Biography of William Ramsey, Independence Co, AR

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SOURCE: Biographical and Historical Memoirs of Northeast Arkansas. 
Chicago: The Goodspeed Publishing Co., 1889.
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page 709 

William Ramsey, farmer, Batesville. Nowhere within the limits of
Independence County can there be found a man who takes greater interest in its
agricultural und stock affairs than Mr. Ramsey, or who strives continually to
promote and advance these interests to a higher plane. He has a native pride in
this county, for he was born here, and it is but natural that he should strive
to see all its matters placed on a footing equal, if not superior, to the
affairs of other counties in the State. He is the son of Allen D. and Helen F.
(Slater) Ramsey, and the grandson of William Ramsey, who settled in what is now
Independence County, Ark., in about 1819, when there were but few settlers in
this country. He was a farmer by occupation, and died in Independence County.
During his early residence in this county he underwent many hardships, and had
many stirring adventures. He was shériff of Independence County at one time.
Allen D. Ramsey was born on the place where the family now resides, and there
passed almost his entire life. Perhaps few men in North Arkansas, aside [p.709]
from those in professional or political life, were better known. He was
educated near Alexandria, Va., and was possessed of a high order of
intelligence. He was an honored, influential and exem plary citizen. He died
December 31, 1878. The mother is still living, and is a native of North
Carolina. Her parents were natives of Scotland, and came to the United States
at an early day. Her mother came to Arkansas, and located at Batesville. To Mr.
and Mrs. Allen Ramsey were born five children, three now living: Margaret,
William and Maria. The two deceased were Mary, married George Weaver, who is
also de ceased, and left one child, Allen R. Weaver, who makes his home with
the subject of this sketch, and David. William Ramsey (subject) was born and
reared on the farm where he now lives. Being reared to the arduous duties of
the farm, he has always followed this calling, and has made a complete success
of the same. The family now own 1,050 acres of land, with about 325 acres under
cultivation, and the principal productions are corn. cotton and hay. Mr. Ramsey
also raises some stock. He is an enterprising young man and a first class
farmer. He is a member of the Episcopal Church, and his mother and family are
members of the same. When the Ramsey family first settled in Independence
County. Indians were here, and all kinds of wild game abounded. The now fine
and productive river bottoms where then a dense canebrake. One incident that
the father used to relate to his children was that, when the first steamboat
came up the river, that had a whistle, it roused every one from their slumbers,
and the people were very much frightened. The great grandfather of the subject
of this sketch, at a very early date, lived in Kentucky, where he met with
experiences worthy of record. On one occasion, while in the hay field, in
company with a hired man, a party of Indians came upon them unaware. The hired
man started to run, but was killed by the savages. Mr. Ramsey's great-
grandfather was taken prisoner, and kept as such for a long time, finally being
sold to some French traders for a pair of blankets. He was then so far from
home, that the only way to return in safety, and avoid being recaptured, was to
cross the ocean to France and back again, which he did. He at last made his way
to his family, who had mourned him as dead, after an absence of three years.