Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1900-05-02
DEATH OF A VENERABLE CITIZEN

DEATH OF A VENERABLE CITIZEN
Mr.. G. w. ID. Ramsay, the oldest aGd
most generally known of our native
cltiZens. died at the residence OF his
sop. Mr.. G. VIM. Ramsay, northeast
corner of s.. Asaph and Cameron
streets. at an early hour this afternoon.
The deceased, who was 81 years old,
was born in this city in July, 1909. in
the frame building now snding at the
northeast corner OF King and Fairfax
streets. He was son OF Col. Dennis
Ramsay, who was q son of Captain
William Ramsay, who was among the
iocorporators OF the town on July IL,
1749. both of whom served Ia the Revo-
utionsry army. The deceased was the
color-bearer of the Alexandria indie
nendent Blues, and was the last Alex
sndrian who participated in the recep
ton rendered Gen. Lafayette when he
vi.ited this city in 1924. 10 early life
the subject of this notice with his
brother Robert conducted business in
this CITY, where be was ever noted for
stricl probity and upright dealing, and
throughout his long life he enjoyed the
confidence and respect OF all who knew
him, being the exemplifcatiOn Of the
model citizen and Christian gentleman.
His early predictions were toward
religion and his identification with the
PRESBYTERIAN Church was sypchronous
with his early manhood. For nearly
three score years and ten he had been
10 its communion, and some who are
grsndfathtrs now in our midst were
members of his Sunday school class
when the Second Presbyterian Church
was situated on the east side of Fairfax
street. between Prince and Duke. Al
ter an active business life, aud at the
close of the civil war, Mr.. Ramsay was
appointed paying teller of The First Ne
tloual Bank in this city, position he
held up to few years ego, when his
declining years rendered him no onger
able to continue in active business, and
the evening of his life was spent in tran
guilty and in miDgling with his child
rem and grandchildren. He had long
been in the sere and yellow leaf and
had seen nearly every one OF the conf
panions OF his early days pass within
the veil which hides the visible from
the invisible world, and. while the fires
OF life were burning slow, he of course,
realized that he, too, was moving to-
ward the silent strand of the sunset
shore, and be presented In his extreme
old age a perfect exemplificatiOn Of tho
scriDtural observstion-wbile the out
ward man was perishing, the inner man
was being renewed day by day--ss the
spiritual life into which he entered al
most at the portals OF life was with him
a continuous growth, and In drawing
nearer and nearer that river without q
bridge, through which all must pass, 1t
presented no terrors, but was antici-
pated as it only can be by those who
are conscious of well-spent life. In
his declining days, with the shadows OF
death 10 his path, whenever able he
would appear in the church OF which
he had been 30 long a member, and at
the close OF the service he invariably
received an ovation from most OF the
members, young and old, who gathered
around him and offered kindly greet
logs. The deceased leaves five children
three sons, Messrs. G.. Wm. Ramsay,
A. T. Ramsay aud Nice. Ramsay, and
one daughter, Mrs. Edward CumpstoD.