Hon. Richard Ramsay
was born in Washington County, Ohio, but was from early childhood a resident of Winchester, Adams County, Ohio, where in 1885 he died, at the age of seventy-four years and eleven months. He made the most of the common schools in his day, and thus added to a mind of great natural force much acquired ability. His mind was well stored with useful information of which, owing to his mental discipline, he had ready command. He was a natural logician, and reasoned well on questions of local and national importance. For thirty-one years he was a Justice of the Peace, though he accomplished as much by his unofficial counsels in reconciling the estranged as through the administration of the law. And so wise were his decisions that through this long period but few, if any, of his official rulings were reversed by the higher court. In 1873, he represented Adams County in the State Legislature. He was elected at a time when the opposing political party was in the ascendency, so fully did he share the confidence of his neighbors, without distinction of party.
In his early manhood, he united with the Methodist Episcopal Church, of which he was a useful and influential member till his death. For thirty-seven years of this time, he was a local preacher; and for thirty-one years, a local deacon. His sermons were both scriptural and practical, and were very acceptable in the entire field of his labors.
In 1831 he was married to Miss Priscilla Reese, daughter of Major Jonathan Reese. In 1881 they celebrated their golden wedding, all their nine children and several grandchildren being present.
His was a beautiful character. He was gentle and kind, faithful and true. His disposition was even and winning. He had clear and deep convictions on all questions, and never failed in his loyalty to what he thought was right. His influence in the community was blessed, and aided greatly in the promotion of every moral reform.
His body was the first in this large family to be borne to its last resting place in the cemetery of the village where so long he had resided.
From "History of Adams County, Ohio from its Earliest Settlement to the Present Time" - by Nelson W. Evans and Emmons B. Stivers - West Union, Ohio - Published by E. B. Stivers - 1900