Jesse Battle Ragan (4 Sep 1799 – ca 1870)

Jesse Battle Ragan was born on 4 Sep 1799 likely in Hancock County, Georgia—his parents were John Ragan and Susannah Faucette (Battle) Ragan (1003). At Jesse Ragan’s birth, John Ragan was about 33 years old, and Susannah Ragan was 25.

Before 1818, the John Ragan family migrated to Lawrence County, Mississippi where they were enumerated by the Mississippi Territorial Census (428). On 4 Nov 1819, John Ragan created the original plat for the town of Mount Carmel in Covington County, Mississippi (525, 527)—Jesse Battle Ragan was 20 years old.

In about 1819, Jesse Battle Ragan and Sarah King Bohannon married in Covington County, Mississippi. Sarah was a daughter of Wiley Bohannon and Ann (King) Bohannon. At their marriage, Sarah Bohannon was about 15 years old, and Jesse Ragan was about 20 years old. A daughter, Elizabeth Ann Ragan, was born to Jesse and Sarah Bohannon on 16 Feb 1819, likely at Vicksburg in Warren County, Mississippi (1283).

The 1820 federal census of Covington County, Mississippi enumerates the household of Jesse Ragan, age 16–25 years (616). A 16–25 year old female living in the Ragan household was presumably Sarah King (Bohannon) Ragan. Two children, a male and a female both less than 10 years old, were also living in the household. The female was likely Elizabeth Ann Ragan. The male has not been identified, and may have died young. Jesse Ragan worked as a farmer.

On 9 Mar 1822, a second daughter, Amanda Susan Ragan, was born to Sarah and Jesse Ragan, likely in either Covington or Copiah Counties of Mississippi (470).

Between 1820 and 26 Apr 1824, the Jesse B. Ragan family migrated from Covington County, Mississippi to Copiah County, Mississippi, where Jesse established a 260 acre plantation. On 26 Apr 1824, Jesse acquired land in Copiah County described as a fractional section of Township 12 North of Range 5 East and Section 6 in Township 2 North and Range 4 West of the Washington Meridian (523, 524). On 1 Oct 1825, Jesse Ragan acquired additional land in Copiah County, Mississippi described as the east 1/2 of the southeast 1/4 of Section 6 in Township 2 North of Range 4 West on the Choctaw Meridian (617).

During 1826 a son, John Curtis Ragan was born to Sarah and Jesse Ragan.

The 1830 federal census of Warren County, Mississippi enumerates the household of J. B. Ragan, age 20–29 years (388). Also living in the household were a female, age 20–29 years, presumably Sarah (Bohannon) Ragan; a female, age 10–14 years, likely Elizabeth Ann Ragan; a female, age 5–9 years, presumably Amanda Susan Ragan; a female less than five years of age; and a male less than age 5 years, likely John Curtis Ragan. The female less than five years old has not been identified.

A daughter, Vansa Laura L. Ragan, was born in about 1832.

On 3 Jun 1833, Robert J. Turnbull of South Carolina made a deed to Jesse B. Ragan through his agent J. Andrew Turnbull to acquire land described as (515):

• Lots 5 and 6 of Section 29 in Township 15 North of Range 5 East in the Choctaw District of the State of Mississippi, containing 160 and 20/100 acres;
• The east 1/4 of Section 30 in Township 15 North of Range 5 East, containing 159 and 50/100 acres;
• The northwest 1/4 of Section 30 in Township 15 North of Range 5 East, containing 159 and 56/100 acres;
• The east 1/2 of the southwest 1/4 of Section 30 in Township 15 North of Range 5 East, containing 79 and 78/100 acres;
• The northeast 1/4 of Section 31 in Township 15 North of Range 5 East, containing 159 and 56/100 acres;
• The east 1/2 of the northwest quarter of Section 31 in Township 15 North of Range 5 East, containing 79 and 70/100 acres;
• Lot 3 of Section 35 in Township 15 North of Range 5 East, containing 80 acres; and
• Lot 4 of Section 35 in Township 15 North of Range 5 East, containing 80 acres.

In Warren County, Mississippi on 18 May 1836, Jesse Ragan’s daughter, Elizabeth Ann Ragan married Hugh Rice Austin (626), and on 6 Nov 1838, his daughter, Amanda Susan Ragan, married William Patrick Stone in Hinds County, Mississippi (540).

On 28 Sep 1836, Jesse B. Ragan acquired 504 and 1/2 acres of land in Warren County, Mississippi from his father-in-law Wylie Bohannon and wife Ann (King) Bohannon for $10,000 (618). The deed describes the land as 255 acres situate in Section 23 in Township 15 of Range 4 East, except that portion of the tract situate west of the creek running between the gin and the dwelling house on said tract, also one other tract containing 249 and 1/2 acres in Township 15 being lots 3 and 4 of Section 25 in Range 4 East together with the entire crop of cotton made on the place, farming utensils stock of horses cattle and hogs—black smith’s tools and 32 Negroes.

The 1840 federal census enumerates the Jesse B. Ragan household in Hinds County, Mississippi (389). Jesse Ragan was 40–49 years old, and his wife Sarah was 30–39 years old. Also living in the household were a 10–14 year old male, likely John Curtis Ragan; a 10–14 year old female, likely Vansa Laura Ragan; a 5–9 year old male, likely Wylie Bohannon Ragan; and a female less than five years old, likely Sarah Ragan. A male age 20–29 and a female age 15–19 years were likely William Patrick Stone and Amanda Susan (Ragan) Stone. A male less than five years old was likely William Ragan Stone, the first child of William P. and Amanda Stone.

On 10 Feb 1840, Jesse B. Ragan was issued a patent for 79 and 78/100 acres of land in Warren County, Mississippi described as west 1/2 of the northeast 1/4 of Section 30 in Township 15 North of Range 5 East in the District of Lands subject to sale at Mount Salis, Mississippi (677).

On 16 Dec 1846, a Warren County, Mississippi bankruptcy court heard arguments involving Sarak K. (King) Ragan (1010). The available record is illegible.

On 27 Nov 1849, Jesse and Sarah Ragan’s daughter, Vansa Laura L. Ragan, married Beverly Colin Buckner in Warren County, Mississippi (625). Laura Ragan was about 16 years old.

On 4 Sep 1850, Jesse B. Ragan and Sarah K. Ragan, his wife, made a deed to their son, John Curtis Ragan, to convey for $5.00 all the property of every kind and description owned and possessed by Sarah K. Ragan, consisting principally of a plantation, slaves, planting utensils, horses, mules, stock, etc. lying in Warren County, Mississippi (1008). John C. Ragan was to hold this property in trust for the sole use and benefit of Sarah K. Ragan during her natural life, and if Jesse B. Ragan survived her, John Curtis Ragan was to hold the property in trust for the term of his life. The deed was recorded on 4 Apr 1851.

On 2 Oct 1850, the Jesse Ragan family was living in Warren County, Mississippi where the federal census records the household of Jesse B. Ragan, age 50 years (623). Sarah K. Ragan was 44 years old. Also living in the household were John Ragan, 23 years old; Wylie B. Ragan, age 16 years; Sarah Ragan, age 12; Sarina Ragan, age 10; and 1 year old Ashburn Ragan. Jesse Ragan held real estate valued at $20,000.

Sarah King (Bohannon) Ragan died on 27 Mar 1851 at 51 years of age, likely in Warren County, Mississippi (624). At her death, four of her children were minors: Wylie Bohannon Ragan, Sarah Augusta Ragan, Jesse Serena Ragan, and Ashburn R. Ragan. Jesse Serena Ragan died on 16 Jun 1854 in Warren County, Mississippi (676). On 6 Jan 1857, Sarah Augusta Ragan married Horace H. Miller in Warren County, Mississippi (235). On 27 Mar 1957, Jesse B. Ragan was released as guardian of Sarah A. (Ragan) Miller (459).

On 14 Feb 1854, Lazarus Battle Ragan, acting as attorney for Jesse Battle Ragan, Rebecca (Ragan) Jones, and John Ashburn Ragan, made a deed to John Garner for land in Covington County, Mississippi described as southeast 1/4 of Section 24 in Township 8 of Range 18 West (1285). The land had previously been sold to Serene (Ragan) Robertson. The deed by Lazarus B. Ragan was made in Hinds County, Mississippi.

At the 1860 federal census, Wylie Bohanan Ragan and Ashburn R. Ragan were living in the household of their sister, Amanda Susan (Ragan) Stone in Carroll Parish, Louisiana (308).

By 16 Nov 1865, Jesse Ragan was living at Hamburg in Ashley County, Arkansas. On 20 Jan 1872, Jesse B. Ragan purchased land in Ashley County, Arkansas from Isaac Newton and his wife Levinia Newton for $300.00 (1009). The property was described as the south 1/2 of the northwest 1/4 and the southwest 1/4 of Section 14 in Township 17 South of Range 6 West. The deed was recorded on 22 Jan 1872. On 11 Sep 1873, Jesse B. Ragan and his wife Kate A. Ragan sold the same parcel of land to Charity Ragan for $125.00 (458).

Jesse Battle Ragan died after 11 Sep 1873, presumably in Ashley County, Arkansas. No record of his death has been found.

Jesse Battle Ragan Census Summary

1820 U.S. Federal Census (616)
Jesse Ragan Household
Covington County, Mississippi
Jesse Ragan, a: 16–25
+ Female, a: 16–25 (Sarah King Bohannon)
Male, a: 0–9
Female, a: 0–9 (Elizabeth Ann Ragan)

1830 U.S. Federal Census (388)
J. B. Ragan Household
Warren County, Mississippi
J. B. Ragan, a: 20–29
+ Female, a: 20–29 (Sarah King Bohannon)
Female, a: 10–14 (Elizabeth Ann Ragan)
Female, a: 5–9 (Amanda Susan Ragan)
Female, a: under 5
Male, a: under 5 (John Curtis Ragan)
Slaves: 5

1840 U.S. Federal Census (389)
Jesse B. Ragan Household
Hinds County, Mississippi
Jesse B. Ragan, a: 40–49
+ Female, a: 30–39 (Sarah King Bohannon)
Male, a: 20–29 (William P. Stone)
+ Female, a: 15–19 (Amanda Susan Ragan)
Male, a: 10–14 (John Curtis Ragan)
Female, a: 10–14 (Laura Ragan)
Male, a: 5–9 (Wylie Bohanan Ragan)
Male, a: 0–4 (William Ragan Stone)
Female, a: 0–4 (Sarah Ragan)

1850 U.S. Federal Census (623)
Jesse B. Ragan Household
Warren County, Mississippi
2 Oct 1850
Jesse B. Ragan, a: 50, b: Georgia (Planter)
+ Sarah K. Ragan, a: 44, b: Georgia
John Ragan, a: 23, b: Mississippi
Wylie B. Ragan, a: 16, b: Mississippi (Student)
Sarah Ragan, a: 12, b: Mississippi
Sarina Ragan, a: 10, b: Mississippi
Ashburn Ragan, a: 1, b: Mississippi
Real Estate Value: $20,000

1860 Mississippi State Census (1287)
Jesse Ragan Household
Choctaw County, Mississippi
Jesse Ragan
Female
Female