San Francisco County
Biographies
RUFUS ELI
RAGLAND
An attorney of distinction in San Francisco was the late Rufus Eli Ragland, who was also owner and proprietor of the California Law Book Exchange, and the first president of the San Francisco Bar Association.
Mr. Ragland was a native of Kentucky, and his birth date was April 11, 1864. His father was Robert V. Ragland, one of the most favorably known stockmen of the Blue Grass state and a resident of Bowling Green. In his native state, Rufus E. Ragland attended the public schools, and also studied law. He was admitted to the bar in 1885, and in the same year came to San Francisco, California, to take up his practice. He was admitted in both the state and federal courts, and through the long period of years following he made a conspicuous record. He was a widely recognized authority on law, and he became the owner of one of the finest law libraries in the country, also was the owner of one of the finest law libraries in the country, also was the owner of the California Law Book Exchange. Contemporaries in the practice throughout the state sought his counsel. He was popular and respected wherever he made contact, and was considered a model member of the legal fraternity. Mr. Ragland acquired prosperity during his career, and held extensive real estate interests at the time of his death, which occurred in San Francisco, September 3, 1930.
In San Francisco, on January 6, 1896, Mr. Ragland was married to Miss Lucy Clayton, a native of England. His widow survives him, and resides at 535 Steiner street in San Francisco.
As noted, when the San Francisco Bar Association was organized, Mr. Ragland was chosen as the first president, an indication of his rating among the lawyers. He was a thirty-second degree Mason, and he belonged to Doric Lodge, No. 216, F. & A. M., and to Islam Temple of the Mystic Shrine. His participation in civic and social affairs of his resident city was of the public-spirited and inspired character one would expect from a man of his standing and reputation. His sincerity and integrity were unassailable, and the record he made is a brilliant unit of the history of the bar of San Francisco.
Transcribed by: Jeanne Sturgis Taylor.
Source: Byington, Lewis Francis, “History of
San Francisco 3 Vols”, S. J. Clarke Publishing Co.,
Chicago, 1931. Vol. 3 Pages 223-224.
© 2008 Jeanne Sturgis Taylor.
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