1925 Biography - Ray D. Magruder

Ray Deveil Magruder. An old and honorable name in American history is that of Magruder. Originally Covenanters from Scotland, the Magruders brought with them the sturdy qualities which have made the Scotch a great people. They established themselves in colonial Virginia and assisted in the founding of Georgetown, District of Columbia. As years passed they increased in numbers and in fortune, and with their spirit of thrift and enterprise, began to look westward for further expansion. In 1835 John Magruder, the great-grandfather of Ray Deveil Magruder, a leading citizen and prominent member of the bar at Amite, Louisiana, moved to Coshocton County, Ohio, became a farmer and tanner, and spent the rest of his life there, leaving descendants who, in peace and war, proved worthy of the honorable name he had left them.

Ray Deveil Magruder was born in Coshocton County, Ohio, November 6, 1888, the on1y child of Lawrence L. and Elizabeth (Hankins) Magruder, both born in Coshocton County, the father, July 28, 1865, the mother, July 28, 1866. She died at Zanesville, Ohio, July 29, 1912, the father surviving until September, 1915. His parents were John Wesley and Mary Jane (Jenkins) Magruder, the former a native of Virginia and the latter of Ohio. John Wesley Magruder was a successful farmer and a man of sterling character. He served as a soldier in the Union army all through the Civil war until seriously injured at the battle of the Wilderness. Lawrence L. Magruder was reared on his father's farm, but following his marriage moved to Zanesville, where he owned and operated a pottery during his years of business activity, in political sentiment he was a republican but no seeker for public office. With his family he belonged to the Methodist Episcopal Church, and for many years he was an active member of the order of Knights of Pythias.

Ray D. Magruder was graduated from the Zanesville High School in the class of 1906, then spent a year and a half its Ohio Wesleyan University at Delaware, Ohio, following which came a commercial course in the Meredith Business College at Zanesville, which he completed in 1908 and in the same year conic to Amite, where he was court reporter for a year. He then entered upon the study of law in the office of B. B. Purser, whose law partner he became upon his admission to the bar, December 2, 1912. The law firm of Purser & Magruder is a leading one in this section and has its offices on Mulberry Street, just opposite the courthouse. Not only in his profession but also in political life and business affairs has Mr. Magruder become an important factor since coming to Amite. Among the substantial enterprises with which he is officially connected and of which the firm is general counsel may be mentioned the Security Bank of Amite, the Standard Machine Company of Baton Rouge, the Istrouma Foundry Company of Baton Rouge, the Holloway Gravel Company of Amite, the Fleming Lumber Company of Frost, Louisiana, and the Central Light & Power Company of Amite. Since 1916 he has been chairman of the democratic committee of the Twenty-fifths Judicial District, and since 1920 has been chairman of the Tangipahoa Parish Democratic Committee.

Mr. Magruder also has maintained his family's prestige as to loyal citizenship, in August, 1917, he volunteered for service in the World war, wherever he could be the most useful, He was sent to the Second Officers' Training Camp, Camp Stanley, Leon Springs, Texas, and was commissioned a second lieutenant of infantry. On December 27, 1917, he was transferred to the One Hundred Twenty-third Air Squadron, Kelley Field, San Antonio, Texas; December 29th was transferred to Camp Upton, New York; January 14, 1918, was made adjutant of the Second Battalion, One Hundred Fifty-second Depot Brigade, then adjutant of the camp provost guard at Camp Upton; one June 1, 1918, was made assistant camp adjutant, and on that date was commissioned first lieutenant of infantry; September 1, 1918, was appointed assistant camp personnel adjutant, on August 24, 1918, having been appointed captain of infantry. In addition to the many duties incident to his well earned promotions on October 23, 1918, he was appointed assistant camp judge advocate, and so continued until he was honorably discharged on December 21, 1918.

Captain Magruder married, January 3, 1914, at Amite, Miss Mary Gladys Fulton Denson, who died at Amite July 29, 1919, survived by one son, Ray Deveil, who was born February 206, 1915. Mrs. Magruder was a daughter of Edward T. and Mary (Quinn) Denson, retired residents of McComb, Mississippi. Mr. Magruder's second marriage took place at Amite April 20, 1922, to Miss Lyda Newton, who is a daughter of James H. and Eliza Agnes (Rouse) Newton, of Amite, where Mr. Newton is a general contractor. Mr. and Mrs. Magruder have two children, James Newton, who was born July ii, 1923, and Elizabeth, born September 7, 1924. The family home is an attractive, comfortable residence on Hickory Street, and Mr. Magruder has other valuable real estate in Tangipahoa Parish. He is a member and a past master of Amite City Lodge No. 175, A. F. and A. M., and with his family belongs to the Presbyterian Church at Amite and is superintendent of the Sunday school.

Contributed 2021 Nov 04 by Mike Miller, from A History of Louisiana, by Henry E. Chambers, published in 1925, volume 2, pages 383-384.