Local historian to explore Johnstonville, first county seat, in Asheboro library talk

Ryan Beeson

ASHEBORO – Before Asheboro was established in 1793, Randolph County government called Johnstonville home.

The first county seat was located about two miles west of present-day Randleman, on old U.S. 311, about where the WGHP Fox8 transmission towers stand.

Local historian Ryan Beeson will explore the origins of the settlement in “Johnstonville: Randolph’s First County Seat at the Crossroads of North Carolina” at 6:30 p.m. Thursday, November 14, at the Asheboro library.

Before it was named Johnstonville, after the governor at the time of its founding, the place was known as Cross Roads because it sat at the junction of two important byways, the Indian Trading Path and the Cape Fear or Old Moravian Road. The Indian Trading Path predated European exploration and settlement, and the Old Moravian Road was established in 1754 to link Cross Creek (now Fayetteville) with the Moravian settlements that would become Winston-Salem.

Beeson will talk about the importance of these roads in colonial and post-colonial North Carolina, and why their intersection was chosen for Randolph County’s first courthouse and county seat. He also will illuminate early sessions of the county court at Johnstonville, illustrate the layout of the town based on his extensive research, and discuss its likely exact location.

A Randolph County native, Beeson grew up on a dairy farm in Sophia. A history enthusiast, he spends his free time researching local history from the Colonial era through the American Revolution.

A descendant of many early Quaker settlers of North Carolina, he also enjoys researching genealogy and Quaker history. He is a birthright member of Marlboro Friends Meeting, where he serves on Ministry & Counsel.

After graduating Randleman High School, he earned a B.A. in Political Science and a M.S. in Accounting from East Carolina University, where he served as president of the student body.

He lives in Asheboro with his wife Claire and their son Winslow.

The library is located at 201 Worth Street. For further information, call 336-318-6803.