Mayoral History

William Ragland Francis, Jr., son of William Ragland and Margaret McIlheran Francis, was born in Franklin County on September 25, 1843. He studied law under John Frizzell in Winchester, was admitted to the bar in 1867 after having served in the Confederate Army during the war, and was County Trustee in 1871. He was Mayor of Winchester in 1876-1877 and continued to practice law until the fall of 1879 when he moved to Athens, Alabama. In addition to practicing law, he became editor of the Athens Democrat, a weekly newspaper. He never married and died at Decatur on February 6, 1917. He was buried in Winchester City Cemetery.


	William Ragland Francis, Jr., son of William Ragland and Margaret McIlheran Francis, was born in Franklin County on September 25, 1843. He studied law under John Frizzell in Winchester, was admitted to the bar in 1867 after having served in the Confederate Army during the war, and was County Trustee in 1871. He was Mayor of Winchester in 1876-1877 and continued to practice law until the fall of 1879 when he moved to Athens, Alabama. In addition to practicing law, he became editor of the Athens Democrat, a weekly newspaper. He never married and died at Decatur on February 6, 1917. He was buried in Winchester City Cemetery.
	Mayor William Ragland, Jr.
	1876-1877