Hopkins Letter, 1933 - Bedford Co. VA Bedford Co. RAMSEYS (and other families) (Submitter Note: this is from a copy I typed [as a 13-year-old in about 1960] from a typed copy held by my grandmother’s brother Maurice Early Snyder. If the original or Maurice Snyder’s copy still exist, their whereabouts are unknown. The end notes are mine. Lynne Rush Hundley, Smithfield, Virginia, 30 Jan. 2000 ) Bedford City, Virginia January 11, 1933 [1] My Dear Niece: [2] Your most welcome letter was received yesterday by your Uncle Calvin [3] and as I, your Aunt Rebecca, [4] am now on a visit to them I will write for both of us. You can better imagine than we can express it how glad we were to hear from you. It has been so long since we heard from any of Lizzies [5] children [6]. None of them are ever forgotten by us. Calvin and I have often talked together of you and your family being so far away [7] and wished we could know more about you all. As regards to your Mothers family we will gladly write all we know. Our ancestors on her side were of German birth, at least our Grandfather [8] settled in Bedford County and farmed all of his life. The old house still stands in which our Mother [9] was born, still in a good state of preservation, has a family burying ground on the place [10]. Mother has been buried sixty-two years [11]. Calvin and I went there some time ago, found her tombstone looking remarkably well, being Italian Marble had not faded. Mother had one Brother [12] who died long ago and no Sisters. You doubtless remember something about your Grandfather Ramsey [13]. He was of English descent some Aristocrats among them. He has been dead many years was born and raised in Bedford County, was a merchant in Bedford City many years. After Mothers death he lived in Lexington was Postmaster and then Clerk of the County of Rockbridge for many years which place he filled until his death. Brother John [14] served in the Civil War until near the close, was taken with chills and died. One of Father's Brothers died in prison in the Civil War, one shot dead on the battlefield [15] another lost his right arm [16]. Every one of Fathers Brothers and Sisters [17] have died and your Uncle Calvin and I are all that is left of our family. He was at the burial of both your Mother and Father [18]. I have always regretted I could not be there. I have only two children. Herbert, the youngest, is a telephone man hardly ever at home. Wiley the little boy you must remember I once took with me to your Mothers in Buchanan, in now married, is thirty-seven, had four children all boys. I make my home with him. He has settled in Lynchburg has a very good home. I will be seventy-seven years old in July [19]. I have good health and can get around very well but according to nature cannot expect to stay here much longer. Calvin is seven years younger than I am, he carries a bullet wound in his leg received in the Civil War. They have several children living. The oldest, Leilia Walters, lives in Bramwell West Virginia. Harry who lately graduated from Richmond College in Pharmacy is also in West Virginia keeping a drug store. Charley is in Hopewell in the Munition Workes. Nanny Smith has eleven children, two grown. Her husband has a nice farm not far from Bedford City they have a good deal around them, cattle and horses. He is a great tobacco raiser. Minnie lives in Cincinnati. Mr. Moore is a railroad man they have only three children. They are giving them a good education. Walter Ramsey has a large hardware store here and does a good business, has four children. Three girls go to school, two are taking music, one little boy. Calvin lost his youngest one of all two years ago. Raymond, just entering manhood, died of heart trouble. Has only one child single, Lizzie, named for your Mother, I don't see how Betty could keep house without her. Charleys wife died a few years ago left one little girl she lives with Calvin the greatest little pet you ever saw, is six years old. Calvin keeps a grocery store on Main Street. Nearly all the old people in your home Buchanan [7] are dead and new ones taken their places. We would certainly like to know about Jennie, Charley and Hattie [20] but none of them ever write, we would certainly answer every letter, you know how faithful dear Fanny [21] was to write. So I say Mary we were most agreeably surprised to hear from you and you so far away, but appreciate your thinking of us and expect you to write again all about yourself and children and Mary, if you remember I was at yours and Fannys marriage [22]. I had a picture of your Mother, one of yourself, Jennie and Mr. Hook [23], kept them for many years prized them very much but since I have grown old thought some of her children should have them so I sent them to Hattie last week to do as she thought best. I suppose she is still in Buchanan. If there is anything more we can think of or hear about the family tree we will write to you for the benefit of your children [24]. I can see them in imagination asking you questions in that far away place. Our Grandmother Ramsey [25] died at the age of eighty-two was tall and slender and had sound front teeth and her memory never failed her. Since I have thought of it I recall a bit of family history that dear old Grandmother told me when I was young. Many many years ago before steamboats were thought of a little sailing vessel left Liverpool England. Two men came named Bannister, they landed at Norfolk Virginia then this country was a wilderness of grand old trees. One of them decided he could not stay in such a place so he went back, the other one said that he could not face the ocean again as they were tossed about by storms and sometimes lost their way. He followed the James River and other small streams and took large tracts of land on what is now called the Otter River in Bedford County. He build a good house of logs settled down and lived to be an old man. He had a desk sent him from England with pigeon holes in it and he also had an income from over there. He would put his money in the pigeon holes until he had them all full never thought it safe anywhere else would leave his house all day at a time never locking his door or his desk and never lost a penny. He married in a Scotch family a blue stockinged Presbyterian. After a while as time went by his Granddaughter married a Mr. Ramsey our Grandfathers Father [26] so we were always taught to speak with a great deal of respect about old Uncle Isaac Bannister. There are many colored people in that section of the country now called Bannisters all of them descended from Uncle Isaacs servants. Now Mary trusting to hear from you again and with much love and best wishes for you and all of yours we are lovingly, Your Aunt and Uncle My address is Mrs. R.S. Hopkins 519 Va. Ave. W. Lynchburg Va. Calvins address is 318 Market St. Bedford City Va. END NOTES: 1. The year appears to be an error. See # 11 and 19. 2. Mary Elizabeth Dunnavant (1869-1936), married Morris Evans Snyder. 3. Calvin Johnson Ramsey (1846-1932), married Sarah Elizabeth Powell. 4. Rebecca S. Ramsey (1839-1932), married Price Wiley Hopkins. 5. Anne Elizabeth Ramsey (1837-1911), married Josiah Francis Dunnavant. 6. Children of Anne Elizabeth and Josiah Francis Dunnavant: S. Frances (abt 1856-1895), John Fulton Dunnavant (abt 1858-1870), W.M. (male) (born abt 1859), Henry A. (born abt 1866), Mary Elizabeth (see # 2 above), Susan Virginia (born abt 1871), Charles (born 1874), Harriet Woods (born abt 1877). 7. Mary Elizabeth Dunnavant and Morris Evans Snyder and their four children moved from Buchanan, Botetourt Co., VA to Everett, Snohomish Co., Washington between 1900-1910. 8. John Frank (died 1837), married Catherine Powell. 9. Nancy Frank (1812-1851), married Simon Ramsey. 10. Graves have disappeared. In 1997, Nancy’s tombstone lay broken in the field where the family graveyard had been. 11. This statement would suggest a date of about 1913 for the letter. 12. Washington Frank (1806-1859), married Sarah Powell. 13. Simon Ramsey (1815-1888), married Nancy Frank. 14. John Ramsey (1835-Civil War). 15. "Died in prison, shot dead on battlefield" = these are probably William D. Ramsey and Robert L. Ramsey. 16. "Lost his right arm" = Albert Ramsey. 17. Simon Ramsey’s brothers and sisters: William D. (born 1817); Albert (1819-1893); Bettie (1821-aft 1900); Permelia (1827-aft 1860); Susan (1825-aft 1900); Minerva (1827-aft. 1900); Robert L. (1837-1865); Amanda E. (1840-1891); Mary C. (1842-aft 1860). 18. Josiah Francis Dunnavant (1831-1911), married Anne Elizabeth Ramsey. 19. This dates the letter to about 1916. 20., 21. See # 6. 22. Double wedding, 10 Dec. 1890: WHH Spicer/S. Frances Dunnavant and Morris Evans Snyder/Mary Elizabeth Dunnavant. 23. WS Hood or Hook, married Susan Virginia Dunnavant. 24. Children of Mary Elizabeth and Morris Evans Snyder: Margaret Elizabeth (1894-1975); Maurice Early (1899-1994); Marie Estelle (1900-1967); Thelma Virginia (1902-1928). 25. Eliza Caldwell (1799-1881), married James B. Ramsey. 26. Grandfather = James B. Ramsey (1793-1861), married (1) Polly Coleman, (2) Eliza Caldwell. Grandfather’s father = Benjamin Ramsey, married Betty Bannister. Submitted by Lynne Rush Hundley **************************************************************** USGENWEB NOTICE: These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or presentation by any other organization or persons. Persons or organizations desiring to use this material, must obtain the written consent of the contributor, or the legal representative of the submitter, and contact the listed USGenWeb archivist with proof of this consent. Files may be printed or copied for personal use only. ****************************************************************