Terrell-Lee-Burke County GaArchives Biographies.....Ragan, Joseph Thomas 1858 - living in 1913 ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/ga/gafiles.htm ************************************************ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: 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 File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/ga/terrell/bios/gbs401ragan.txt This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.org/gafiles/ File size: 8.8 Kb