My Genealogy Hound

ELDER NATHAN M. RAGLAND, pastor of the Christian Church, Carthage, Missouri, was born March 17, 1848, at Booneville, Cooper county, Missouri. His father Nathaniel was a native of Kentucky, born May 16, 1810; died April 5, 1871; by occupation a farmer, although later in life engaged in mercantile pursuits. His mother, whose maiden name was Fannie Quisenberry, a native of Clark county, Kentucky, was born March 17, 1810, and is now seventy-three years of age, and living at Clinton, Missouri, he was raised for the most part in Clinton, Missouri, where his father moved in 1854; educated at Ashland, Kentucky, the home of Henry Clay and the seat of the University of Kentucky; he also attended the Christian University, located at Canton, Missouri, from which he graduated in May, 1874, receiving the degrees of A. B. and A. M. His theological training was obtained from both of these institutions, this being a part of the curriculum, Mr. Ragland was ordained in June, 1873, by the church at Canton, Rev. D. Henderson officiating. In 1875 he took charge of the Christian Church at Clinton, Missouri, where he was raised, and remained three years as pastor. In 1878 he was called to the church at Sedalia, Missouri, where he labored successfully for two years, and subsequently returned again to the charge of the church he had left, serving three years. At the invitation of the State Board of Missions and the congregation of Carthage, Missouri, he became the pastor at Carthage November 15, 1882. During his pastorate of less than a year the church has grown wonderfully, some sixty-four additions having been made to the church. This church has one of the finest church sites in the city, on the corner of Main and Chestnut streets, and there is in process of construction a new house of worship. Rev. Nathan Ragland was united in matrimony May 28, 1878, to Miss Fannie Sparr of St. Louis, who was born December 5, 1858, the daughter of Colonel John Sparr, proprietor of the Lindell Hotel. The two children are Harvey and Henry. Mrs. Ragland is a member and active worker of the Christian Church. The poet asks “What’s in a name?” In the Ragland family his mother and grandmother and his only sister, all enjoyed the name of Fannie. Rev. Mr. Ragland is a genial gentleman, frank and earnest in his church and society, and is doing much for the cause of the Master. The Raglands are of Welsh descent, and are lineal descendants of William the Conqueror, through a noble family of Herberts, who were proprietors of “Ragland Castle” in South Wales, whence they get their name, John Ragland, a Welshman, came to Virginia in 1720, purchasing 16,000 acres of land, and is the ancestor of the Raglands. This is a historic family, and its progenitors are among the prominent men, both of England and America.