My Genealogy Hound

THOMAS A. RAMSEY, farmer and stock-raiser, Sec. 31; P. O. Gettysburg, Ohio. Samuel, his father, was a native of Pennsylvania, born in Berks Co. in 1780; was married to Ellen Fletcher, who was a native of England, born in Derbyshire about 1784; she came to America with two of her cousins when she was about 9 years old, locating in Pennsylvania, where she was married, and, in 1811 they emigrated to Ohio, locating in Montgomery Co., two miles east of Dayton, on Gen. Finley’s farm; at that time, there were only a few houses in Dayton, now a city of 65,000 inhabitants; six years later, he purchased 208 acres of land in Miami Co., about five miles from Troy, where he moved, remaining there until his death, which occurred in September, 1860; Ellen, his wife, died in about 1855. Mr. Ramsey served as a wagoner under Gen. Hull, in the war of 1812; he also performed guard duty at the old block-house which stood opposite Gettysburg, Ohio; he would pilot parties from the block-house to Greenville, and back again; but the decay and ravages of time have left no trace of the “old block house.” Thomas A., the subject of this sketch, is a native of Ohio, born in Montgomery Co., on the 17th of August, 1814; he was taken by his parents to Miami Co. when he was quite young, where he spent his boyhood days, assisting his father on the farm during the summer months, and attending school part of the winter, which at that time, was kept up by subscription until within the last two or three years, when free schools were organized; he lived with his parents until he was in his 33d year, giving his entire services to them, knowing that by so doing his father would give him a good start in life; however, there was a strong attachment between the father and son; however, as he advanced in years, he concluded that he would engage in business for himself, and with due consideration he formed a resolution to take a partner for life, and on the 15th of April, 1847, he celebrated his marriage with Malinda Hoover, daughter of John and Mary Hoover, who was born in Ross County, Ohio, in 1826; after his marriage he moved on his farm of 50 acres, which his father had given him, and engaged in farming for about seven years, when he sold out and purchased 50 acres in the same county (Miami), near Tippecanoe, where he moved, but only resided there about one year, when he sold out for $2,500, and moved on the Booher farm, consisting of about 500 acres; however, previous to his moving, he had been appointed guardian for the Booher heirs; he resided here for about nine years, during which time he lost his wife, her death occurring on the 27th of December, 1861; after her death he moved into the town of Tippecanoe, where he followed, or rather engaged in, the banking business on his own hook. In 1869, he purchased 197 acres in Darke County, Adams Township, for which he paid $7,880; during the same year he moved, and has resided there ever since, and on the 3d of March, 1864, he celebrated his second marriage with Mrs. Adaline Litteral, whose maiden name was Snell, daughter of Eli and Evaline Snell, who is a native of Ohio, born in Miami County on the 23d of February, 1843; one child has been born to them, viz., Allie Grant, born on the 13th day of February, 1865. Mr. Ramsey is not a member of any church, but lives in his own soul’s freedom, thinking, acting, and reading for himself, obeying the golden rule, “Do unto others as you would have them do unto you;” is strictly temperate in all his habits, and has accumulated a considerable amount of property, in which he has been nobly assisted by his good and amiable wife. He is a firm Republican, his first vote being cast for Martin Van Buren. Mr. Ramsey’s father and mother were the parents of ten children, five boys and five girls, of whom seven are living at the present time of writing, viz., Eliza, John H., James H., Thomas A., Mary A., Margaret B., Lewis M., George B., Harriett E. and Alfred W.