Biographical Sketch of James Read RAMSEY (1881); Chester County, PA

Contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by Sandra Ferguson <ferg@ntelos.net>.

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from Futhey and Cope's THE HISTORY OF CHESTER COUNTY (1881);

     Among the early settlers of Pa who emigrated from the north of Ireland in 
the first part of the 18th century, was William Ramsey, who purchased a large 
tract of land in East Nottingham twp, Chester co.  His son Wm married Rebecca 
Wilson, a dau of te Rev. James Wilson, DD, a prominent Presbyterian minister of 
Lancaster Co.  She was a niece of the Rev Dr Read, of Wilmington, Del, and a 
connection by marriage with the Wise family, of Va,
and the Polk family, of Tennessee.   From this marriage came the subject of
this sketch, James Read Ramsey, who was born in Bart twp, Lancaster Co 2-14-
1815.  He received his education at Hopewell Academy and at Washington, Pa, 
under his uncle, the Rev Obadiah Jennings DD, who was connected with Washington 
College.  He was with the Messrs. Dickey Brothers, extensive merchants and 
cotton manufacturers at Hopewell, Pa, for some years.  He married Mary, a dau of 
Samuel Dickey, 6-6-1845, a descendant of one of the earliest settlers in the 
county.  His widow with 3 sons are still living - Wm W, a merchant in Chicago, 
Ill; Samuel D, a lawyer in West Chester; and J Everton Ramsey, cashier of the 
First National Bank of Oxford.  Owning an extensive farm in Chester Co, he was 
largely interested and took an active part in the public improvements of his 
district.  He was one of the corporators and aided in the construction of the Pa 
and Baltimore central RR, of which he was a director, and at the time of his 
death the treasurer.  He assisted in the organization of the Oxford Public 
Library and the Oxford Agricultural Soc, acting as the first president of the 
former and the treasurer of the latter.  He was also, for many years and at the 
time of his death a director of the Bank of Oxford.  He was trustee and 
treasurer of the Oxford Presbyterian Church and the active member of the 
building committed in the construction of the present edifice.  having decided 
views on all subjects, he was a warm supporter of the Republican Party and a 
member of the Union League,  He died 12-24-1871, in the prime of life, and in 
the midst of a career whose sudden close felt as a great loss to the community.