The Lancaster news. [volume] (Lancaster, S.C.) 1905-current, 1919-07-25
James Willard Ragsdale Dies
Suddenly in Physicians Office
in Washington.
BODY TAKEN TO FLORENCE
Congress AdjOurns in Respect
to Dead Member and Commit
tee Accompanies Remains to
Last Resting Place.

Washington, July 24.-The body
of Representative Ragsdale, of South
Carolina, who died here suddenly
Wednesday while in the Office of his
physician awaiting treatment for
heart trouble, will be taken home to-
night to the Ragsdale home in Flor
ence, S. c.. where the funeral services
will be held Friday afternoon.
Immediately after his death, word
was sent to congress and both houses
| adjourned in respect. In the senate.
Vice President Marshall appointed a
| committee to attend the funeral COM
posed of Senator'S Smith and Dial,
of South Carolina; Oshurst. of Ari-
zona; Beckham, of Kentucky; Har-
rison, of Mississippi; Fernald, of
Maine; Spencer, OF Missouri: Ster-
| ling, of South Dakota, and Suther-
land, of West Virginia. A resolution
expressing sympathy with the family
was introduced by Senator Smith and
adopted.
The house. of which Mr. Ragsdale
had been member for six years. will
appoint a committee to attend the
funeral and adopt resolution of con-
dolences
| Mr.. Ragsdale realized after reach
ing his physicians Office that death
was near, il is believed, for he turned
to his physician and asked him to
hold his hand. The physician COM
piled and In few minutes the repre-
sentative was dead. His death was
announced as having been caused by
acute dilution of the heart He also
had been taking treatment for nasal
trouble.
Before his election to congress in
| 1913 to succeed j Edwin Ellerbe
Mr. Ragsdale practiced law in Flor
ence and had been a member of the
South Carolina house and senate. He
was AZ years OF age and a graduate of
the University OF South Carolina He
was prominent in house debate and
was member of the District OF Co
lumbia and foreign affairs committee.
Besides his widow. who was a
daughter of the late DR.. w S. Joynes.
president of the University of South
Carolina, Representative Ragsdale
leaves a son and daughter.
James Willard Ragsdale. congress
man from the sixth South Carolina
district, was born at Timmonsville
S. c.. December 4. 1872, son of Little
ton Russell Ragsdale and wife. Ellen
Adelaide Byrd Ragsdale He was
educated at the University OF South
Carolina. He married Marie Louise
Joynes. of Columbia. S. c.. Novembe.
Is, 1900.
Mr.. Ragsdale, whose home was at
Florence, was member OF the law
firm OF Ragsdale & Whitney, presi-
dent of the Farmers and Mechanics
bank and director of the Citizens
bank and the Peoples bank,
He was a former member Of the
South Carolina house of representa-
tives and state senate and a member
of the 63rd, cath and 65th con
crosses, having represented his dis
trict in the lower house from 1913 to
the time of his death. In politics he
was democrat. of course. In re-
ligion he was Methodist. He was a
member of the board of trustees Of
the South Carolina Industrial school;
a member of the Columbia, S. c.. club
and of the Army and Navy club at
Washington. In congress he was a
member of the foreign affairs COM
mittee, District of Columbia commit
tee and the industrial arts and exposi-
tions committee.
The sixth South Carolina district is
composed of the counties OF Darling
! ton, Dillon, Florence, Georgetown.
Horny, Marion, Marlboro and VIII
liamsburg.