WILLIAM RAGSDALE was born between. 1785 - 1800 in South Carolina-may have served in War of 1812-Perkins Battalion Mississippi Territory, and died before January 13, 1849 in Shelby County, Alabama.  He married SARAH ELIZABETH LOVE before 1817 in South Carolina or Alabama, daughter of SAMUEL LOVE and ELIZABETH NATION.  She was born between 1796 - 1801 in South Carolina-the Loves may have moved to Texas also, and died after 1860 probably in Alabama.

Notes for WILLIAM RAGSDALE:

1820 ST. CLAIR COUNTY, ALABAMA CENSUS

William Rags (sic) - 1 male over 21, 2 males under 21, 1 female over 21, 1 female under 21

ST. CLAIR COUNTY, ALABAMA - AMOUNT OF DEBTS ON THE LEDGER AT ASHVILLE, APRIL 30, 1830

 Wm Ragsdale, Molder Ragsdale and Mary Ragsdale are all on the same ledger page.

WILLIAM RAGSDALE, JUNIOR was born about 1817 in Alabama, and died in Holly Springs, Marshall County, Mississippi-per info of Janice Thomason.  He married ELIZABETH ALEXANDER April 06, 1843 in St. Clair County, Alabama-Early Ala. Marriages-Partin Publications.  She was born about 1823 in Alabama.  During the Civil War, William served for a short time in the 3rd & 5th Alabama Reserves.

JAMES (DOCTOR) RAGSDALE was born January 19, 1818 in Alabama-moved to Oklahoma about 1878, and died about 1889 in Healdton, Indian Territory (Oklahoma).  He married DRUCILLA. 

Notes for JAMES (DOCTOR) RAGSDALE:

PER INFORMATION OF JANICE THOMASON

Her family believed James was a doctor and moved to Grants Pass, Oregon where he died.

FROM INFORMATION OF DESCENDANT JIM RAGSDALE

James didn't go to Oregon - he moved to Oklahoma.  On 1860 census of Jefferson County, Alabama - he is listed as a physician.

MARY N. (POLLY) RAGSDALE was born about 1820 in Alabama, and died in Bloomburg, Texas.  She married WILLIAM R. WILLIAMS January 25, 1843 in Shelby County, Alabama.  He was born in Alabama, and died in the Civil War in Arkansas before child Rufus was born.  On 1880 Cass County, Texas census, PCT 7? N&M, Sd 2, ED 16, p. 234B, household 164-165. Sister Fanny Ragsdale is listing with them on the census - age 55 b. AL, father b. NC, mother b. AL.

Notes for WILLIAM R. WILLIAMS:

FROM DESCENDANT JANICE THOMASON

After her husband's death in the Civil War, Mary moved from Arkansas to Bloomburg, Texas.  She farmed and wove rugs, making her own dye from herbs - blue from indigo, brown from walnut shells, red from pokeberries and yellow from copperas.

JOHN R./SAMUEL RAGSDALE was born about 1822 in Alabama-private Co. I, 18th Alabama Infantry, and died June 19, 1865 in CSA Gen. Hosp. #2, Vicksburg, Mississippi.  He married (1) NANCY PERRY October 30, 1845 in Shelby County, Alabama-Early Alabama Marriages-Partin Publications.   She was born about 1825 in Alabama.  He married (2) MARGARET BLACKBURN December 22, 1857 in Shelby County, Alabama.  She died about 1900 and is buried  in Blount County, Alabama.

 Notes for JOHN R./SAMUEL RAGSDALE:

 INFORMATION ON THIS FAMILY FROM STELLA GAMBLE

SIDNEY JACKSON RAGSDALE was born about 1836 in Shelby County, Alabama, and died January 11, 1883 in Cass County, Texas-probably buried at Queens City, Cass County, Texas.  He married SARAH ANNE MCGUIRE November 18, 1858 in Jefferson County, Alabama, daughter of DAVIDSON MCGUIRE and MARGARET KELLY.  She was born about 1837 in Alabama, and died March 23, 1886 in Cass County, Texas-probably buried at Queens City, Cass County, Texas.

 Notes for SIDNEY JACKSON RAGSDALE:

 FROM JANICE THOMASON

 They were married at Sarah Anne's parents home (Davidson McGuire).  P.W. Pledger was security on the marriage.

 Sidney served in the Arkansas Division from Ashley Co. Arkansas.  Enlisted in Pine Bluff, Arkansas 9 August 1861 as Private in Co. K - 9th Arkansas infantry Regiment.  Deserted January 17, 1864 - absent until January 28 when he was arrested and court martialed, but was pardoned by Lt. Col. J.W. Rogers to enlist another year.  (Nelle Mills Childress got this information from Civil War records in the Archives in Washington DC)  S.J. was her grandfather.  She also said the Ragsdale children told her of the following romantic story:  His sister Polly was sitting on her porch and saw an apparition of him passing down the road.  She bridled her mule and rode to the army camp a few miles away to find him up to be shot.  She ran and threw her arms around him, the men motioned so the commander threw the flag around them and forgave him to enlist another year.  He moved to Cass Co. Texas after the war.  He was a carpenter until he had the fingers on his left hand cut off by a saw.  He then served as a Justice of the Peace.  His wife kept boarders.  Margaret (Maggie) and Martha (Mattie) his daughters, married two boarders from the north - Dan Webster Purcell and Peter A. Mills (from New Jersey).  Uncle Eddie (Robert Edward - his son) married Lou Chappelear from Queen City, Texas.  Amanda (Mandy) the other daughter, married Eli Fitzgerald of Cass Co. Texas.  "Chester Purcell was really hurt when I told him of this desertion, he just couldn't believe it",  said Nelle Childress.

 CHESTER PURCELL SAID OF SIDNEY:

 Sidney and Anne moved from Leeds (Jefferson Co.) Alabama to Ashdown, Ark.  They moved from Arkansas to Linden, Texas where Sidney was Sheriff and Tax Collector.  He was a noted Mason and Civil War veteran.  Sidney had one brother, Sam, who came to Collinsville, Texas and 2 sisters.  Sam had a son, Herman Ragsdale, retired grocer man in Collinsville.  Herman, Sr. had Herman Jr. now (1972) running the grocery store and daughter Sandra.  Sam had other descendants unknown.

 Sidney's sisters were Fannie (unmarried) of Collinsville, Sarah (married first McGuire and one son, second Fisher - no issue) of Collinsville BUT IT IS NOTED BY JANICE THAT NO SISTER TO SIDNEY WAS NAMED SARAH ACCORDING TO NELLE BUT SIDNEY'S WIFE CALLED ANNE WAS FORMERLY SARAH ANNE McGUIRE - CONFUSING AT THIS POINT, Martha Bailey of Leeds, Jefferson Co. Alabama and Polly Williams of Bloomburg, Texas - had son Ruff.  NOTE FROM JANICE - Both Sidney and his wife had a sister named Polly (according to Nelle) which was Ragsdale and which was McGuire?

 LOUISA CAROLINE (CARRIE) RAGSDALE  was born 16 May 1844 in Alabama, and died 23 Jan 1919 in Collinsville, Grayson County, Texas.  She is buried in the Collinsville Cemetery, Collinsville, Grayson County, Texas. She married (1) ROBERT F. MCGUIRE about 1861, son of DAVIDSON MCGUIRE and MARGARET KELLEY. He was born about 1838, and died before 1870.  She married (2) to Husband Fisher who died prior to 1900.

Notes for LOUISA CAROLINE (CARRIE) RAGSDALE:

On 1870 Bienville Parish, Louisiana census - Arcadia, p. 9, household 122-122. Evidently widowed by this time, there is also listed in the household a female -Rego Lell -age 35- is this Ragsdale? - could this be Frances Ragsdale? On 1880 Grayson County, Texas census, Pct 5, SD 3, ED 12, household 201-201 she is listed as widowed. On 1900 Grayson County, Texas census, JP 5, SD 2, ED 109, sheet 9A, p. 185, household 167-166 - she is widowed a 2nd time and living with her is her sister, Frances Ragsdale. On 1910 Grayson County, Texas census, Pct 5, Collinsville, SD 4, ED 99, sheet 10B, p. 78, household 227-227.