My Genealogy Hound

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.