Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1919-07-25
CONGRESSMAN RAesDALE DEAD
Representative From Sixth District
propped Dead In Washington.

CONGRESSMAN ]. Willard Ragsdale OF
the Sixth South Carolina district died
suddenly in the office of his physician
in Washington, Wednesday OF heart
trouble. The body was taken to his
home in Florence, yesterday and the
burial will be held there today. ,
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
South Carolina; Ashurst, of Arizona,
Beckham, of Kentucky; Harrison, Of
Mississippi; Fernald, of Maine; Spen-
Ger. of Missouri Sterling, Of South
Dakota, and Sutherland, Of West Vir-
ginia. A resolution expressing sym.
pathy with the family was introduced
by Senator Smith anG adopted.
The house, of which Mr.. Ragsdale
had been a member for six years, ap-
pointed a committee to attend the
funeral and adopted a resolution of
condolences yesterday on convening.
Mr.. Rassdale realized after reach
ing his physicians office that death
was near, it is believed, for he turned
to his physician and asked him to hold
his hand. The physician complied and
in a few minutes the representative
was dead. His death was announced as
having been caused by acute dilation
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 Florence
and had been a member Of the South
Carolina house and senate. He was
Al years of age and a graduate or
the University of South Carolina. He
was prominent in house debate and
was a member Of the District Of Co.
lumbia and foreign affairs commit
tee.
Besides his widow, who was daugh-
ter of the late DR.. w. S. Joynes, pres
ident of the University Of South Car
olina, Representative Ragsdale leaves
a son and daughter.
Sketch Of Career.
James Willard Ragsdale, congress-
man from the sixth South Carolina
district, was born at Timmonsville, S.
c., December IA, 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, November Is,
1900.
Mr.. RaSSdale, whose nome was at
Florence, was a 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 G3rd. 9th and 65th congresses,
having represented his district in the
lower house from 1913 to the time of
his death. In politics he was Demo-
crat. OF course. In religion he was n
Methodist. He was a member OF the
board Of trustees Of the South Caro-
lima Industrial school; member Of
the Columbia club and Of the Army
and Navy club at Washington. In con-
gress he was member Of the foreign
affairs committee, District Of Colum-
bia committee and the industrial arts
and expostions committee.
The sixth South Carolina district is
composed OF the counties Of Darling
ton, Dillon, Florence, Georgetown.
Horny, Marion, Marlboro and Will
liamSburg.