EDWARD RAGIN
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Edward RAGIN, another successful agriculturist who is closely connected
with the farming interests of Mount Vernon Township, is of Irish descent,
and the grandson of Thomas RAGIN, who was a native-born Irishman. He came
to America just in time to participate in the Revolutionary War, and was in
the battle of Guilford Court House. He settled in North Carolina and
reared a family of six children: William, John, James, Caleb, Hannah and
Elizabeth. He moved to Tennessee, and there died at the age of
seventy-eight years. He was a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church.
His son, James L. RAGIN, was born in North Carolina, and in that State
chose his wife in the person of Miss Margaret HARMON, daughter of Edward
HARMON, of North Carolina. This union resulted in the birth of seven
children: Elender, Thomas, Elizabeth, Edward, Margaret, James and Susan.
Mr. and Mrs. Ragin moved to Rutherford County, Tenn., but finally settled
in Giles County, where all the children were born. Mr. Ragin died about
1865. He was a farmer by occupation, but also followed the trade of a
house carpenter, and was a Democrat in his political opinions. He was a
hard-working, industrious man. Edward Ragin was born in Giles County,
Tenn., in 1819, and received a limited education. He was married in his
native State to Miss Missouri BRITTON, daughter of John L. and Susan
(RITCHIE) BRITTON. The fruits of this union are nine children who have
grown to maturity: Susan M., Nancy A., Edward B., Samuel W. C., Sarah E.,
Thomas J., Mary T., Melvinia F. and John J. In 1853 Mr. Ragin moved to
Lawrence County, Mo., and settled on a farm in Mount Vernon Township.
During the war he was first in the Home Guards, and then in the Enrolled
Militia, where he remained until the close of the war. He was in several
skirmishes with the bushwhackers at Jones' Creek and other points. Mr.
Ragin is a Republican in politics, is a member of the Masonic fraternity,
and he and wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church. Mr. Ragin
is a prosperous farmer, owning 248 acres of land, and is a self-made man,
having accumulated all his property by honest industry. He has been
justice of the peace, and is one of the county's best citizens. Although
Mr. Ragin received but a limited education in his youth he is a well
informed and very intelligent man, being a reader and a man of observation.
Mr. and Mrs. Ragin are the parents of nine children, thirty-four
grandchildren and four great-grandchildren. Mr. Ragin can well remember
sitting on his Grandfather Ragin's knee and listening to his stories of the
old war.
From "A Reprint of Goodspeed's 1888 History of Lawrence County; Reprint
Lawrence County Section of Goodspeed's Newton, Lawrence, Barry And McDonald Counties History; published by the Goodspeed Publishing Co., in 1888; Reprinted by Litho Printers Of Cassville, Missouri In 1973."
as transcribed by JJR.Return to Lawrence County Biographies