100th Birthday of Robert Nathaniel Ragan
Robert Nathaniel Ragan; circa 1978 Robert Nathaniel Ragan was born 100 years ago to the day at the time of this posting, February 19, 1914 near the small town of Toone in Hardeman County, Tennessee. He was the first born of nine children to Jacob William Ragan and Lizzie Ann Jackson Ragan. They in turn were descendents of Ragan and Jackson clans that had been in Hardeman County on lands near present day Chickasaw State Park since before 1830. His Grandfather, Nathaniel “Thannie” Francis Ragan was a well-known farmer, rancher, timber man, livestock dealer and grocery and meat market owner in nearby Jackson, Tennessee and the Bolivar and immediate communities in Hardeman County. He was named for both grandfathers, Robert David Jackson and Nathaniel Francis Ragan. He was called Thannie, as was his Grandfather, Nathaniel, before him, by family and schoolmates.His high school diploma from Ridgely Hig