John Lewis Ragsdale (1878-1944)

John Lewis Ragsdale

Son of Lewis T. Ragsdale & Isabella Aileen Boggess

John Lewis Ragsdale was born December 12, 1878 in Pope County, Arkansas.  Known by his middle name, Lewis was the fourth son born to Lewis and Isabella Ragsdale.

On October 9, 1904, Lewis married Alma Louise Strayhorn, probably in Russellville, Pope County, Arkansas.  Lewis was 25 years old and Alma was 23 years.  Alma was born in March 1882 in Arkansas, the daughter of Samuel Lucius Strayhorn and India Wills Whitten.  Lewis and Alma were the parents of four children as follows:

            Louise            born in 1906

            Robert            born in 1908

            Nina               born in 1911

            Christine        born in 1913

In 1910, Lewis and Alma lived in a rented home on Main Street in Russellville, Pope County, Arkansas.  Lewis was employed as a retail merchant in a grocery store there in Russellville.  By 1920, they purchased a home at 601 Washington Street in Russellville.  Lewis worked as Post Master for the Post Office.

Lewis registered for the Draft for World War I on September 10, 1918.  His draft card states that he was of medium height and build with blue eyes and dark hair.

John Lewis Ragsdale passed away two months before his 66^th birthday.  He died on October 15, 1944 in Pulaski County, Arkansas.  His wife died a few months later.  

Alma Louise Ragsdale died on January 6, 1945 in Jefferson County, Arkansas.  She was 63 years old at her death.

 World War I Draft Card

 

Notes for John Lewis Ragsdale

Birth, Occupation, Physical Description, Residence in 1918:  Ancestry.com. World War I Draft Registration Cards, 1917-1918 [database online]. Provo, UT: Ancestry.com, 2005.  Original data: National Archives and Records Administration. World War I Selective Service System Draft Registration Cards, 1917-1918. M1509, 4,582 rolls.  National Archives and Records Administration, Washington, D.C.

Marriage:  Ancestry.com. Arkansas, County Marriages Index, 1837-1957 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2011.
Residence and Occupation in 1910:  Year: 1910; Census Place: Russellville Ward 1, Pope, Arkansas; Roll: T624_61; Page: 10B; Enumeration District: 88; Image: 1285.      

Children, Residence, and Occupation in 1920:  Year: 1920; Census Place: Illinois, Pope, Arkansas; Roll: T625_77; Page: 6A; Enumeration District: 97; Image: 317.

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.

Signature:  from Military Draft Card, see above

Notes for Alma Louise (maiden name unknown) Ragsdale

Birth and Death:  Ancestry.com. Arkansas Death Index, 1914-1950 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: The Generations Network, Inc., 2005. Original data: Division of Vital Records, Arkansas Department of Health. Arkansas Death Index, 1914-1950. Arkansas: Arkansas Genealogical Society. Microfiche.