[5] From 1861 to 1865, Ragsdale served as the first editor of Ka Nupepa Kūʻokoʻa ("The Independent Newspaper") for publisher Henry Martyn Whitney.

His Roman Catholic faith was a probable reason why he was replaced, since the Hawaiian Congregationalists wished to have a newspaper more favorable to them.

[2] American writer Mark Twain visited the island kingdom at the time and described the legislative session and Ragsdale: Bill Ragsdale stands up in front of the Speaker's pulpit, with his back against it, and fastens his quick black eye upon any member who rises, lets him say half a dozen sentences and then interrupts him, and repeats his speech in a loud, rapid voice, turning every Kanaka speech into English and every English speech into Kanaka, with a readiness and felicity of language that are remarkable – waits for another installment of talk from the member's lips and goes on with his translation as before.

There is a spice of deviltry in the fellow's nature and it crops out every now and then when he is translating the speeches of slow old Kanakas who do not understand English.

Without departing from the spirit of a member's remarks, he will, with apparent unconsciousness, drop in a little voluntary contribution occasionally in the way of a word or two that will make the gravest speech utterly ridiculous.

Working late one night, he accidentally knocked over an oil lamp and discovered that he felt no pain in his hands when he caught it before it fell.

Peter Kaʻeo, a high-born chief and patient of the settlement, wrote that "since [Ragsdale] has been Luna he has made more Enemyes and less friends".

[13] Except for a few confrontations with disgruntled patients, Ragsdale's tenure as luna remained relatively peaceful until his final illness.

[15] Ragsdale was buried in an unmarked grave in the cemetery grounds of Saint Philomena Catholic Church, founded by Father Damien.