Springfield-Greene
County LibraryEarly and Recent History and Genealogical Records
of Many of the Representative Citizens
ROBERT L. RAMSEY. In his efforts he, who essays biographical or memorial history, finds much of profit and much of alluring fascination when he would follow out, in a cursory way, the teachings of an active, rightly lived life, seeking to find the keynote of each respective personality. These efforts and their resulting transmission cannot fail of value in an objective way, for in each case the lesson of life be conned, line upon line, precept upon precept. The late Robert L. Ramsey was a man who lived to good purpose and while laboring for his own good and that of his immediate family, helped others on the road that leads to the mystic goal ahead.
Mr. Ramsey was born in Lewis county, Missouri, in 1836. He was a son of Silas and Elizabeth (Brown) Ramsey, natives of Kentucky, where they grew up and were married and from there removed to Missouri, being among the early settlers of Lewis county, where the family has been well and favorably known to the present time. Seven children were born to them, all now deceased but one, namely: John; Martha is the only survivor; Sarah; Lucy; Robert L., of this sketch, and Samuel, the youngest. Silas Ramsey, the father, was twice married, our subject having been by his first union. He became one of the leading farmers of Lewis county, and owned three sections of fine land there.
Robert L. Ramsey grew to manhood in his native county and assisted his father with the work on the farm, and he received a fairly good education in the common schools. He was by nature an excellent mathematician. He began life for himself as a farmer, but believing that the business world held greater inducement for him he went to Canton, county-seat of Lewis county when a young man, about 1869, and there began his mercantile which he continued with ever-increasing success for over twenty years, enjoying an extensive trade with the town and surrounding country. He always carried a good stock of merchandise and dealt fairly and courteously with his customers, and thereby retained their confidence and good will. His health failing, he retired from active life three or four years prior to his death, being at that time one of the oldest and best known merchants in Canton.
Mr. Ramsey was married in his native county, February 3, 1859, to Sarah E. Ray, who was born in Lewis county, Missouri, March 22,1839. She is a daughter of Judge M. and Sarah (Brown) Ray, the former a native of Tennessee and the mother of Kentucky. To Mr. and Mrs. Ramsey six children were born, two of whom are living, namely: M. Beatrice; Mattie L.; Luta E.; Roberta; Sarah and Elizabeth, twins, are the only survivors; Sarah married Walter W. Baxter, who is mentioned in the sketch of Kirk Baxter on another page of this volume; Elizabeth married George H. Baxter, who is living retired life in Springfield.
The death of Robert L. Ramsey occurred in Canton, Missouri, September 19, 1900,at the age of sixty-four years. His widow subsequently removed to Springfield, this state, to live with her two daughters. She purchased a home on South Fremont street, and there spent the rest of her days, being called to join her husband in the Silent Land on April 13,1914. The daughters now occupy the cozy home she left.
Mr. Ramsey was a Democrat, and religiously he was a member of the Baptist church. Fraternally he belonged to the Masonic Order, and his father-in-law was the first Mason in Lewis county. Mr. and Mrs. Ramsey were excellent people, religious, neighborly and charitable and were beloved by all who knew them.
[979-980]
A | B | C | D | E | F | G | H | I | J | K | L | M | N | O | P | Q | R | S | T | U | V | W | Y
Table of Contents | Keyword Search | Greene County History Home | Local History Home