Bio of RAMSEY, William Allan (b.1855 d.1921), Hennepin Co., MN
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EXTRACTED FROM: History of Minneapolis, Gateway to the Northwest; 
Chicago-Minneapolis, The S J Clarke Publishing Co, 1923; Edited by: Rev. 
Marion Daniel Shutter, D.D., LL.D.; Volume I - Shutter (Historical); 
volume II - Biographical; volume III - Biographical
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Vol II, pg 62-65
WILLIAM ALLAN RAMSEY
William Allan Ramsey was for more than sixty years a resident of Minneapolis.
His entire life was modeled along those lines which develop the trifold nature
of the individual. A distinguished southern writer has said: "First of all, a
man must be a man with all the strength and vigor of the body; second, he must
be a man with all the strength and vigor of the intellect; third, added to
these, no matter what his superstition, his creed, his dogma or his religion, he
must try to live the beautiful life of the spirit." The spirit of this
admonition found its exemplification in the entire career of William Allan
Ramsey. Guarding his physical powers, he thus laid the foundation for his
notable success in business, nor did he ever allow commercial interests to so
monopolize his time and attention as to exclude his active participation in
those things which make the world better and brighter, which lighten the burdens
of the unfortunate and bring joy, gladness and sunshine into the dark places of
the world. His interest in the things of the spirit permeated his entire life
and the story of his advance along material, intellectual and moral lines is a
most interesting one.
Mr. Ramsey was born in Dayton, Ohio, May 1, 1855, his parents being John S. and
Isabella Carr (Rogers) Ramsey, both of whom were natives of Pennsylvania, the
former born in Hanover and the latter in Dauphin. The father died when his son,
William Allan, was but a small lad and the mother afterward came to Minneapolis
with her children, obtaining a position as a teacher in the public schools of
this city. The children entered the schools as pupils and William Allan Ramsey
passed through consecutive grades to his graduation from the high school, while
in the evenings he provided for his own support by acting as bookkeeper for Mr.
Janne. When he had completed his educational course he entered into active
association with the Minnesota Linseed Oil Company. His original position was a
very humble one, but steadily he worked his way upward, winning promotion from
time to time through his industry, thoroughness and loyalty to the house, and at
length he became one of the stockholders. As the years passed he acquired
further stock until he was by far the largest stockholder in this enterprise,
which ranks with the foremost manufacturing concerns of the city, controlling a
mammoth plant and marketing its product in every section of the country. His
honorable and successful business career is an example of what is within the
reach of industry and integrity, without the aid of wealth and influence to
command the favors of fortune.
In the year 1891 Mr. Ramsey was united in marriage to Miss Ida Campbell Gibb,
who was born in Montreal, Canada. They had no children of their own but took
into their home Allan Ramsey Wurtele when the child was but six months old. He
was given every possible advantage and after attending the public schools of
Minneapolis, continued his education in the Faribault Military Academy, from
which in due course of time he was graduated. He was then sent to a preparatory
school at Washington, D. C., which he attended for a year, after which he
entered the Annapolis Naval Academy. He served as an officer at the port of
Bordeaux during the European war and is now pursuing a postgraduate course in
engineering. Mr. and Mrs. Ramsey held membership in the Westminster Presbyterian
church, with which he was identified from early boyhood and in which he served
as trustee and treasurer for many years. He became identified with various
benevolent enterprises of the city, among which was the James Harrison Home for
the Aged, of which his mother was one of the active promoters. He also
manifested the keenest interest in the civic development of Minneapolis and in
large measure contributed to the upbuilding and improvement of the city. In club
circles, too, he was prominently known and at one time served as president of
the Minneapolis Club. When he passed away on the 3d of September, 1921, the club
adopted the following resolution: "The traditions and standards of any
institution can be but the reflection of the dominant characteristics of its
past and present membership. In the recent death of William Allan Ramsey,
therefore, the Minneapolis Club has sustained a grievous loss. A man of
transparently sincere character, direct and straightforward in all his dealings,
with a detestation of sham, pretense and hypocrisy in every form, Mr. Ramsey
carried his ideals of honor into every detail of his personal and business life.
For many years a member of the Minneapolis Club, he took great interest in its
welfare, and as a member of all committees and as president, applied to its
problems the exceptional ability, the painstaking, thoroughgoing care and wisdom
which distinguished the conduct of his own affairs; while his genial and
engaging personality, his unfailing courtesy, tact and kindly consideration,
greatly endeared him to all of his friends and associates. His living presence
has departed, but his fineness of spirit and elevation of character will long
remain an honored and cherished memory."
Mr. Ramsey's membership relations included the Sons of the Revolution and this
connection manifested clearly his interest in patriotic service akin to that of
his ancestors. His love of country was one of his paramount characteristics and
was manifest in effective service for the welfare and progress of the city and
state in which he made his home. All who knew him respected him and those who
came within the close circle of his friendship prized him most dearly. One who
knew him long and well wrote: "A dear friend, a righteous man, a Christian
gentleman has gone from our sight but not to be forgotten. What he did with his
full and generous life remains a precious memory to us all. With you, dear
friend, 'we shall miss the touch of the vanished hand and the sound of a voice
that is still.' Allan, I prized as one of my real and true friends. He helped
establish and maintain in this community a high standard of noble, high-minded
living. The standard stood for the Christian church and for the whole life of
the city he loved. This community, his circle of friends and the world is poorer
by his loss now, but what a rich heritage he has left in character and service.
Mrs. Jones and I felt how fully and splendidly you have shared with your husband
the joys and fruitful life of service in many, many ways. May He 'who has given
and has taken away' sustain and refresh you and give you strength to bear all
your burdens and sorrow."
The entire career of Mr. Ramsey was actuated by a spiritual significance and he
was untiring in his efforts to promote the work of the religious organization
with which he was identified. When he passed on, the board of the church wrote
of him as follows: "As members of the board of trustees of Westminster
Presbyterian church of Minneapolis we hereby wish to express our appreciation of
William Allan Ramsey, whose death on September 3, 1921, deprived this church of
a loyal and most efficient trustee and this board of a most useful and valued
member. Called to take up all the financial affairs of this church on the
resignation of Mr. Ankeny, the former treasurer, W. A. Ramsey gave all the
knowledge of a tested business experience, with the result that the financial
affairs of Westminster church were always in order and its obligations always
promptly met. As a member of this board he was always most conscientious in the
performance of every duty which devolved upon him and gave to the conduct of the
affairs of the church the same necessary care and sound judgment that he did to
those of his own business. Of him it could well be said, he was diligent in
business, fervent in spirit, serving the Lord. In his going, the church and our
board have suffered a severe loss, but we know that the result of his work as
treasurer and trustee will continue an abiding heritage."