Samuel G. RAGLAND was born 25 January 1853 in Victoria, Texas to Nathaniel Manson RAGLAND and Sarah Peninah SCOTT.  Samuel was a community activist. He was appointed Postmaster of Sharpsburg in San Patricio County Texas in 1881. In 1903 he donated $25 toward the construction of the Spohn Hospital in Corpus Christi. He with many others worked to organize Neuces county Texas in 1913 and he held the office of county commissioner for many years. He was also a well known cattle rancher for the King ranch owned by Mrs. Henrietta King.

"The so-called King ranches, owned by Mrs. H. M. King, are situated in Neuces, Cameron and Hidalgo counties, and together comprise one of the largest ranch properties in this state. These ranches are stocked with Shorthorn and Hereford cattle, both pure bred and high-grade and cross-bred, are being constantly improved by the production of fresh blood drawn from the purest herds, not only of these United States, but also from those of Canada and Scotland. There are also a large number of fine brood mares on this ranch which are being bred to the best blood of the thorough-bred and standard-bred horses, and to fine jacks. Mr. R. J. Kleberg is general manager for Mrs. King of all of her property, assisted by Mr. S. G. Ragland, who is in charge of the Neuces county ranches, and Mr. E. B. Raymond, who is in charge of the Cameron and Hidalgo county ranches."
-Corpus Christi Caller (Corpus Christi, Tex.), Vol. 18, No. 52, Ed. 1 Friday, December 20, 1901

According to King Ranch Story: Truth and Myth by Mona. D. Sizer, Samuel, "brought the first herd of twelve hundred shorthorns from Grayson County just south of the Red River to Kingsville, six hundred miles, without a single animal lost."

Another story about Samuel is given in the book The King Ranch Quarter Horses by Robert Moorman Denhardt. An account is given of a young man named Caesar Kleberg and his first interaction with ranch life: "To test his adaptability to the ranch he was assigned to Sam Ragland, the best teacher available. Caesar's first trip with Sam was an early-morning buggy ride across some pasturelands. Once they were out in the wide-open spaces, Sam suddenly pulled up the team, tossed the reins to the young Caesar, and said, "Young fellow, watch the team." With that, he headed for some tall grass to tend to nature's call. Caesar held the reins a while. Then, remembering a newspaper in his pocket, he dropped the reins and pulled out the paper. The sudden movement and crackle of the paper made the horses bolt, right toward Ragland, who was hardly in a position for rapid movement. "Goddammit!" Ragland shouted. "You got a million acres here! Don't run over me!" Despite his tenderfoot background, Caesar learned quickly and soon became a key figure in ranch activities. To the Kleberg family he was more like an older and wiser brother than a cousin."

In Caesar Kleberg and the King Ranch, author Duane M. Leach writes of Robert KLEBERG'S, hiring of Sam RAGLAND: "With the nodding approval of Henrietta King, Kleberg Sr. had continued to enlarge her land holdings, improve the breeding stock of her horses and mules, and professionalize the beef-producing operation. The latter he sought to accomplish with the hiring of one, Sam Ragland. Kleberg felt comfortable when dealing with the business and legal aspects of the ranch, but an in-depth understanding of livestock, particularly cattle, was not yet his own. Ragland's reputation buttressed by the recommendation of his longtime friend and attorney James Wells eased Kleberg's mind. Ragland's appointment would prove fortuitous. Not only did he mentor Robert Kleberg Sr., but he tutored his sons and a generation of Kineños as well in the art of handling cattle. Moreover, with an experienced livestock man to oversee Mrs. King's great herds, the burden of day-to-day management might lessen a bit."

Bob KLEBERG was another young man who grew up on the ranch with Sam as his mentor. Page 80 of the Jul 15, 1957 issue of LIFE Magazine reads: "From the time when he was a very small boy he lived with Sam Ragland, the veteran superintendent of the Santa Gertrudis. The fledgling ranchman and the bluff old bachelor had their meals at the big house with other members of the family. But they had their quarters at Ragland's cottage a hundred yards away. In this companionship and in the long days on the pastures and in the corrals young Bob absorbed what the years had taught Sam Ragland about the complicated chemistry that produced beef from grass. Bob Kleberg as a man would remember the evenings when the rain came pounding on the cottage roof and old Sam in his nightshirt would come lighting up his pipe, strolling into Bob's room, to listen to the welcome rain, to talk, to think aloud about the coming grass, and how best to use it. "When you see the cow chips floating," Sam would say, "then we've had a rain."

Samuel was named as a Trustee in the will of Mrs. Henrietta KING who died March 31, 1925.
"Her will provided that all property left by her should be held in trust 10 years from the date of her death with trustees conducting the business of the property." 
- San Patricio County news (Sinton, Texas) 11 April 1935





Sam died at the age of 82 on 4 September 1935. 
He never married but he left a legacy of community involvement, hard work, and successful cattle ranching practices and left a host of family and friends to mourn his death.

SAMUEL RAGLAND RITES ARE HELD AT KINGSVILLE
KINGSVILLE Sept. 7 - Funeral services for Samuel G. Ragland, pioneer cattleman of South Texas, were held Friday from the home of his sister, Mrs. Katie Robertson here. Burial was in Chamberlain Masonic cemetery. The services at the home were conducted by Rev. A. H. Clark, pastor of the First Baptist church of Kingsville.
-McAllen Daily Press (McAllen, Texas) 08 Sep. 1935, Sun. Pg. 6

ATTEND RELATIVES FUNERAL
Mrs. Susan Ragland and her children, Mrs. Monroe Wells, Mr. and Mrs. J. M. Thompson and Mr. and Mrs. Fred McDaniels were in Kingsville where they attended funeral services for their brother-in-law and uncle, Samuel G. Ragland, 82, who died last Thursday.
Mr. Ragland was one of the pioneer cattlemen of that section of the country and while a young man became foreman of the Santa Gertrudis Ranch, owned by the late Robert J. Kleberg. Mr. Ragland served as foreman and advisor and at the death of Mr. Kleberg was one of the trustees of the estate. He was a county commissioner from his district for over 40 years and was active until a short time before his death. A large crowd of friends from over the State were present for the services.
-Kerrville Mountain Sun (Kerrville, Texas) 12 Sep. 1935, Thu. Pg. 1

ATTEND RAGLAND RITES
RAYMONDVILLE - Judge S.L. Gill, George P. Durham, Sr., and George P. Durham, Jr., attended the funeral of Samuel J. Ragland, pioneer Kingsville developer in Kingsville Friday. All three Willacy men were lifetime friends of Mr. Ragland, who was a former county commissioner and organizer of Kleburg county, a developer of Kingsville, and of the county, and had been foreman and trustee of the King Ranch since 1892.
-Valley Morning Star (Harlingen, Texas) 08 Sep 1935, Sun. Pg. 11

KLEBERG COUNTY OFFICIAL, VETERAN CATTLEMAN, DIED
KINGSVILLE - Samuel G. Ragland, cattleman of South Texas, who for the past 42 years had been associated with the King Ranch, died at the residence of his sister, Mrs. Katie Robertson of this city. Mr. Ragland was born in Victoria. He remained in South Texas, following the business of cattle raising, during his entire life. He was an intimate friend as well as a business associate of the late R. J. Kleberg, and made his home at the Santa Gertrudis ranch home. At the time of his death he was a member of the Kleberg County Commissioners Court, an office he had held for 15 years. Funeral services were held Friday at 10 a.m. in Kingsville
-Victoria Advocate (Victoria, Texas) 08 Sep 1935, Sun. Pg. 6