Terrell-Lee-Burke County GaArchives Biographies.....Ragan, Joseph Thomas 1858 - living in 1913
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Joy Fisher http://www.genrecords.net/emailregistry/vols/00001.html#0000031 October 22, 2004, 10:19 am

Author: William Harden
p. 900-902

   JOSEPH THOMAS RAGAN. Widely and favorably known in the commercial circles of
Terrell county, Joseph Thomas Ragan, of Dawson, holds a noteworthy position
among the leading business men of his community, being officially connected with
some of its more substantial and important industrial organizations. He was
born, March 3, 1858, on a farm in Terrell county, a son of the late Dr. Spann
Ragan.

   His paternal grandfather, Joseph Ragan, was, it is thought, a lifelong
resident of North Carolina, where he died while in manhood's prime. His wife,
whose maiden name was Elizabeth Spann, married for her second husband Reddick
Bryan, and came with him and her family to Georgia in pioneer days, making the
removal with teams. After living for a time in Houston county, the family
removed, in the forties, to Louisiana, and there both Mr. and Mrs. Reddick Bryan
spent their remaining days, her death occurring at the age of eighty-five years.
By her first marriage she reared two children, Spann Ragan and John Ragan. By
her union with Mr. Reddick Bryan she reared six children, as follows: Joseph,
Tillman, Terrell, Dolly, Amanda, and Georgia.

   Spann Ragan was born in Greene county, North Carolina, and was a lad in his
'teens when he came with his mother and step-father to Georgia. He subsequently
accompanied the family to Louisiana, where he began life for himself as a school
teacher. Taking up the study of medicine while thus employed, he afterwards
attended lectures in New Orleans, and still later was graduated from the Georgia
Medical College, in Augusta, with the degree of M. D. Dr. Ragan then began the
practice of his chosen profession in what was then Lee county, but is now
Terrell county, settling ten miles east of the present site of Dawson. Being a
physician, he was exempt from military duty during the Civil war, but in its
last year he entered the Confederate service. He afterwards resumed the practice
of his profession, in which he was actively engaged until his death, in 1874, at
the comparatively early age of fifty-six years.

   The maiden name of the wife of Dr. Spann Ragan was Julia Lou Speight. She was
born in Greene county, North Carolina, which was likewise the birthplace of her
father, Rev. Thomas Speight. In early life, Rev. Thomas Speight, who was a
preacher in the Methodist Episcopal Church, came with his family to Georgia,
locating in what is now Terrell county, in the eastern part. He bought land
bordering on Kinchafoonee creek, and with slave labor improved a farm, on which
he spent the remainder of his days. He married Julia Lou Pope, also a native of
North Carolina, and they reared seven children, as follows: Thomas L.; John S.;
Cicero C.; Skidmore; Mary; Eliza; and Julia Lou, who became the wife of Dr.
Spann Eagan. The oldest son, Thomas L., became a preacher in the Methodist
Episcopal church, and the others became successful agriculturists. Mrs. Spann
Eagan survived her husband, passing away in 1884, aged fifty-five years. She
reared five children, namely: Joseph Thomas, the special subject of this brief
sketch; Elizabeth Lou, who has been postmaster at Bronwood the past eighteen
years; Charles C., deceased; Mollie P., wife of C. N. Bryan, and Terrell B., who
died in early manhood.

   As a boy Joseph Thomas Eagan received ample opportunities for obtaining a
practical common school education, and on the home farm was well trained in
agricultural arts. When he was sixteen years of age his father died, and the
care of the farm and the family devolved largely upon him. Equal to the task
thus imposed, he continued the management of the parental acres until 1885, when
he embarked in mercantile business in Bronwood. Meeting with well-deserved
success in his undertakings, Mr. Eagan soon engaged in the warehouse business,
continuing his residence in Bronwood until 1900. In that year he removed to
Dawson, and when, a year later, the Southern Cotton Oil Company was formed, he
became associated with that organization in an official capacity, and for the
past ten years has been sole manager of its affairs. Mr. Eagan is also president
of the Dawson Square Bale Gin and Mill Company, which is doing a flourishing
business.

   Mr. Ragan married on the 20th of September, 1889, in Bronwood, Georgia, Miss
Mattie M. Moore, a daughter of Dr. Charles Reuben Moore, of pioneer ancestry,
her great-grandfather, Richard Moore, who, it is said, was a native of North
Carolina, having been one of the very early settlers of Burke county, Georgia.
Mrs. Ragan's paternal grandfather, Henry Turner Moore, moved from Burke county,
to Houston county, where he spent the later years of his life. He was twice
married, by his first union rearing four children: Nancy, Seaborn, Dora, and
Charles Reuben. By his second marriage he was the father of two children,
Benjamin and Rebecca.

   Charles Reuben Moore was born in Burke county, Georgia, and acquired his
preliminary education in the district schools. His tastes and inclinations
leading him to choose a professional career, he entered the Atlanta Medical
College to pursue his studies, and after his graduation from that institution
practiced first in Jefferson county, from there going to Starksville, Lee
county, where he remained a short time. He subsequently removed to Weston,
Webster county, from there going to Dawson, where he was successfully engaged in
the practice of medicine for eight years. Returning then to Weston, he remained
there in active practice as a physician and surgeon until his death, in 1882. He
was highly esteemed, not only in his profession, but as a man and a citizen. He
was prominent in public affairs, filling various local offices, and representing
Webster county in both branches of the state legislature.

   Dr. Charles R. Moore married Amelia Wynn Sharpe, who was born in Tattnall
county, Georgia, and died in Webster county, aged fifty-two years. Her father,
John Sharpe, was a Virginian by birth, and in his young manhood was captain of a
steamboat, commanding, it is supposed, a vessel engaged in coastwise trade. On
settling in Georgia he purchased land in Tattnall county, improved it with the
assistance of slaves, and there carried on farming until his death. His wife,
whose maiden name was Rebecca Lassater, was born in Burke county. Georgia, and
died in Tattnall county. Mrs. Charles R. Moore, Mrs. Ragan's mother, died August
16,1884. She reared nine children, as follows: Eudora, Fannie, Ora, Susie, Lula,
Gertrude, Charles, Mattie, and Clarence. By a former marriage, Dr. Moore had
three children. Emma, Jimmie, and Georgia. The doctor was a member of the
Ancient Free and Accepted Order of Masons, and both he and his wife belonged to
the Methodist Episcopal church.

   Six children have been born of the union of Mr. and Mrs. Ragan, namely:
Joseph Thomas, Jr.; Charles Ellis; Clarence Spann; Terrell Moore; Mattie E., who
died in infancy, and Dorothy. Of the four sons, Joseph T., Jr., is in Atlanta
with the Southern Cotton Oil Company. He is a noted musician, and is and has
been for the past three years organist and musical director of the North Avenue
Presbyterian church. Charles Ellis is connected with the Southern Cotton Oil Co.
as traveling auditor. Clarence Spann is with G. W. Dozier & Co., dry goods
merchants, Terrell Moore, the youngest son, is associated with his father in
business at Dawson. The youngest is a daughter, Dorothy, now six years. The four
sons, like their forefathers, are members of the Methodist Episcopal church.
Both Mr. and Mrs. Ragan, true to the religious faith in which they were reared,
are members of the Methodist Episcopal church, Mr. Ragan being assistant
superintendent of the Sunday school in the church at Dawson for eight years.
Mrs. Ragan is a valued member of the Methodist Episcopal Missionary Society. Mr.
Ragan belongs to P. T. Schley Lodge, No. 229, Ancient Free and Accepted Order of
Masons, Dawson, Georgia; to Forest City Lodge, Savannah, Knights of Pythias, and
to the Independent Order of Odd Fellows.


Additional Comments:
From:

A HISTORY OF SAVANNAH AND SOUTH GEORGIA
BY
WILLIAM HARDEN

VOLUME II
ILLUSTRATED
THE LEWIS PUBLISHING COMPANY
CHICAGO AND NEW YORK
1913

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