"aged 68"

Charles H. RYMAN was the eldest of the RYMAN brothers of Nashville, Tennessee. The three other brothers were: William (abt. 1814 - bef. 1872), John (1819-1864), and Francis "Frank" (abt. 1824-1866). The well-known steamboat captain Thomas G. RYMAN (1841-1904) was owner/operator of the largest Cumberland River steamboat company, and was Charles' nephew. The RYMAN Auditorium (better known today as the "Grand Ole Opry") was named in honor of Tom in recognition of his civic contributions to Nashville. The exact birthplaces of the RYMAN brothers are unknown, but census records place their nativity as Tennessee. They lived in Nashville, raising families and conducting businesses for many decades until their deaths. It is uncertain when the RYMAN family first came to the River City. The 1830 Davidson County Federal census includes the name of the possible patriarch of the family, Frederick REINMAN. In the earlier 1820 Sumner County Federal census there is a possible variation of Frederick's name, Ferdinand RHYNEMAN, which may indicate that the family first lived in neighboring Sumner County before moving to Davidson County. Many variations of the RYMAN surname are found in the Davidson County records--including RIMON, RYMAN, and RINEMAN. Charles could not write and this may have contributed to the various spelling interpretations that county officials used in recording his surname. The earliest official Davidson County record that names Charles RYMAN is that of his marriage to Prudence Mary V. REDDICK (1818-1874) on June 22, 1834 in Nashville. Following that, Charles is listed in the 1839 Davidson County tax list. One year later, his name is recorded as "C. RINEMAN" in the 1840 Federal census of Ward 6 of Nashville. Charles RYMAN's occupation in the 1850 & 1860 Federal censuses of Nashville is "Steamboat Captain." According to biographies of Thomas G. RYMAN, Tom's Uncle Charlie helped pilot 26-yr-old Tom's first steamboat to Nashville in 1867 following its purchase in New Orleans. Tom did not have a pilot license at that time but his uncle did. Charles' occupation in the Nashville city directories from 1855-1868 is "steamboat captain," "river captain," and "steamboatman." From 1870 until his death in 1879, his occupation is listed as "grocer" and "grocery." Following Charles' death, his widow is listed in the 1880 census as "grocer." It is likely that Charles retired from the physically demanding river occupation to that of proprietor of a grocery store. Perhaps the grocery store was an existing family business. Younger brother Frank is listed as a "grocer" in the 1855-1857 Nashville city directories, and as living with Charles. After unsuccessful attempts to locate the possible parents of the RYMAN brothers after the 1830 census, it seems likely that Charles helped raise and support his youngest brother Frank and played an important role in his life. Charles is named as Frank's bondsman in his marriage record to Matilda AKIN in 1844. Charles and his first wife Prudence were childless. Prudence died December 31, 1874 at the age of 56. Charles, 65, wasted no time after the death of his wife of 40 years before marrying the young Kate DAILEY/DALY (b.1843 in England) seventeen weeks later on May 6, 1875. Kate and Charles were united for four years until Charles' death from "exhaustion"--as listed in the Tennessee mortality schedule. Charles still managed to outlive his three younger brothers. The widow Kate had a son, John DAILEY/DALY (b. 1864), living with her in the 1880 Federal census, indicating that her surname on her marriage license to Charles was likely her married name from a former marriage to a DAILEY/DALY. In her will dated December 10, 1874, Charles' first wife Prudence M. V. RYMAN leaves all her personal and real property to "my husband Charles H. RIMON." Charles later deeds his second wife Kate several pieces of real estate that may have first belonged to Prudence--but with the condition that if their marriage ended in divorce or death, the deeds reverted to Charles. In Charles' will, he gave all his properties to Kate with no conditions attached. Kate then sold real estate to her son John E. DALY and held a mortgage. On February 20, 1893, she recorded the release in the margin of the deed and signed as "Mrs. Kate CAULFIELD nee Kate RYMAN," leading this researcher to find the 1890 Davidson County marriage record of Mike CAUFIELD and Kate RYMAN. Charles is my great great granduncle.
- J Johnson
Added: Feb. 7, 2009