Robert A. Ragan

author

Robert A. Ragan

A lifelong student of Gaston County’s past, this North Carolina historian and author brings local stories, family history, and the region’s textile legacy vividly to life. His books are especially valuable for readers curious about how one Southern community grew and changed over time.

1 Audiobook

Escape from East Tennessee to the federal lines : The history, given as nearly as possible, by Captain R. A. Ragan of his individual experiences during the war of the rebellion from 1861 to 1864

Escape from East Tennessee to the federal lines : The history, given as nearly as possible, by Captain R. A. Ragan of his individual experiences during the war of the rebellion from 1861 to 1864

by Robert A. Ragan

About the author

Born in Gastonia, North Carolina, Robert Allison Ragan grew up with close ties to the textile world that shaped his hometown. Sources describe him as a Gastonia native whose family’s community involvement stretched across generations, and as someone whose interest in regional history naturally grew out of that background.

Ragan studied at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and later built a career in business in Charlotte, while also devoting himself to preserving local history. He has been described as a longtime historian of Gastonia and Gaston County, with a special interest in textiles, mill communities, and family history.

His published work includes books on the Ragan family, the textile heritage of Gaston County, and the broader history of Gastonia and Gaston County. Across that work, he focuses on the people, industries, and institutions that helped shape the modern South, making his writing a strong fit for listeners who enjoy regional history told with a personal connection.