My Genealogy Hound

Maj. E. D. Ragland is the son of Dr. Nathaniel and Elizabeth (Love) Ragland, his birth occurring in Shelby County, Tenn., in 1834. Dr. Ragland, a native of Virginia, was born in 1793, and served in the War of 1812. He attended the Philadelphia Medical College, and upon commencing the practice of his chosen profession, in 1818, selected Louisville, Ky., as the field of his labors. He was married in 1816 to Elizabeth, daughter of Mathew Love. To their union seven children were born, E. D., the subject of this sketch, being the sixth in order of birth. Their names were: James B., Louisa M. (now Mrs. Dr. B. D. Anderson of Texas), Dr. Nathaniel (who died in 1870 in DeVall’s Bluff, and was a sergeant in Price’s regiment), Mary E. (now Mrs. Rembert, residing in Memphis, Tenn.), Sarah V. (Mrs. Dunlap of Memphis, Tenn.), and Samuel W. (died in 1861 leaving a family.) His wife is the daughter of Avan Huntsman, a former Congressman of Tennessee. Dr. Nathaniel Ragland (father of our subject) died in 1859, and his wife in 1873. They were members of the Presbyterian Church, to which the former lent his hearty support and valuable influence. He was a man of great public spirit, and many improvements of early days in his city stand as monuments to his memory and liberality. He had the name of being the proprietor of the first drug store ever established in Memphis, and died very wealthy, his estate alone being valued at $294,000. Maj. E. D. Ragland passed his boyhood days in Shelby County and graduated from the University at Lebanon, Tenn. He was married in 1857 to Cornelia Mottley, daughter of B. F. and Martha (Doak) Mottley. Mr. Mottley was State representative of Tennessee for years, and died in 1847, his wife only surviving him three years. Mr. Ragland entered the army in 1862 as major in the Memphis Light Dragoons, attached to the Seventh Tennessee Cavalry and served three years. In 1864 he was taken prisoner of war and held eleven months, making his escape April 19, 1865. He participated in most of the principal engagements, and by his kindness and thoughtfulness to his men won from them their life-long respect and esteem. Maj. Ragland is indeed a generous man, never being behind in contributing to any worthy purpose, but his liberality does not end there, for many benevolent acts never reach the ears of the outside world, though his generous deeds are recognized by the happy recipient of his bounteous gifts. Major Ragland settled in Phillips County, Ark., in 1865 being occupied in the independent profession of farming in that locality until 1869, at which time he moved to his present home in Richland Township. He owns 160 acres of land, all cultivated and stocked with the various superior grades necessary to successfully operate a farm of that size. He is a Mason, being a member of La Grange Lodge, No. 108, and also belongs to the Chapter at Marianna. The city council recognize in him an efficient and influential member. The Major and Mrs. Ragland are members of the Methodist Church at Marianna, Ark. He is interested in all enterprises for the development or promotion of the county, and has witnessed the growth of Marianna from a place that could only boast of one store to its present prosperous proportions.