunrise on the
first day of January and closed about
sunset on the thirty-first day of Octo-
Der, without intermission or holiday
The teacher, Rev. John ]. Bergman,
required the scholars to assemble in
his office and there pursue their studies
one or two hours during the night
The following year Maj. Ryals' faith
er and others induced Rev. Bergman
to remove his school to "Oak Forest, >
which was done; but about that time
the old teacher and pedagogue con-
Guided to take unto himself a wife
thus putting an end to his school, At
this juncture the elder Ryals was dis
missed from the Baptist Church for
communing with Campbellites. Elder
Ryals" then took his son to Richmond
and arrdyed him in store" clothes,
filled his pockets reasonably we'll with
money, and sent him to Bethany Col
lege, founded by that great and good
leader of the Christian denomination,
Alexander Campbell, and located in
Brooke county. West Virginia.
At this institution young Ryals
managed to remain for two nights and
two days, thence making his escape
into the state of Ohio, where he rusti-
Gated for several days, and then re-
turned to his fathers house. For the
succeeding two or three years he sold
goods at his fathers store and acted
; as his bookkeeper. At Is years of age
he was rendered the position of dep
uty sheriff of his county, which he ac-
cepted, qualified and filled acceptably
until the commencement of the war
between the states.
Entered Cavalry Service.
He entered the war in the Cunber-
land troop of cavalry, an old organi-
cation dating from the War of the Rev
olution, of which his father was a
member. He left Cumberland Court
House as color sergeant of his compa-
n.y. proudly bearing the colors which
had been lovingly woven by the deft
fingers of the fair daughters of the
county Of Amelia. At Ashland. a few
days thereafter he was mustered into
service as second sergeant of the Cum
berland troop, Fourth Virginia Caval-
ry which was ordered to report to Gen.
Magruder in the peninsular, where he
assisted in watching the blockading
squadron, doing picket and scout duty.
and, by way of innocent diversion.
helped to burn the city of Hampton.
During the winter of 1S61-62 Sergt
Ryals was commissioned as second lieu
tenant Of infantry, provisional army Of
the Confederate states. the commission
reading for gallant and meritorious
conduct" Being ordered to report to
Gen. Albert Sidney Johnson. he was
assigned TO duty with the First Ken
lucky Cavalry, commanded by the gal
liant Benjamin Harden Helm, a BROTH
er-in-law Of Mrs, Lincoln, wife Of the
President. He remained with the First
Kentucky Cavalry. and was on star
duty with Gen. Helms brigade OF I'm.
| fHufrV from Murfreeahoro fsnrtrtI a.