The Oskaloosa herald., 1917-06-28

E VlGNSh years VI age. Aue LttlulAJ
/, home was established in Morris, iii
! nois, and the mothers death occurred
in Streator, that state. in 1876, when
she was tlfty-eight years of age. Only
!. one of the brothers is now living
George H. Ramsay. The others were
4 William T. Ramsay, who Was man
\ ager OF mines in Oskaloosa; Richard,
mine manager in Braceville, Illinois !;
Joseph. who was a coal operator in
Des Moines; Margaret, the deceased
wife of Richard Waters, of Davenport,
Iowa; Mary Ann the deceased wife
of Neuick Longstaff, of Oskaloosa.
John Ramsay stayed with his widowed
mother until her death, always
thoughtful of her and dearly devoted.
John Ramsay largely acquired his
/ education in night school. Like 9th
ers of the family through several gen
erations his life work has been large
ly in connection with the develop
ment of coal fields. He began work
in the mine when fifteen years of age.
He came to America with his mother
/ at the age of eleven years He spent
four years in Morris, Illinois, after
which he removed to Pekin, later to
4 Coal Valley, subsequently to Streator,
and then to Rapid City, being engaged
Tin the coal mining at these various
| places. He next came to Iowa to
Cedar Mines, in Monroe county, near
| Abba, Iowa, where he engaged in the
mining business, at which place he
remained for about year. He left
Cedar Mines however long enough to
go back to Rapid City where he was
married to Sophia Shuler, to which
union were born seven children, all
living, known as follows: Mrs. Byron
A. Harris, Mount Harris, Colorado;
Mrs. Homer H, Harris, Ottumwa, Ia;
Mr. William T. Ramsay, Bidwell, Ia;
Mrs. Mayo Colville, Des Moines, Ia;
Mrs. Walter ]. Carrick, Evanston,
Illinois; Miss Johnneta Ramsay and
Charles Ramsay, Oskaloosa, Iowa. He
then spent the next six years at Ce-
dar Mines and What Cheer, as mana
ger of the mines at these places. He
then moved to Oskaloosa where he
took charge of the Oskaloosa Coal &
Mining Co.'s mines, near Beacon, with
which company he continued for a
long period of years He then be
came Interested with the above con-.
pany in the mines at Hooking, Iowa,
and was general manager over the
Hooking mines until they were sold
to the Minneapolis & st. Louis Rail |
road.
In 1905 he associated himself in |
business with his SON, William L.
Ramsay, also the Harris Brothers
George W., Byron A. and Homer H.,
and under this association the first
mine was opened at Abba, Iowa, in
Monroe county, and other mines were |
later opened along the line of the
Minneapolis & st. Louis Railroad I'M
der the Excelsior Coal Company and
Abba Coal Company.
With his close family relations he
was also interested in the Bidwell
Coal Company on the Milwaukee
Railroad and the Mapleblock Coal
Company aides Moines, Iowa.
In 1914 he became associated with |
other relatives and associates when
the Colorado and Utah Coal Company
was incorporated and was director
in this Company. He also was In
terested with Guy Woodin and w. A.
Sewers in real estate holdings in
Dallas, Texas.
He was made a Mason in 1914 and
promptly passed the Chapter, Com
mandery, Consistory and Shrine.
John Ramsay had for twenty-eight
years been member of the Method
ist Church and has long served as one
Of their officers and took an active in
terest in the church work. He was a
man of generous impulse in whom the
poor and needy and those worthy OF
assistance always had friend. He
was a good substantial citizen, lead
ing a life worthy Of the respect and
esteem accorded to him and the world
is better for his having passed
through his way. John Ramsay was
self-made man and had steadily and
persistently worked his way upward
enjoying the advantages which come
through earnest, persistent effort. He
always based his principles upon the
rules which govern strict and I'M
swerving integrity.
Employees by the hundreds who have
long worked for John Ramsay, some
of them as much as thirty years, have
only love and esteem for their friend
and employer. 1t Was a privilege to
know him, and to know him was to
| love him.
by his children who are married,
and their families, as well as those
yet at home, he was dearly loved;
with them he spent many happy days.
He went with his beloved wife and
two children in December to Long
/ Beach, California, where they We're
Joined by his brother George, who
enjoyed some months there with him
He enjoyed excellent health to the
morning OF his death, June 4, 1917.