Sonoma County CA Archives Biographies.....Ragsdale, J. W. 1848 - 
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File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by:
Joy Fisher sdgenweb@yahoo.com March 3, 2006, 4:48 pm

Author: Alley, Bowen & Co. (1880)

Ragsdale, J. W. Editor and publisher. Born in Fairfax, Indiana, February 12,
1848. When a year and a half old, moved with his parents to Chariton, Iowa. In
the year 1863, while yet under sixteen years of age, he enlisted in Company C,
Thirteenth Iowa Infantry. Was with Sherman in his memorable march to the sea,
and participated in many of the severest engagements fought during the civil
war. Was honorably discharged August 28, 1865. On returning home he entered
Cornell College, where he remained for three years, earning his way by sawing
wood morning and evening, and in the harvest and cornfields during vacations. In
1868 he purchased a half interest in the Chariton, Iowa, Patriot, since which
time he has been connected with newspapers published in Albia and Corning, Iowa,
and in Walla Walla, Washington Territory. In 1873 he lost all he had through bad
debts, and landed in San Francisco with but ten cents to his name. He engaged in
the dairy business near Petaluma, and in May, 1878, purchased an interest in the
Santa Rosa Times, one of the most promising papers in the State. In June, 1879,
the Republican Convention for the Twentieth Senatorial District met in
Sacramento, and by the unanimous vote of that body chose Mr. Ragsdale as their
candidate for State Senator. This nomination was entirely unsolicited and was a
greater surprise to Mr. Ragsdale than any one else. The district, however, being
largely Democratic, and the opposing candidate having received the endorsement
of the new Constitution party and the Workingmen's party, was elected, Mr.
Ragsdale running nearly one thousand votes ahead of his ticket.

Additional Comments:
Santa Rosa Township

Extracted from:

HISTORY
—OF-
SONOMA COUNTY,
-INCLUDING ITS—
Geology, Topooraphy, Mountains, Valleys and Streams;
—TOGETHER WITH—
A Full and Particular Record of the Spanish Grants; Its Early History and
Settlement, Compiled from the Most Authentic Sources; the Names of Original
Spanish and American Pioneers; a full Political History, Comprising the Tabular
Statements of Elections and Office-holders since the Formation of the County;
Separate Histories of each Township, Showing the Advancement of Grape and Grain
 Growing Interests, and Pisciculture;
ALSO, INCIDENTS OF PIONEER LIFE; THE RAISING OF THE BEAR FLAG; AND BIOGRAPHICAL
SKETCHES OF EARLY AND PROMINENT SETTLERS AND REPRESENTATIVE MEN;
—AND OF ITS—
Cities, Towns, Churches, Schools, Secret Societies, Etc., Etc.
ILLUSTRATED.
SAN FRANCISCO:
ALLEY, BOWEN & CO., PUBLISHERS.
1880.


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