Biographical and historical memoirs of Mississippi, embracing an authentic and comprehensive account of the chief events in the history of the state and a record of the lives of many of the most worthy and illustrious families and individuals, Vol. II, Part 99

Author: Goodspeed Brothers
Publication date: 1891
Publisher: Chicago, Goodspeed
Number of Pages: 1314

USA > Mississippi > Biographical and historical memoirs of Mississippi, embracing an authentic and comprehensive account of the chief events in the history of the state and a record of the lives of many of the most worthy and illustrious families and individuals, Vol. II > Part 99

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

635

MEMOIRS OF MISSISSIPPI.

town he was engaged in the stage business, which he followed until 1835. While thus employed, he was elected to convey President Jackson's famous message of the nullification of South Carolina. This he accomplished successfully, making the distance of eighty miles in one night's ride. While a resident of Lynchburg he was united in marriage to Miss Elizabeth K. Hobson, and in 1836 they moved to Lafayette county, Miss. There Mr. Rag- land was employed as manager and overseer on some of the most extensive plantations in the county, and in every instance his success was almost phenomenal, being commented on far and near. Besides this, he conducted a plantation of his own. When the war broke out he had charge of the big plantation of the Price heirs on the Yocona river in Lafayette county. There was his power and ability as an overseer and manager brought into full play. Not a single slave escaped that was in his charge, and he made a note of all the property carried away by the Union troops, the heirs being thereby enabled to collect damages from the government for the amount lost. By his efforts the county records were saved, as he had them boxed, and with two of his own teams hauled them home, a distance of fourteen miles, where he concealed and saved them. His wife died in 1866 leaving a family of five children, three of whom are still living. In 1870 he married Mrs. Elizabeth M. Hobson, who bore him one son, S. E. Ragland, Jr. Mr. Ragland is extensively engaged in farming, owns about three thousand acres of land and raises a good grade of horses, cattle, hogs and sheep. Although eighty years of age he is still active and energetic. He is of medium size and has a pair of keen black eyes. He is a man noted far and near for his bravery and nerve, and when he once undertook a task he kept steadily at it until it was accomplished.

In reviewing the lives of men, their abilities and attainments, we observe a marked difference in ages at which success is reached. To some it comes in early life, to others, not until the decline of life, and to some it is denied altogether. So that it is with pleasure we record the history of a man to whom many of the good things of the world have come within his first three-score years. William A. Ragsdale was born in Grenada, Miss., February 24, 1860, and is a son of George W. Ragsdale, who was born in Pickensville, Ala., ahout the year 1821. William Ragsdale, the father of George W., was also a native of Alabama, of Scottish ancestry. George W. grew to manhood in his native state, and received his educa- tion there. He came to Mississippi in 1841, and located at Grenada, where he became interested in a flouringmill; he continued in this business until after the late Civil war, and is now the owner of several large sawmills, being one of the heaviest lumber dealers in the state. His residence is at Macomb, Miss. William A. Ragsdale is one of a family of six children-four sons and two daughters. He spent his youth in his native town, attending the common schools, where he acquired a fair education. After leaving school he went to Mobile, Ala., where he entered the machine shops, and thoroughly mastered the machinist's trade. For several years he followed this business, and then went on the road as traveling salesman for an Eastern manufacturing company located at Chambersburg, Penn. He remained in the employ of this firm for three years, his territory being Mississippi. In 1890 he resigned this position, and established himself in business at Greenwood, Le Flore county, Miss. ; he erected a large brick store, and placed a most complete stock of hardware on sale there. His early training in the machine shops and his later experience in handling these goods have fitted him for the work he has taken up, so that we anticipate for him a more than ordinarily pros- perous future. He has also built and fully equipped an extensive foundry and machine shop, where any work in the line of casting and machine repairs can be done in the best style. Greenwood is greatly indebted to Mr. Ragsdale for this, one of the leading enterprises.

636

BIOGRAPHICAL AND HISTORICAL

Although he began life without means, he has accumulated a handsome property, and has come to be recognized as one of the most substantial business men of the community. He was married in Grenada, Miss., November 18, 1882, to Miss Mary Wright, daughter of F. S. Wright, of Grenada. Mrs. Ragsdale was born, reared, and educated in Grenada. Two children have been born of this marriage: Emma, died at the age of four years in 1888; Mary, aged three years, survives. The parents are worthy members of the Methodist Epis. copal church. Mr. Ragsdale is an active leader in the Knights of Pythias lodge.

Wilber Fisk Rainey is a prominent and influential planter of Coahoma county, Miss., but was born near Atlanta, Ga., March 12, 1848, being the eighth of eleven children born to Isom S. and Mary E. (Bell) Rainey, natives of North Carolina and Georgia, respectively. Isom S. Rainey came to Mississippi in 1848 and located in Monroe county, where he engaged in planting and merchandising, being very wealthy at the breaking out of the war. He took a prominent part in the political affairs of his section, and served two terms in the state legislature, acquitting himself with great credit. He died in 1872, his widow surviving him until 1882. The maternal grandfather, General Bell, was an eminent and distinguished politician and lawyer. Wilber Fisk Rainey was reared to manhood in Clay county, Miss., and received his literary education in the high school of West Point. After leaving school he sold goods in a mercantile establishment for seven years, at the end of which time he began planting and merchandising on his own account, and has continued in this business very successfully ever since. He began life for himself with $285 and by his own exertions has accumulated property, including one thousand acres of land, about four hundred acres of which he opened and improved himself; he also is a stockholder in the oil mills at Friar's Point. He is one of the most substantial of citizens, for he is public-spirited and enterpris- ing. He is a true and steadfast friend, and has won the respect and esteem of all who know him; he takes great interest in church work, and is especially interested in the moral training of the young of the community. He is affable and agreeable in manners, and is very chari- tably inclined toward all his fellow creatures. As a planter he is systematic and thorough, and everything about his buildings and grounds shows neatness and order at once commendable and worthy of emulation. He is courteous and accommodating, and cheerfully and willingly extends the right hand of fellowship to those less fortunate than himself, and sends no one hungry from his door. He was married December 5, 1872, to Miss Mollie C. Brady, a native of this state, and a daughter of John and Mary Brady, native Tennesseeans, her father being a Confederate soldier during the Rebellion, dying in the service. Mr. Rainey and his wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal church, and he is a member of the American Legion of Honor, and the K. of P. He has held a number of offices of trust in this county, and in every instance proved a faithful and competent official. Of his brothers, William E., Thomas E., Preston, S. K. and A. Rainey were all members of the Confederate army, the first named dying during the service in Virginia. Preston was wounded at the battle of Corinth, but survived it.

Thomas J. Ramsey, a well-known planter of Copiah county, was a native or Jasper county, Ga., where he was born in 1819. He is the son of Noah and Elizabeth Ramsey, both natives of Georgia, his father having been born in 1764, and his mother in 1784, both of whom lived to be eighty-six years old, and both died in the same house in Copiah county. In his youth Mr. Noah Ramsey served his apprenticeship at the saddler's trade, at which he worked during his earlier days. In 1822 he moved to Lawrence county, Miss., where he located on a farm, which he cultivated, also working at his trade. He was the son of William Ramsey, one of the noble heroes who fought in the Revolutionary war under General Han-

637

MEMOIRS OF MISSISSIPPI.

cock. He married Elizabeth Deering, the daughter of William and Elizabeth Deering, of Georgia. Thomas J. Ramsey came to Mississippi with his parents at about the age of three years, and lived with them in Lawrence county until 1838, and then they moved to Copiah county, locating on the farm upon which he now lives. He was married in 1850 to Rebecca Womack, of Copiah county, a daughter of Jacob and Hezekiah Womack. To them have been born eighteen children-nine girls and nine boys-named as follows, fifteen of whom are yet living: Louzenberg B .; Melville; Emma; Silas; Anslum; J. Leonidas; Adela, deceased; Mattie; Joan; John W .; Cora, deceased; Jasper, deceased; Elizabeth; Lula; Simeon D. ; Belle; Thomas; Rebecca. In 1847 he entered the Mexican war, enlisting in company B, First battalion of the Mississippi rifles, and served during the war. He was one of those veterans of that war who entered the Confederate army in the war of secession. In 1861 he enlisted in company B, of the Sixth Mississippi regiment, commanded by Colonel Thornton, of which he was first lieutenant, serving continuously until 1865. On account of the illness of his captain, he took command of the company a great portion of the time. Among the several engagements in which he took part were those of Harrisburg and Shiloh. Mr. Ramsey has been a member of the Masonic order since 1851, when he united with the Quitman lodge. In after years he became a Royal Arch Mason at Hazlehurst. He served four years as a member of the board of supervisors of this county. He and his wife are both worthy mem- bers of the Baptist church. Mr. Ramsey is a successful planter, and has property which is considered amongst the finest in this part of the state. His record as a business man and citizen is such that he commands the respect of the best people of this and surrounding counties.

L. Randall, one of the most prosperous and influential business men of Moss Point, Jackson county, was born in New England, in the town of Richmond, N. H., April 17, 1810. He was reared on a farm, attending school two or three months of the year, and spending the remainder of his time in the duties that usually fall to the lot of the boys on a farm. At the age of seventeen years he went to Boston, Mass., and was employed there in a hotel two or three years. Early in the thirties he removed to New Orleans, making the trip on a schooner. He secured a situation in a cookery house which he filled three years. In 1835, to escape the yellow fever, he came from New Orleans to West Pascagoula, Miss., and stopped at the McCrea house, which was then owned by Governor McCrea, and was a very popular hotel. Later, he went to Mobile, Ala., and was clerk in the Mansion house, of which Charles Cullom, a man widely known throughout the South, was proprietor. In the year 1840, Mr. Randall's friends, in the spirit of a joke, brought out his name as a candidate for the legislature against a prominent opponent. Greatly to the surprise of every one, he was elected by a large majority. He now declares that he knew nothing, and should have been on the farm, but he served through the session with much credit to himself. In 1847 he was elected sheriff of Jackson county, and held the office six years. These two offices are the only public positions he has held, or for which his name was ever offered. He was a member of the senatorial convention when Jefferson Davis made his first political speech. Mr. Randall was for some time a manufacturer of shingles at Scranton, Miss., and he has been in the mercantile and milling and steamboating business for many years. He is one of the old residents of Jackson county, and has witnessed many changes in the people and their surroundings. He has met with many ups and downs in his career, but with a buoy- ancy and courage characteristic of him he has risen to the top, and has made a success of every undertaking to which he has given his attention. He was married in 1842 to Miss I. M. Delmas, of Pascagoula, by whom he has had ten children.

638

BIOGRAPHICAL AND HISTORICAL

William F. Randolph was born in Virginia, December 7, 1832. His father, Robert Lee Randolph, was a native of Fauquier county, Va., and his grandfather, Robert Randolph, was a captain of cavalry in the Revolutionary war, and was captured by the celebrated Colonel Tarleton, and sent to England as a prisoner of war. This family are related to John Ran- dolph of Roanoke. They are also related to the celebrated Lee family of Virginia, our Robert Lee Randolph being a first cousin of Gen. Robert E. Lee. The history of these two distinguished families is, in a sense, the history of this great country. Mr. Randolph's mother was Mary Magill, a daughter of Col. Charles Magill, who was an aid to Gen. George Washington and General Gates. He was wounded at Cowpens, when the colonial army was so badly defeated. The Magills were among the best known people of the Old Dominion. Our subject's parents always resided in Virginia, on the old home plantation-Eastern View- which was in the family many years, and is now owned by Alfred M. Randolph, a brother of William F., and bishop of Virginia in the Episcopal church. Robert Lee Randolph and wife had four sons and one daughter. They were: William F., Alfred M., Beverly R., Buckner N. and Mary M., wife of Edward C. Turner, of Fauquier county, Va. All these children are residents of Virginia except William F., and are people of prominence and respectability. Buckner M. served with distinction in the Confederate army during the late war. William F. was reared upon the old plantation in Virginia. His education up to the time he was eighteen was acquired under private teachers at home, but was very thorough and practical. A short time after reaching his eighteenth year the gold fever was at its hight in California, and our young Randolph gained his father's consent and made the trip to that Eldorado via Panama. He mined there with varying success for five years, and in 1855 returned to liis old home in Virginia. The next year he came to Mississippi and located on Deer creek, in Washington county. He brought with him thirty or forty negroes, given to him by his father, and from the time he came to the state to the breaking out of the war he was a prosperous and prominent planter. On learning of the secession of Virginia he returned to his native state, joined the Sixteenth Virginia cavalry, as a private, and served four years, until after the Valley campaign against General Banks, and after that he was captain of a company he had recruited, and which was placed with General Ewell as a body guard. He served with him until at the second battle of Manassas General Ewell was severely wounded, when the company was sent to Gen. T. J. Jackson, celebrated in history as Stonewall Jack- son, to serve in like capacity. Sixteen men under the command of Captain Randolph con- stituted the guard on the night on which he received the wound that, with pneumonia, was the cause of his death. The loss of this gallant soldier was the dire result of a mistake incident to a panic among some raw North Carolina troops belonging to Lane's brigade. Of the sixteen men who were the escort only Captain Randolph escaped, every one of them having been killed or mortally wounded, and he escaped only by spurring his horse right through the column, amid a galling fire. Captain Randolph saw much hardship and much active service, and was a gallant and intrepid officer. One of the tenderest chords of his nature is touched when he speaks of and recalls the death of his beloved commander. A short time after the battle of Gettysburg, Penn., he was captured, and held a prisoner of war at Johnson's island until the close of the war. When he returned to Mississippi he found his slaves gone and his plantation devastated. He was united in marriage with Miss Naunie B. Carter, a native of Mississippi, and a daughter of Alfred G. Carter, one of the early settlers of Washington county, Miss., and a descendant of an old and respected Virginian family. By this union he has four children: Eleanor C., Alfred G., Hebe G. and Nannie B. Mr. Randolph's plantation consists of six thousand acres of land, two thousand acres of

639

MEMOIRS OF MISSISSIPPI.

which are under a high state of cultivation. He has devoted his time te planting since he came to Mississippi with such success that he ranks among the well-te-do planters of this part of the state. He is a public-spirited, liberal-minded citizen, and has at heart the development and advancement of all of the best interests of this county and state.

W. T. Raney was bern in Choctaw county, Ala., in 1862, but since 1883 has been a resi- dent of Lauderdale county, Miss., where he has been engaged in farming on his own account since 1884. After a short experience in merchandising, he found that planting was much more congenial to his tastes, and accordingly gave up the former calling to obtain his living from the soil. In 1883 he made a purchase of land, which, by constant addition, now amounts te four hundred and sixty acres, all of which is exceptionally fertile land, well and carefully tilled. This land is located nine miles southeast ef Meridian, and is devoted prin- cipally to the raising of cotton and corn. He has a large amount of timber land, en which is some of the finest longleaf pine in the state, and in addition te planting he is also engaged in lumbering. He has an interest in a sawmill plant, valued at $1,500, which turns off five thousand feet of pine lumber per day. Although the early educational advantages of Mr. Raney were poer, and the obstacles which beset his pathway many, yet he has surmounted all difficulties, seen paid off the debt which he owed upon starting ent in life for himself, and is new well to do, and highly esteemed by all whe know him. Although he is still young in years he has already manifested business ability of a high erder, and bids fair to become one of the wealthiest citizens of the county. He is a member of the Farmers' Alliance. In December, 1887, he was married te Miss Maggie Brewster, by whom he has three children: Daniel, Hiram and Ethel. W. T. Raney is a son of Daniel H. Raney, whe was born in Georgia about 1816, and was afterward united in marriage te Miss Matilda Carlisle.

William M. Rankin (deceased) was identified with the early history of Marion county, Miss., having removed there from South Carolina in 1818. He was born in Virginia, Octe- ber 14, 1792. When he came te Mississippi he engaged in keelboating, which he carried on successfully for many years. He was married in the year 1820, te Martha, daughter of John Warren, and a native of Georgia. The result of this union was the birth of eleven chil- dren, ten of whem grew to maturity: Eliza L. (deceased) was born February 23, 1821; Will- iam J. (deceased) was bern November 20, 1822; Mary J. (deceased) was born January 9, 1825; Martha R. (deceased) was born September 6, 1826; John W. (deceased) was bern April 16, 1828; George W. was born March 31, 1830; H. Emily was born April 29, 1832; Elizabeth A. was born January 13, 1834; Louisa (deceased) was born November 6, 1835; Thomas J. (deceased) was born August 24, 1837, and S. Ed was bern October 5, 1839. William J. Rankin married Miss Linian Harvey, and they had born to them four children, three of whom lived to maturity: Sarah E., William and Eliza. Jehn W. married Miss Mary J. Fenn, and to them were born five children: J. Warren. Martha E., Floyd (wife of John Baylis), T. Jesse and Frank F. George W. married Miss Annie Fenn, and they reared five children: Harriet, Mary, Emily, Carrie and George M. Thomas J. had one sen, G. Henry, a merchant at Spring College, Marion county. S. Ed married Miss Mary A. Ford, and unte them was born one son, S. Jesse. When the war between the North and South was begun in 1861, all the sons of William Rankin enlisted in the Seventh Mississippi regiment, and served faithfully and gallantly in the cause they had espoused. Jesse died at Broek- haven in 1861, and William J. was assassinated at his home before the conflict was ended. The Rankin family occupy a leading position in the social and political circles of Marion county. All the offices within the gift of the people have been bestowed npon some member of the family, who in turn have shown a great aptitude and ability for the discharge of pub-

640

BIOGRAPHICAL AND HISTORICAL

lic business. S. Ed Rankin occupies a dwelling whose walls, if they could speak, would unfold many pages of history. The house was probably erected as early as 1812, and was the first to be built on the Pearl river in Marion county. General Jackson occupied the house for a time during the War of 1812, and a stockade was erected about it. General Davidson, of the Federal army, with his division of cavalry, passed a night and a day there during the winter of 1864. In the same house was held a convention before the state of Mississippi was established, to fix the line of division between Mississippi and Alabama.

Among the wealthy plantation owners of Jasper county, Miss., is S. S. Ratcliffe, of Gar- landville. He was born in Perry county, Miss., in the year 1821, and remained there during his early childhood. In 1826 he moved to Mobile with his parents, and there received a com- mon-school education and attended Penney's college. His parents were born, reared and married in South Carolina, and removed to Mississippi in 1819. They had born to them seven children, of whom S. S. Ratcliffe was the second. The father was a farmer by occupa- tion, but in the period of 1830-5 was engaged extensively in milling at Mobile. He sold his mills in 1835, and was most of the time until 1839 engaged in merchandising. In the year last mentioned he removed from Mobile to Jasper county, Miss., where he was a successful planter until 1856, when he again became a merchant at Enterprise, Clarke county, and carried on a profitable business until his death, which occurred in November, 1863. His wife survived until August, 1887. Both were worthy members of and liberal contributors to the Methodist Episcopal church. The subject of this notice spent a por- tion of his youth in Jasper county. He was united in marriage, in the year 1851, to Miss M. E. Boulton, a daughter of A. A. Boulton, a farmer of Jasper county, Miss. Of this union were born nine children. Mr. Ratcliffe engaged in farming near Garlandville, Miss., and followed this occupation until the breaking out of the late war. In 1863 he enlisted in Captain Porter's company, and was in the siege of Vicksburg, where he was wounded. He served through the conflict, and after peace was declared he returned to his business, which he has continued ever since. He owns fourteen hundred acres of choice land, six hun- dred acres of which are cleared and under excellent cultivation. He has given the closest attention to the pursuit of husbandry, and has followed it both as an art and science. Among his neighbors he is esteemed very highly, and as a citizen he would be an ornament to any community. He is a member of the Masonic fraternity.

John S. Ratliff, the pioneer of Verona, Miss., was born in Lincoln county, Ga., in 1806, a son of William and Mary Ratliff. He moved from Lincoln, Ga., to Monroe county, Ga., and there, in 1826, married Miss Grace Durham, a daughter of Matthew and Fannie Durham. He removed to Noxubee county, Miss., in 1833, and lived there about eighteen years. In December, 1850, he located at Verona, where he bought land of Newton Davis, and was a pioneer settler. Among the other early settlers here may be mentioned the Davises (Newton and Marion), Richard D. Scales and John Armstrong. The first store was opened here in 1850 by John O'Carrell, and that was the nucleus about which grew up the present town, its development from that time having been very rapid. Mr. Ratcliff engaged in merchandising, and also carried on planting to a considerable extent. Before the war he had at one time forty-two negroes, twenty-seven of whom were men. To Mr. and Mrs. Ratliff were born eight children: Fannie D., now Mrs. Armstrong; Lucy, now Mrs. Stovall; Mary, now Mrs. Ledbetter; Elizabeth A., now Mrs. Wear; Josephine, now Mrs. Caruth; Camilla, who became Mrs. Brown, and died in 1890; Georgia C., now Mrs. Anthony, and James William, who is a resident of Texas. They are members of the Baptist church, and Mr. Ratliff is a democrat in politics. It was in 1850 that this pioneer began to clear

641

MEMOIRS OF MISSISSIPPI.

land at Verona, Miss. The Baptist church was organized there about 1852 with eight mem- bers. Its first house of worship was a log structure. The present more sightly building was erected in 1862, and the membership is now seventy. Not only in church advancement, but in every respect has Mr. Ratliff witnessed great changes since coming here. When he came the country was practically a wilderness, almost untouched by the hand of progress. What memories of the past a comparison of the site of Verona forty years ago with the busy town of to-day must bring to him-memories marked by successive steps in the work of civil- ization ! All honor to the pioneer! Long may he be spared to enjoy the fruits of his toil, and to tell of the days before the railroad and the telegraph, the days of hardship and incon- venience, but of pleasures and sports unknown to the Mississippian of the present generation. It is such whose names most fittingly adorn the pages of local history.

Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.

Biographical and historical memoirs of Mississippi, embracing an authentic and comprehensive account of the chief events in the history of the state and a record of the lives of many of the most worthy and illustrious families and individuals, Vol. II, Part 99

Author: Goodspeed Brothers Publication date: 1891 Publisher: Chicago, Goodspeed Number of Pages: 1314

Author: Goodspeed Brothers
Publication date: 1891
Publisher: Chicago, Goodspeed
Number of Pages: 1314