My Genealogy Hound

ELLEN D. RAMSEY. William W. Ramsey was born on a farm in Chester county, Pennsylvania, near the corner of three states. The farm was owned by his maternal grandfather, who was among the first settlers of the locality. William W. Ramsey was born January 29, 1847, and when he was six years of age his father removed to Philadelphia and engaged in butchering. Before the removal to Philadelphia William had attended a private school kept by his maternal great-uncle, Alexander Terrell, who was a noted educator of that day and fitted young men for college in his Chester county school, William W. Ramsey afterward attended the Philadelphia public schools.

His mother subsequently removed with her family to Upper Merion and located near Abrams Station, where William grew to manhood. He attended the public schools of the neighborhood for a time and later obtained employment on a farm of Moses Walker who became his father-in-law. He had charge of this farm until 1870, when Mr. Walker died and he took the place in the Norristown market which Mr. Walker had held for many years. He was an enterprising man and took a deep interest in everything pertaining to the advancement of education in his township. He was a school director in Upper Merion for several years. He was elected auditor of Upper Merion and held the office until his death. He was an ardent Republican and was frequently a delegate to the county conventions. He never missed a vote and was in fact one of those who were never questioned as to their political beliefs. He was one of the most popular men in Upper Merion and had no enemies. Mr. Ramsey died January 28, 1903. He belonged to the Patrons of Husbandry and to the Ancient Order of United Workmen.

March 27, 1877, William W. Ramsey married Ellen D., daughter of Moses and Sarah S. (Davis) Walker. Ellen D. (Walker) Ramsey was born in the house where she now resides, on April 19, 1850. They had four children.

Joseph D., the eldest, born April 3, 1878, resides at home. He returned, in November, 1902, after a year spent in Irondale, Washington. He enlisted in June, 1898, in Company F, of a Regiment of Pennsylvania, serving in the Spanish-American war. He was in Camp Mead and Camp Alger.

Sarah E., born December 29, 1879, died July 9, 1880.

Harold A., born September 3, 1882, is now in the engineer corps of the Pennsylvania Railway Company at Pittsburg. He was graduated from the Norristown high school in 1900, and then attended Drexel Institute for two years, taking a course in mechanical arts.

Charles Dana, born October 4, 1884, was graduated from the Norristown high school and now works on the farm.

Mrs. Sarah Walker, mother of Mrs. Ellen Ramsey, is the daughter of Joseph Davis of Chester county, who married Miss Eleanor Stephens, of an old Chester county family. Their great-grandfather was a surgeon in the Revolutionary war.

Moses Walker, father of Mrs. Ramsey, was the son of Joseph and Priscilla (Robinson) Walker, and was born in Delaware county. He removed to Montgomery county in 1849 and settled on a farm now owned by Mrs. Sarah Walker, where he died on February 4, 1870. He was a school director for several terms. He was a member of the Society of Friends and attended Valley Friends’ Meeting. They had three children: Ellen D.; Lewis, who was born November 25, 1855, and died in boyhood; and Sarah R., who was born May 29, 1864, and died early in 1873.

Mrs. Sarah Walker was born September 16, 1825, and her husband in December, 1819. He died in 1870.