Dr. John M. T. Ralls, Vanderbilt School of Medicine

Dr. John Marastus Theodore Ralls was born December 16, 1847 in Stewart County.  He was the son of Jane Ralls (unmarried) and the grandson of James Ralls Jr. and Sarah (Whitehurst) Ralls.  John's biological father's last name was Cooley.  On the 1860 census, John is listed as "John Cooley," age 13, living with his mother and his Ralls grandparents.

Family lore states that when John grew up and married Sarah Frances Akin on October 30, 1863, he took his mother's maiden name of Ralls for his family name.

Shown here is a copy of the diploma that John M. T. Ralls received on graduation from Vanderbilt University's School of Medicine in 1881.  Also shown is the list of the graduating class for that year.

These copies were donated to the County Archives by the late Randy Wallace.
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The original diploma is in the care of descendant Earl Ralls Lewis.