Wade A. Ragsdale (1892-1981)

Wade A. Ragsdale

Son of Lewis T. Ragsdale & Isabella Aileen Boggess

Wade A. Ragsdale was born on November 16, 1892 in Pottsville, Pope County, Arkansas.  He was the youngest of nine children born to Lewis and Isabella Ragsdale. 

            Wade lived with his parents until at least 1930.  He registered for the Draft for World War I on June 5, 1917.  His draft card states that he was of medium height and slender build with blue eyes and brown hair.  He was also self-employed in the automobile business.  In 1930 he was the manager of a garage in Illinois, Pope County, Arkansas.

            Wade A. Ragsdale died in February 1981 in Russellville, Pope County, Arkansas.  He was just three months past his 88^th birthday.  

 World War I Draft Card

Allene Ragsdale (1890- )

Allene Ragsdale

Daughter of Lewis T. Ragsdale & Isabella Aileen Boggess

Allene Ragsdale was born in April 1890 in Pope County, Arkansas.  She was the seventh of nine children born to Lewis and Isabella Ragsdale. 

Allene lived with her parents until at least 1930.  In 1910 she was working as a Book Keeper in a grocery store, probably the same one in which her brother, Robert, and her Uncle, Sid Ragsdale, worked.  She had no occupation in 1920 or 1930. 

Notes for Allene Ragsdale

Birth:  Year: 1900; Census Place: Pottsville, Pope, Arkansas; Roll: T623 72; Page: 1A; Enumeration District: 174.

Residence and Occupation in 1910, 1920, 1930:  Year: 1910; Census Place: 3-Wd Russellville, Pope, Arkansas; Series: T624; Roll: 61; Page: 140A; Enumeration District: 88; Part: 3; Line: 8. AND Year: 1920; Census Place: Illinois, Pope, Arkansas; Roll: T625_77;  Page: 1B; Enumeration District: 97; Image: 308. AND Year: 1930; Census  Place: Illinois, Pope, Arkansas; Roll: 89; Page: 14A; Enumeration District: 19; Image: 894.0.

Robert Arthur Ragsdale (1884-1956)

Robert Arthur Ragsdale

Son of Lewis T. Ragsdale & Isabella Aileen Boggess

Robert Arthur Ragsdale was born on May 28, 1884 in Pope County, Arkansas.  He was the sixth child born to Lewis and Isabella Ragsdale. 

Robert lived with his parents until at least 1920.  In 1910 he was working as a Sales Manager of a grocery store, probably the same one in which his Uncle Sid Ragsdale worked.  In 1920 he was self employed as a Lawyer. 

In 1918, Robert enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps in Norfolk, Virginia.  He enlisted just a few days before the death of his father.  He served his country from June 11, 1918 to September 30, 1921.  He was a veteran of World War I.

Robert married Celeste D. Campbell around 1922, in either Pope County or Pulaski County, Arkansas.  He was around 38 years old and she was about 30.  Celeste was born on May 19, 1891 in Missouri, the daughter of Robert A. and Celeste M. Campbell. 

After their marriage, Robert and Celeste made their home in Illinois, Pope County, Arkansas.  In 1930, they were the parents of three children:

                       

            Philigh W.     born in 1924

            Nancy            born in October 1925

            Annagale      born in October 1925

 Robert Arthur Ragsdale died on October 27, 1956 in Arkansas.  He was 72 years old at his death.  He was buried in the Little Rock National Cemetery on October 31, 1956.  The cemetery is located at 2523 Confederate Boulevard in Little Rock.  His grave is in section 11, site 84.

Celeste went on to live almost 20 years after the death of her husband.  Celeste D. Campbell Ragsdale died in August 1972 at the age of 81.  She was living in Rancho Cucamonga, San Bernardino, California, probably with one of her married children.

Excelsior Hanna Ragsdale (1871-1930)

Excelsior Hanna Ragsdale

Son of Lewis T. Ragsdale & Isabella Aileen Boggess 

Excelsior Hanna Ragsdale was born in November 1871 in Conway or Pope County, Arkansas.  Excelsior was also known as Hanna, “E.H.” and “Dock.” 

Around his 26^th birthday, Excelsior married Emma Susan Oates in Pope County, Arkansas on November 17, 1897.  Emma was 21 years old.  She was born in February 1876, the daughter of Reverend Monroe Oates. 

After their marriage, E.H. and Emma settled down on a farm in Pottsville, Pope County, Arkansas, where E.H. was a miller.  In 1910 they were renting a home on Washington Street in Russellville.  E.H. was a farmer at that time.  The Ragsdale family remained in that area at least until 1930.

E.H. and Emma were the parents of six children as follows:

            Louie Pauline                       born August 1898

            William Glenn Monroe        born in 1902

            Evelyn Lois                           born July 29, 1903

            Margaret Rachel                  born September 13, 1905

            James Hanna                       born April 9, 1911

            William Oates                       born September 29, 1915

Excelsior Hanna Ragsdale died on April 1, 1930 in Pope County, Arkansas.  He was 58 years old at his death.

Charles T. Ragsdale (1869-1891)

Charles T. Ragsdale

Son of Lewis T. Ragsdale & Isabella Aileen Boggess

Charles T. Ragsdale was born on March 18, 1869 in Conway County, Arkansas.  He was the second child born to Lewis T. and Isabella Aileen Ragsdale. 

Charles died in 1891 at the age of 22 and is buried in the Pisgah Cemetery near Pottsville in Pope County, Arkansas.  The following is his obituary notice dated April 9, 1891:

"Charles T. Ragsdale, second son of Dr. and Mrs. Ragsdale of Potts Station, died April 1, 1891, after a short illness, at the age of 22 years and 13 days."

Albert Sidney Ragsdale (1865-1942)

Albert Sidney Ragsdale

Son of Lewis T. Ragsdale & Isabella Aileen Boggess

Albert Sidney Ragsdale was born in Conway County, Arkansas in July 1865.  He was the first of nine children born to Lewis and Aileen Ragsdale.  He was known as both Albert and Sidney. 

                                                         

Albert married Lillas Ann Ferguson around 1890, probably in Pope County, Arkansas.  Lillas was born in February 1873 in Arkansas.  Albert and Lillas were the parents of the following four children:

            Ethel R.                      born June 10, 1893

            William Joseph         born May 8, 1895

            Thomas Floyd           born August 23, 1899

            Katherine                  born about 1905

In 1900, Albert and his family were living on a farm in Pottsville in Pope County, Arkansas.  They lived very near his uncle’s family—the family of Arthur Boggess, son of Charles and Isabella Boggess.   He was also living two farms away from his parents.  Albert was a Physician at that time.  By 1910, Albert was a retail merchant in a grocery store and he had moved his family into a home on Washington Street in Russellville.  In 1920, Albert was an agent working for an oil company.  In 1930 Albert and his family lived on East 4^th Street in the same city, where he was managing a farm.

Albert Sidney Ragsdale died on July 14, 1942 in Pope County, Arkansas at the age of 74. 

Notes for Albert Sidney Ragsdale

Birth, Occupation, and Marriage to Lillas A.:  Year: 1900; Census Place: Pottsville, Pope, Arkansas; Roll: T623 72; Page: 1A; Enumeration District: 174.

Residence and Occupation in 1910:  Year: 1910; Census Place: 3-Wd Russellville, Pope, Arkansas; Series: T624; Roll: 61; Page: 142B; Enumeration District: 88; Part: 3; Line: 26.

Residence and Occupation in 1920:  Year: 1920; Census Place: Illinois, Pope, Arkansas; Roll: T625_77; Page: 7A; Enumeration District: 97; Image: 319.

Death:  Ancestry.com. Arkansas Death Index, 1914-1950 [database online]. Provo, Utah: MyFamily.com, Inc., 2005. Original data: Division of Vital Records, Arkansas Department of Health. Arkansas Death Index, 1914-1950 Microfiche. Arkansas Genealogical Society, Arkansas.

Notes for Lillas Ann Ferguson

Birth:  Year: 1900; Census Place: Pottsville, Pope, Arkansas; Roll: T623 72; Page: 1A; Enumeration District: 174.

               

Two Ragsdale Children

Two Ragsdale Children

Children of Lewis T. Ragsdale & Isabella Aileen Boggess

Two Ragsdale Children were born sometime between 1880 and 1900.  In the 1910 census, Lewis and Aileen are listed as the parents of nine children, six of which were still living at that time.  All six were still living when Lewis died in 1918.  Albert, Excelsior, John, Robert, Allene, and Wade are all accounted for, thus Charles and two other children must have died before 1900, in Pope County, Arkansas.  This leaves two children who are not listed on the 1880 or 1900 Census.  I cannot find birth or death records for these children, only the fact that Isabella had nine children, with six living in 1900.  Seven of her nine children have documented names and birthdates, two do not have either.

Isabella Aileen Boggess (1849-1946)

Isabella Aileen Boggess

Daughter of Charles Haise Boggess & Isabella C. Martin

Isabella Aileen Boggess was born on May 1, 1849 in Jackson County, Arkansas.  She was the third child born to Charles and Isabella and is presumably her mother’s namesake; however she was most often known by her middle name.  Aileen married Lewis T. Ragsdale on November 16, 1866 in Conway County, Arkansas.  She was 17 years old and he was one month shy of his 26^th birthday.  Lewis was born in December 1840 in Arkansas. 

In the 1910 census, Lewis and Aileen are listed as the parents of nine children, six of which were still living at that time.  All six were still living when Lewis died in 1918.  The nine children of Lewis and Aileen Ragsdale are as follows: 

            Albert Sidney            born July 1865

            Charles D. or T.        born March 18, 1869

            Excelsior Hanna      born November 19, 1871

            (Child)                       born and died between 1872 and 1900

            John Lewis               born December 1878

            (Child)                        born and died between 1880 and 1900

            Robert Arthur            born May 1884

            Alleene                      born April 1890

            Wade A.                    born February 1893

Lewis and Aileen and their children lived in Pottsville, Pope County, Arkansas in 1900 and on Pine Street in Russellville in 1910.  Lewis was a physician for many years and was well respected in the community.  He was also a Confederate veteran of the Civil War, as a 1^st Lieutenant in the 10^th Arkansas Infantry, Company K. 

Lewis T. Ragsdale died in his home on Sunday, June 16, 1918.  He was 69 years old at his death.  The following is a copy of his obituary:

Courier-Democrat dated 20 June 1918
PIONEER CITIZEN DEAD
Dr. L. T. Ragsdale, a pioneer citizen and large property holder in Russellville and Pope County, died at his home in this city Sunday morning after an illness of seven months, during most of the time he had been confined to his home. He had been slightly improved recently and had been able to come down town a few times, though due to his age, his family and friends had feared for some time that the end was near. Funeral services were conducted from the Central Presbyterian church Monday morning at 10 o’clock by the Rev. Wiley Lin Hurie, assisted by Rev. J. P. Snipes. The remains were laid to rest in Pisgah Cemetery near Pottsville, in the community where Mr. Ragsdale had practiced his profession for many years prior to moving to Russellville some eighteen years ago.

Dr. Ragsdale was a Confederate Veteran and was active in the reconstruction of this part of the country after the war. He had spent most of his life in this community and was widely known. He is survived by his aged wife and six children, all of whom live in Russellville and were present at the funeral except Robert A., who had but recently gone to Norfolk, Va., to enlist in the Marine corps. The other children are: E. H., Dr. Sid, postmaster Lewis Ragsdale, Wade, and Miss Allien.

To the bereaved family and many relatives we join a host of friends in extending condolence.

Aileen, widowed at the age of 69 years, went on to live almost 30 years after her husband’s death.  Isabella Aileen Boggess Ragsdale died on May 26, 1946 in Pope County, Arkansas.  She passed away twenty-five days after her 97^th birthday.