Alexander Ramsey

BAKER, BRUCE, RAMSEY, ULREY

Posted By: Judy Wight Branson (email)
Date: 6/28/2006 at 19:35:36

Dr. Alexander Ramsey, of Webster township, who lives upon his splendid farm of four hundred acres, is accorded a gratifying practice. He was born in Decatur county, Iowa, in 1857, of the marriage of James and Margaret (Baker) Ramsey, both natives of Tennessee, the former born in 1824 and the latter in 1818. Both lived to an advanced age, the demise of the father occurring when he was eighty-six years old and that of the mother when she had reached the age of eighty-six years and three months. James Ramsey, who was a cabinetmaker, followed his trade in his native state, but in 1851 removed to Decatur county, Iowa, and entered land from the government. He then turned his attention to farming but continued to work at his trade to some extent. He was the owner of two hundred and forty acres and was a successful agriculturist as well as an expert cabinetmaker. Both he and his wife were prominent in the early history of Decatur county and were especially active in the work of the Baptist church.

Dr. Ramsey acquired his elementary education in the district schools of his native county and his medical training in the Keokuk (Ia.) College of Physicians and Surgeons, from which he was graduated with the class of 1886. He located for practice in Webster, Iowa, and on the 5th of May, 1886, made his first visit in Madison county. Since then his practice has grown steadily and he is often called to attend the sick in his part of the county. However, he does not concentrate his attention upon his profession to the exclusion of other interests, as he oversees the operation of his four hundred acre farm, which is located in Madison and Adair counties. He was reared upon his father's farm and early learned the principles of practical agriculture and finds this knowledge of much value to him in looking after his farming interests today. He specializes in raising Black Polled Angus cattle and has some of the finest stock in the county.

Dr. Ramsey was married in 1889 to Miss Donna Ulrey, who was born in Adair county, Iowa, a daughter of Rufus and Hattie (Bruce) Ulrey. The father was born in Washington county, Pennsylvania, on the 14th of January, 1848, and the mother in Adair county, Missouri, in 1851. The maternal grandfather of Mrs. Ramsey came to Madison county in 1863. Her paternal grandfather was a big stockman in Pennsylvania and her father was sent to Baltimore, Maryland, in 1864, when only a youth and there was associated with his brothers in the stockyards. In February, 1865, he came to Madison county and for some time worked for John Fox. For a number of years thereafter he farmed in Adair county but in 1894 was appointed postmaster at Middle River, now Webster. In 1899 he removed to Great Falls, Montana, where he worked on mason work on the railroads and was also watchman at the smelter. In 1911 he returned to Madison county and is now conducting a general store at Webster. Mrs. Ramsey is the oldest of the two children born to her parents and by her marriage has become the mother of four children: Fred, who was born in 1890 and is operating his father's farm; Worth, who was born in 1894 and is also on the home farm; Lyie, born in 1897; and Bernice, who is attending the high school at Winterset.

Dr. Ramsey belongs to Evening Star Lodge, No. 43, A. F. & A. M., of Winterset; Lebanon Chapter, No. 11, R. A. M., of Winterset; and has taken the fourteenth degree of the Scottish Rite in the Consistory at Des Moines. Along strictly professional lines he is a member of the Madison County Medical Association. He has the full confidence of his patients, which is well deserved, as he understands thoroughly the principles underlying the science of medicine and is careful in diagnosing a case to take into account all of the symptoms. He also manages capably his large agricultural interests and is one of the substantial and valued citizens of the county.

Information taken from the book, “The History of Madison County, Iowa, 1915,” by Herman Mueller