Biographical Sketch of John M. Ragland, Laclede County, Missouri

>From "History of Laclede, Camden, Dallas, Webster, Wright, Texas, 
Pulaski, Phelps and Dent Counties, Missouri" The Goodspeed Publishing
Company, 1889.
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John M. Ragland, attorney at law of Conway, Mo., is a native of Wash-
ington county, Ill., born August 23, 1852, being a son of John and
Martha (Spence) Ragland, both of whom were born and reared in Kentucky.
They were married in 1827, and a year later moved to Washington county,
Ill., where the father assisted in the early settlement of that county.
He was an extensive farmer and stock raiser, and about 1858 moved to
Laclede county, Mo., and located on a farm of 320 acres on Brush Creek,
where he spent the remainder of his days.  He was an active member of
the A. F. & A. M., and during the latter part of his life was a devoted
member of and worker in the Primitive Baptist Church.  Mrs. Ragland's
father was a Protestant Irishman, and was a leading minister in the
Presbyterian Church.  Out of a family of twelve children born to Mr. 
and Mrs. Ragland, eight are now living.  Three sons served in the Union
Army during the late war: Silas, who lost his life during service;
William C., who now resides in Washington county, Ill., and is a minis-
ter of the Primitive Baptist Church; and James H.  Mrs. Ragland died in
October, 1855, and the widower was afterward married twice; his third
wife is still living.  He died on the 1st of February, 1881.  John M.
Ragland grew to manhood in Laclede county, and received his education
in the common schools and at Hartville, Mo.  In 1873 he began the study
of law in the office of W. S. Pope, and two years later entered upon
the practice of his profession, being admitted to the bar in Marshfield
in 1886.  He opened an office at Conway, and besides the practice of 
his profession is engaged in the real estate business.  He owns a fine
farm of 200 acres, and gives considerable attention to stock raising.
He was married in September, 1874, to Miss Maria Devlin, of Laclede
county, a daughter of Charles D. Devlin.  She was born in Laclede coun-
ty, April 19, 1857, and is the mother of six children: Arthur H., 
Simeon W., Gertrude M., J. M. Hubert, Clarence E. and Nora E.  In
October, 1888, Mr. Ragland engaged in the drug business in Conway.  He
is a member of the K. of P., keeper of the R. and S., and he and wife
are members of the Christian Church, he being an elder in the same. The
Ragland family are of Scotch descent, and so far as known are the de-
cendants of two brothers, who came from Scotland to the United States
previous to the Revolutionary War, in which conflict the great grand-
father of our subject was an active participant.  They have been a 
family of farmers and attorneys, and some of them have become disting-
uished members of the bar.

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