Reuben Fenton Ragland (1818 - 1896)

Born 1818 in Kentucky, United States

Ancestors

Husband of Martha Lavinia (Blick) Ragland — married 1 Jan 1844 in Petersburg, Virginia, United States

Descendants

Died 1896 at about age 78 in Petersburg, Virginia, United States

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Biography

Reuben Fenton Ragland was born in Owingsville, Kentucky.^[1] He resided there until 1843. In 1843 he moved to Petersburg, Virginia. He resided in Petersburg until his death in 1896.^[2]

Reuben was a speculator, tobacco manufacturer & president of the Bank of Petersburg.

• 1844 Virginia County Marriages^[3]Reuben married Martha L. Blick, 1 Jan 1844, in Virginia.

• 1860 US Census, South Ward, Petersburg, Virginia^[4]Reuben is 30 years old, married to Martha Lavinia Ragland who is 35 years old. They have 6 children, ages range from 4 to 15 years old. Mary Flora Ragland is 18 years old. Roberta Blick, is 29 years old. She is Martha's Aunt. Mary P. Ragland is 19 years old. She is Martha's sister. Champion Green is 43 years old.

In 1856-1857 the house at 205 Sycamore Street in Petersburg was built for Reuben Ragland. It is part of the Poplar Lawn Historic District. It is of the style of the Italianate and Greek Revival homes; a fashionable residence in the 19th century. The house has a hip roof with cupola. It is a four story Italianate, which is not particularly common outside of Row houses. The exterior is Red Brick. The house is a grand expression of the owner's wealth. The facade is rather plain, being a brick cube, but it is enlivened by details. It is a 10,000 square foot antebellum Italianate.

The house survived the siege of Petersburg during the Civil War. Later the Mansion would become the residence of Alexander Hamilton; a railway magnate. During WW I, the house served as the first officers' club for the nearby Camp Lee military base, and was the residence of General Pershing, who is said to have slept in the Sycamore Room. Later the house was home to the famous actor, Joseph Cotton, Orson Welles' alter ego (The Third Man, Citizen Kane).

• 1870 US Census, Petersburg, Virginia^[5]Reuben is 51 years old, Head of House, married to Levina who is 44 years old. They have 4 children, ages range from 15 to 21 years old. Their daughter, Ida Tosh is 22, married to James Tosh who is 30. They have 2 children. Charles is 5 and Evelyn is 3 years old. Also living here are Levina Morris who is 37, Samuel who is 17 and Edward Morris who is 13 years old. Isaiah Myrick is 25 and Eliza Johnson is 40 years old.

• 1880 US Census, Petersburg, Dinwiddie, Virginia^[6]Reuben is 61 years old, Head of House, a Farmer. He is married to M.L. Ragland who is 56. They have 4 sons, Waverly is 32, John is 30, Emmet is 26 and Reuben is 24 years old.

In 1998 the house was renovated and became a Bed and Breakfast Inn, known as "The Ragland Mansion." It offers a ballroom, twin parlors, a solarium, a library, and nine suites/master bedrooms. All having private baths and marble fireplaces. It has an impressive four story center hall staircase with over 200 hand carved fleur-de-lys mahogany balusters, leading up to the belvedere or cupola, which offers a panoramic view of the old town of Petersburg. The city is said to have the largest 18th-century housing in the U.S. With its exquisite plasterwork its inlaid floors, and its fine 15th-19th century art collections, "The Ragland Mansion" is a must see landmark.^[7]

Reuben passed away in 1896.^[8] Reuben Fenton Ragland is buried in the Blandford Cemetery in Petersburg Virginia. The grave is not marked. The family plots are in Ward B (Old Ground), Section 26, Square 3.

Sources

1. ↑ https://familysearch.org/tree/person/details/LCVQ-LJC
2. ↑ https://findagrave.com/memorial/29363884
3. ↑ "Virginia, County Marriage Records, 1771-1989," database with images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:668G-1Y1M : 28 June 2022), Reuben Ragland, 1 Jan 1844; citing Marriage, Virginia, United States, Circuit court clerk offices, Virginia.
4. ↑ "United States Census, 1860", database with images, FamilySearch (ark:/61903/1:1:M41V-FSR : Tue Apr 04 18:12:23 UTC 2023), Entry for Reuben Ragland and Lavinia Ragland, 1860.
5. ↑ "United States Census, 1870", database with images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MFL5-ZDX : 29 May 2021), Ruben Ragland, 1870.
6. ↑ "United States Census, 1880," database with images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MCPB-YR1 : 15 January 2022), Reuben Ragland, Petersburg, Dinwiddie, Virginia, United States; citing enumeration district , sheet , NARA microfilm publication T9 (Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.), FHL microfilm .
7. ↑ http://picturesqueitalianatearchitecture.blogspot.com/2013/06/the-reuben-ragland-house-petersburg-va.html
8. ↑ https://findagrave.com/memorial/29363884

• Virginia, County Marriage Records, 1771-1989," database with images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:668G-1Y1M : 28 June 2022), Reuben Ragland, 1 Jan 1844; citing Marriage, Virginia, United States, Circuit court clerk offices, Virginia