The Nimrod Ragsdale Family

Facts by Theron W. Ragsdale and Fred Ragsdale, Jr.

Seven original Ragsdale brothers, Nimrod, William, Edward, Peter, Baxter, James and John, came to America from Wales and settled at Petersburg, Virginia. In time, the brothers scattered, some going to Georgia, Mississippi and Missouri. It is believed, though not confirmed, that the father of these seven brothers was a Nimrod Ragsdale. He had no daughters and he never came to America.

About 1833, Nimrod Ragsdale (1776-1837), wife and three sons, Peter Chappell (1810-1882), William Jones (1811-1884) and Edward Baxter (1817-1883) and two daughters, Elizabeth Ann and Martha, emigrated to Texas via Gaines Ferry on the Sabine River, settling on Yegua Creek, near Washington-on-the-Brazos. With the threatened Mexican invasion and the hostility of the Indians, they moved to Sabine County, near old Milam. Nimrod died there in 1837.

After Cherokee County was created, the three sons and their stepmother moved to old Jacksonville, in 1847. Nimrod's first wife, was a Chappell, his second was a Thomas; there were no children by his second wife, but by his first there were two girls, Martha and Liza, and the three sons, Peter Chappell, Edward Baxter and William Jones. The brothers all were brick masons. After arrival in Jacksonville, Peter Chappell soon moved on west to Guadalupe County. William Jones went to Walker County for a time, but finally settled west of Jacksonville at Pope's Switch, later to be known as Hume's Switch. There he farmed and worked as a brick mason. Edward Baxter Ragsdale surveyed land and practiced law, later becoming a member of the firm of Maples, Ragsdale & Co., in the general mercantile business in 1847, and being with the firm when it moved to new Jacksonville in 1872.

The sisters, Martha Ragsdale, who married James Priestly, and Liza Ragsdale, who married Judson Jowell, also settled in Cherokee County about this time.

Prior to the Civil War, the Ragsdales primarily were engaged in farming, owning a number of slaves and working land from the vicinity of where Lon Morris College presently is located to Gum Creek. Since they were brick masons, they also engaged in the construction business, particularly during the period when Jacksonville was relocating.

Shortly after the Civil War, Edward Baxter Ragsdale, William McKinney and William Giffen formed a partnership and opened a general mercantile business. They employed J. C. Maples as clerk at $40 per month. This firm soon became Maples, Ragsdale & Co., moving from old Jacksonville to a location at the corner of Main and Commerce Streets, being lots 9 and 10 in Block 121. Members of the Ragsdale family still own this property. When Nimrod Ragsdale (1857-1936) delivered the first load of lumber to the new townsite, his father instructed him to unload the material "near a tall burnt snag in an old field."

In later years, the firm was operated by the three sons of Edward Baxter Ragsdale - Andrew Nimrod, John Eberly and William Beauregard, as Ragsdale Bros. In 1936, the property was leased to Beall Department Stores, but it still is owned by Theron W. Ragsdale of Portland, Ore., E. B. (Ned) Ragsdale of Dallas and Mrs. Cornelia Henderson of Jacksonville.

At about the same time the E. B. Ragsdales were moving to new Jacksonville, his brother, William Jones Ragsdale, was relocating about four miles west of the new town near Pope's Switch. He acquired considerable acreage in that area, and while some of this land now has been sold, much of it still is retained by his descendants.

Most of the Ragsdales were Methodists, although some were Presbyterians. Some of the Edward Baxter Ragsdale family, as well as the William Jones Ragsdales, were charter members of First Methodist Church, where Andrew Nimrod Ragsdale served for many years as treasurer. Others of the William Jones Ragsdale family were charter members of Earle's Chapel Methodist Church, which was organized in the 1870s. Norman Ragsdale, Fred Ragsdale, Jr., descendants of William Jones Ragsdale, were charter members of St. John's Methodist Church, Jacksonville, when it was organized in 1958.

The Ragsdales have been active in civic and fraternal organizations throughout the history of Jacksonville. Both William Jones and Edward Baxter Ragsdale were charter members of Jacksonville Masonic Lodge No. 108, and Edward Baxter server as worshipful master in 1852. Descendants still retaining membership in this lodge include Theron W. Ragsdale, E. B. Ragsdale, Lee Ragsdale, Home Ragsdale and Fred Ragsdale, Jr.

For the most part, the Edward Baxter Ragsdale family used the Jacksonville City Cemetery, while William Jones Ragsdale and his descendants are buried at Earle's Chapel Cemetery, four miles southwest of Jacksonville.

Other descendants of the Ragsdale families still residing in the Jacksonville area are J. N. Ragsdale, Mrs. Earl Pledger, Mrs. DeWitt Davidson, Mrs. Irene Coon and Mrs. Cornelia Henderson.

While the first building erected by the Ragsdales at the corner of Main and Commerce was a frame structure, in 1882, E. B. Ragsdale built a two-story brick structure there, it being one of the first three brick structures in the new town. It became and for many years was the hub of activity in the new town. The lower portion was occupied by a drug store and the Ragsdale mercantile establishment, while the upper floor was Ragsdale Hall, the town hall and opera house. Many early-day theatrical performers appeared on its stage, with its old roll-down drop curtain. "The Great Train Robbery," first moving picture ever produced, was shown there. Grease paint markings by various performers on the wall backstage were examined with interest for many years after performances in the opera house ceased. In later years, the space was divided into business offices.

Edward Baxter Ragsdale, who came to old Jacksonville area in 1847.

E. B. Ragsdale home, built about 1870, when family moved from west of Gum Creek to vicinity of old Jacksonville. L. to r., John Eberly Ragsdale; William Beauregard Ragsdale and Cornelia, his daughter.

A. N. Ragsdale home in early-day Jacksonville. Theron W. and E. B. (Ned) Ragsdale in front yard.

Ragsdale Bros. building, Main and Commerce, in April, 1936. It was upstairs that the Ragsdale Opera House was located, and where early-day shows played about 1882. Also, the famed community Christmas trees of early Jacksonville were held here.

"Ragsdale Bros. Gen'l Merchandise" at corner Commerce and Main about 1900. Beauregard, at left, behind children (Pete Brittain with finger in mouth), John Ragsdale next to left pole and Nimrod Ragsdale at right pole. Others unidentified except the bearded gentleman is Henry Branch.