A Pioneer Called Home - Thomas Allen Ragsdale Joins the Silent Majority - The announcement of the death of Thomas Allen Ragsdale Saturday brings to mind the early history of Springfield. He died at 8 o'clock a.m. at the home of his son-in-law, James W. Knickerbocker, South Sixth street, where he has lived for a great many years. He was born Oct. 2 [sic], 1812, near Keysburg, Logan County, Ky. His father, Frederick Ragsdale, was born in Virginia, near Richmond. He was a Baptist minister, well-known through his State, and he died two years after the birth of Thomas Ragsdale. The latter, with his older brother, Daniel, and sister, Mary, came to this city in Jan. 1834 - all of whom are now dead. He was married to Dorcas Beall of Montgomery County, Md., Nov. 2, 1836. Mr. Ragsdale has been an invalid for years, and his death resulted from general debility and old age.
Soon after he came here he engaged in building and contracting, and many business blocks in the business portion of the city were constructed under his supervision. The old Governor Matteson mansion was erected by him, as were also several State institutions. The plans for one of these public institutions was changed, and Mr. Ragsdale, put on an additional bill for his services, and after pending about twenty years the Legislature gave him about $20,000. In 1859, owing to severe application to his business and mental strain, he failed in health, and for a year he remained quiet and received the attention of his physician. He partly regained his health, and in 1860 entered into partnership with his son-in-law, W. F. Kimber, and was added to the firm, the firm name being Kimber, Ragsdale & Co. The dry goods house of Kimber, Ragsdale & Co., was known throughout the State until 1883, when the firm dissolved. At this time Mr. Ragsdale's health was greatly impaired and since then he has not been actively engaged in any business.
Just before the war he was one of a company which built the St. Charles Hotel at Cairo. this hotel was considered the best equipped of any in the West at the time, and was patronized by the great generals of the Northern army - Grant, Sherman, Sheridan, McClellan and others.
When Mr. Ragsdale came to Springfield it was little more than a hamlet and the wonderful changes which have taken place since have in a measure been due to his energy and other settlers who possessed the sterling qualities of the men of those days. The frontier village of yesterday is the thriving, bustling city of today. Most of the men who were in Springfield when he arrived here have long since died and he has at last followed them, after a life of usefulness. He was methodical, regular, and at all times ready to stop and lift a fallen comrade. Possessing the keenest of business sense, combined with methods of uncompromising honesty, he was in every way a valuable citizen. His pathway has been made bright by deeds of charity. He was a devoted member of the First M. E. church.
He leaves two daughters, Mrs. James W. Knickerbocker and Mrs. W. F. Kimber. The funeral will occur from his late home Monday.
Illinois State Journal, Springfield, IL, March 28, 1892, p. 8
Soon after he came here he engaged in building and contracting, and many business blocks in the business portion of the city were constructed under his supervision. The old Governor Matteson mansion was erected by him, as were also several State institutions. The plans for one of these public institutions was changed, and Mr. Ragsdale, put on an additional bill for his services, and after pending about twenty years the Legislature gave him about $20,000. In 1859, owing to severe application to his business and mental strain, he failed in health, and for a year he remained quiet and received the attention of his physician. He partly regained his health, and in 1860 entered into partnership with his son-in-law, W. F. Kimber, and was added to the firm, the firm name being Kimber, Ragsdale & Co. The dry goods house of Kimber, Ragsdale & Co., was known throughout the State until 1883, when the firm dissolved. At this time Mr. Ragsdale's health was greatly impaired and since then he has not been actively engaged in any business.
Just before the war he was one of a company which built the St. Charles Hotel at Cairo. this hotel was considered the best equipped of any in the West at the time, and was patronized by the great generals of the Northern army - Grant, Sherman, Sheridan, McClellan and others.
When Mr. Ragsdale came to Springfield it was little more than a hamlet and the wonderful changes which have taken place since have in a measure been due to his energy and other settlers who possessed the sterling qualities of the men of those days. The frontier village of yesterday is the thriving, bustling city of today. Most of the men who were in Springfield when he arrived here have long since died and he has at last followed them, after a life of usefulness. He was methodical, regular, and at all times ready to stop and lift a fallen comrade. Possessing the keenest of business sense, combined with methods of uncompromising honesty, he was in every way a valuable citizen. His pathway has been made bright by deeds of charity. He was a devoted member of the First M. E. church.
He leaves two daughters, Mrs. James W. Knickerbocker and Mrs. W. F. Kimber. The funeral will occur from his late home Monday.
Illinois State Journal, Springfield, IL, March 28, 1892, p. 8
A Pioneer Called Home - Thomas Allen Ragsdale Joins the Silent Majority - The announcement of the death of Thomas Allen Ragsdale Saturday brings to mind the early history of Springfield. He died at 8 o'clock a.m. at the home of his son-in-law, James W. Knickerbocker, South Sixth street, where he has lived for a great many years. He was born Oct. 2 [sic], 1812, near Keysburg, Logan County, Ky. His father, Frederick Ragsdale, was born in Virginia, near Richmond. He was a Baptist minister, well-known through his State, and he died two years after the birth of Thomas Ragsdale. The latter, with his older brother, Daniel, and sister, Mary, came to this city in Jan. 1834 - all of whom are now dead. He was married to Dorcas Beall of Montgomery County, Md., Nov. 2, 1836. Mr. Ragsdale has been an invalid for years, and his death resulted from general debility and old age.
Soon after he came here he engaged in building and contracting, and many business blocks in the business portion of the city were constructed under his supervision. The old Governor Matteson mansion was erected by him, as were also several State institutions. The plans for one of these public institutions was changed, and Mr. Ragsdale, put on an additional bill for his services, and after pending about twenty years the Legislature gave him about $20,000. In 1859, owing to severe application to his business and mental strain, he failed in health, and for a year he remained quiet and received the attention of his physician. He partly regained his health, and in 1860 entered into partnership with his son-in-law, W. F. Kimber, and was added to the firm, the firm name being Kimber, Ragsdale & Co. The dry goods house of Kimber, Ragsdale & Co., was known throughout the State until 1883, when the firm dissolved. At this time Mr. Ragsdale's health was greatly impaired and since then he has not been actively engaged in any business.
Just before the war he was one of a company which built the St. Charles Hotel at Cairo. this hotel was considered the best equipped of any in the West at the time, and was patronized by the great generals of the Northern army - Grant, Sherman, Sheridan, McClellan and others.
When Mr. Ragsdale came to Springfield it was little more than a hamlet and the wonderful changes which have taken place since have in a measure been due to his energy and other settlers who possessed the sterling qualities of the men of those days. The frontier village of yesterday is the thriving, bustling city of today. Most of the men who were in Springfield when he arrived here have long since died and he has at last followed them, after a life of usefulness. He was methodical, regular, and at all times ready to stop and lift a fallen comrade. Possessing the keenest of business sense, combined with methods of uncompromising honesty, he was in every way a valuable citizen. His pathway has been made bright by deeds of charity. He was a devoted member of the First M. E. church.
He leaves two daughters, Mrs. James W. Knickerbocker and Mrs. W. F. Kimber. The funeral will occur from his late home Monday.
Illinois State Journal, Springfield, IL, March 28, 1892, p. 8
Soon after he came here he engaged in building and contracting, and many business blocks in the business portion of the city were constructed under his supervision. The old Governor Matteson mansion was erected by him, as were also several State institutions. The plans for one of these public institutions was changed, and Mr. Ragsdale, put on an additional bill for his services, and after pending about twenty years the Legislature gave him about $20,000. In 1859, owing to severe application to his business and mental strain, he failed in health, and for a year he remained quiet and received the attention of his physician. He partly regained his health, and in 1860 entered into partnership with his son-in-law, W. F. Kimber, and was added to the firm, the firm name being Kimber, Ragsdale & Co. The dry goods house of Kimber, Ragsdale & Co., was known throughout the State until 1883, when the firm dissolved. At this time Mr. Ragsdale's health was greatly impaired and since then he has not been actively engaged in any business.
Just before the war he was one of a company which built the St. Charles Hotel at Cairo. this hotel was considered the best equipped of any in the West at the time, and was patronized by the great generals of the Northern army - Grant, Sherman, Sheridan, McClellan and others.
When Mr. Ragsdale came to Springfield it was little more than a hamlet and the wonderful changes which have taken place since have in a measure been due to his energy and other settlers who possessed the sterling qualities of the men of those days. The frontier village of yesterday is the thriving, bustling city of today. Most of the men who were in Springfield when he arrived here have long since died and he has at last followed them, after a life of usefulness. He was methodical, regular, and at all times ready to stop and lift a fallen comrade. Possessing the keenest of business sense, combined with methods of uncompromising honesty, he was in every way a valuable citizen. His pathway has been made bright by deeds of charity. He was a devoted member of the First M. E. church.
He leaves two daughters, Mrs. James W. Knickerbocker and Mrs. W. F. Kimber. The funeral will occur from his late home Monday.
Illinois State Journal, Springfield, IL, March 28, 1892, p. 8
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