V.V. Ragland Photographs

Vincent Vaden Ragland was a long-time Dodge City resident. He lived and worked in Dodge City from about 1885 to about 1919 before moving away. He spent most of his time in Dodge City employed by the Santa Fe railroad as a telegraph operator in the company’s dispatch office.

Vincent Ragland was born in Missouri on 08-14-1881 to Daniel Porter Ragland and Nancy Matilda Moore Ragland. He was the oldest of 9 children. Vincent graduated from Dodge City High School in 1900. In February 1902 he signed on with the Santa Fe railroad as a clerk in the tonnage office. The tonnage office kept track of how many ton-miles of freight transport that the railroad produced. By 1913, he became the manager of the dispatcher office. Late that year, he was sent on a temporary basis to Raton, New Mexico, to cover a vacant telegraph operator position. He returned to Dodge City and resumed his duties as head dispatcher.

During his time in Dodge City, Ragland became very well known. His job put him into contact with many people every day, within both the company and the community. He was the 2nd Ward precinct officer for the Dodge City chapter of the Ford County Socialists. For a time he served as an “overseer” in the Brotherhood of American Yeomen, which was a fraternal and mutual aid society. He also served in the National Guard during World War I, serving at home in Dodge City. Vincent was an officer in the Ford County Sunday School Association.

In 1908 he married Verna Ione Brown in Dodge City. They eventually had a son, Richard. In about 1919 the Ragland family moved to Eldon, Missouri. Vincent had taken a job with the Rock Island railroad as a dispatcher. They weren’t there long. In early 1920, Vincent took a job with the Southern Pacific railroad and the family moved to Houston, Texas. He was promoted to Assistant Chief Dispatcher in July of that year. He lived in the Houston area for the rest of his life.

Due to their social and family connections in Dodge City, the Raglands were occasionally mentioned in the local papers for years after they moved away. They returned to Dodge to visit several times. Verna passed away in 1930 at age 33. In 1940 Vincent married Gertrude A. Phillips. Vincent Ragland died on 12-30-1949. He was buried beside his first wife Verna in the Forest Park Lawndale Cemetery in Houston. His second wife, Gertrude, died in 1969 and was buried at his other side.