HISTORY OF BUCKS COUNTY. 



425 



•daughter of Joseph L. and Mary (Lan- 

 dis) Gross. There are three children by 

 this marriage : Howard, born November 

 30, 1895; Clarence, January 2, 1899; and 

 Arthur, June 24, 1903. 



EDWARD RAMSEY, a farmer, car- 

 penter and contractor of Warminster 

 township, is of Irish descent, the family 

 having been established in America dur- 

 ing the colonial epoch in the history of 

 Pennsylvania, since which time the Ram- 

 seys have borne a helpful part in the ma- 

 terial development and substantial pro- 

 gress of their respective communities. 



William Ramsey, the great-grand- 

 father, devoted his attention to farming, 

 and was a broad-minded, intelligent 

 business man and financier. He became 

 the owner of large tracts of land, and 

 was one of the most prominent agricul- 

 turists of his community. The land upon 

 which Edward Ramsey now resides was 

 purchased by William Ramsey from 

 William Penn, and was given to John 

 Ramsey, Jr., when he was a little child, 

 to become his when he should attain his 

 majority. William Ramsey gave to each 

 of his children a farm. His son Robert 

 owned and operated the farm adjoining 

 that upon which Edward Ramsey now 

 resides, and was a very prominent and 

 influential citizen, not only successfully 

 controlling his business affairs, but also 

 exerting a strong influence over pu])lic 

 thought and action. He w^as twice called 

 to represent his district in congress, and 

 he left the impress of his individuality 

 for good upon the public life of his 

 county and state. He died upon the old 

 homestead, in the midst of friends who 

 had long known and honored him, and 

 whom he had honored by his capable 

 and efficient public service. His wife, 

 Mrs. Mary Ramsey, w^as also a native of 

 Bucks county. 



John Ramsey, Sr., the grandfather of 

 Edward Ramsey, was born and reared 

 upon the old family homestead, and spent 

 his entire life there, winning success 

 through the capable management of his 

 "business affairs for many years. During 

 the last seventeen years of his life he 

 was an invalid. In his political views 

 he was a Democrat, but never aspired to 

 office, preferring to give his undivided 

 attention to his business interests. He 

 was a Presbyterian in religious faith, and 

 like the others of the family was con- 

 nected with the old Neshaminy church. 

 Of social nature, he enjoyed the compan- 

 ionship of his many friends. He was of 

 "kindlj' spirit and charitable disposition, 

 and the poor and needy had reason to 

 count him as a benefactor. 



John Ramsey, Jr., only son of John 

 and Mary Ramsey, was born and reared 

 at the ancestral home w^hich had been in 

 possession of the family since the land 



had been purchased from William Penn. 

 He gave his attention to farm pur- 

 suits, placed his land under a high state 

 of cultivation, and regularly attended 

 the citj'^ markets, where he sold his pro- 

 duce to good advantage. He also en- 

 gaged in raising stock, and found that a 

 profitable source of income. He kept 

 well informed on general topics of in- 

 terest, as well as political questions, 

 reading broadly and thinking deeply. He 

 voted with the Democracy, and while he 

 strongly endorsed the principles of the 

 party he was never an office seeker. He 

 was highly respected, his integrity and 

 honor being above reproach. He wedded 

 Mary Stagner, also a native of Bucks 

 county. Her father lived the quiet life 

 of the farmer and gave his political alle- 

 giance to the Democracy. In his family 

 were eight children: William, a farmer; 

 Christopher and Barkley, who were 

 killed in the battle of Bull Run, while 

 serving their country in the civil war, 

 Christopher leaving a family of small 

 children; Sarah; Margaret; Elizabeth; 

 Julia; and Mary. The last named be- 

 came the wife of John Ramsey, Jr., and 

 died in 1863, while Mr. Ramsey, who was 

 born April 9, 1810, died September 28, 

 1886. at the age of seventy-six years,. 

 They were the parents of five children^ 

 Frank, who was a farmer; Edward; 

 Mary, who became the wife of E. Mor- 

 gan; Robert H., a farmer and hotel 

 keeper; and Julia, who died in her eigh- 

 teenth year. All have passed awaj^ with 

 the exception of the second named. 



Edward Ramsey, born at the ances- 

 tral home of the family where he yet 

 resides. August 28, 1853. was reared to 

 farm pursuits and is indebted to the pub- 

 lic school system of the county for the 

 educational privileges he enjoyed. He 

 remained at home until sixteen years of 

 age. when he entered upon a three years 

 apprenticeship to the carpenter's trade, 

 after which he spent three years as a 

 journeyman, and then began contract- 

 ing and building on his own account, 

 being closely identified with the build- 

 ing industry in this part of the state. 

 After several years he purchased the 

 interest of the other heirs in the old 

 homestead, becoming the owner of the 

 property November 4. 1886. He then be- 

 gan conducting the farm, in connection 

 with his building operations, and so con- 

 tinued until 1903, when he turned his 

 contracting business over to his son to a 

 large extent. He still does light car- 

 penter work to some extent, but gives 

 more of his attention to the farm work, 

 living, however, partially retired. He 

 lias by careful and conservative manage- 

 ment acquired a competency for old age. 

 Since age gave to him the right of fran- 

 chise, Mr. Ramsey has voted the Demo- 

 cratic ticket, and his position on any 

 public questions is not a matter of doubt, 

 for he is fearless in support of his con- 



