Elmer Ellsworth Ragon (1862-1939)

1899 Palmer Anniversary

Elmer Ragon left for Hammond Monday morning to work in the News office for a week, and probably longer.

FORMER TRIBUNE EDITOR PASSES SATURDAY

ELMER E. RAGON, AGED 77, SUCCUMBS AT HOME IN CROWN POINT.

Editor E. Ragon, dean of Lake county newspapermen, and former editor and publisher of The Lowell Tribune, passed away at his home in Crown Point Saturday night after an illness extending over a period of several years, and serious the past two weeks.

Mr. Ragon was widely known among newspapermen over northern Indiana, having been connected with many of the papers in this territory. He resided in Lowell for many years before moving to Gary and later to Crown Point. He numbered his friends by the score here at his old home, and it was with a feeling of genuine regret that they learned of his death.

Obituary

Elmer Ellsworth Ragon, oldest son of Henry Harrison and Leefe (Stevens) Ragon, was born in Tymochtee township, Wyandotte county, Ohio, March 13, 1862, and passed away at his home in Crown Point, August 5th, at the age of 77 years, 4 months and 22 days.

He lived in Ohio until he was four years of age when he came to Lake county, where he has made his home most of the time since. At an early age he learned the printer's trade in the office of The Lowell Local News and followed that trade until 1900. During the time he followed the printing trade, he worked in many offices, among them being the Hammond Times; Gary Post-Tribune; Marion, Ohio, Star, Warren G. Harding's paper; Nevada, Ohio, Enterprise; Crown Point Register; Lake County Star; Hobart Gazette; Evanston, Ill. News-Index; Atkinson, Nebr., Enterprise, of which was one of the owners; and his last work in the newspaper field was at Mio, Mich., where he edited and managed the paper for some time. He was one of the founders of The Hammond Standard, which he conducted for some time, later selling the plant to S.E. Swaim, who changed it to The Lake County News. He also conducted a job shop at Gary for some time.

In 1892 he formed a partnership with his father, and they moved The Lowell Tribune office from Hammond to Lowell. One year later he bought his father's interest and edited the paper until 1897 when he sold out to H.H. and L.W. Ragon. Later he formed partnership with S.C. Dwyer, and they published The Lowell Souvenir, later disposing of the paper to E.E. Woodcock. He moved the plant to East Chicago in 1914.

In 1900 he received the appointment as mail carrier on rural route 2 out of Lowell and followed this work until 1910 when he moved to Gary and worked for The Gary Times and later became circulation manager for The Gary Tribune.

He was united in marriage to Henrietta Palmer, June 25, 1890, at Creston. Two sons, Forrest A. and Chandos S., were born to this union.

He is survived by his wife and two sons, all of Crown Point; four grandchildren -- Henrietta Lestikow, of Hobart; Florabelle Ragon, of Gary; and Chandos Jr. and Norene Ragon, of Crown Point; three sisters -- Mrs. Minnie Collins, of Little Rock, Ark., Mrs. Lola Surprise, of Lowell, and Mrs. Myrtle Buckley, of Crown Point; two brothers -- L.W. and C.U. Ragon, both of Lowell; besides many other relatives and a host of friends.

Funeral services were held at the Sheets chapel Tuesday at 2 p.m., Rev. Thomas Adkins, pastor of the Crown Pont Presbyterian church, assisted by Rev. Bowles, pastor of the Crown Point Church of Christ, being in charge. Donald Petry, with his sister, Miss Persis, at the piano, sang two songs. Interment was made in the Lowell cemetery in charge of Kenneth Sheets. The pall bearers were: S. C. Dwyer, Nate Davis, J.H. Brannock, Harry Gordon, H.L. Baughman and Joseph Dinwiddie. The honorary pall bearers were: Ralph Pierce, Alfred Jones, Harold Cross and Fred Wheeler.