Anderson County Biographies
"Portrait and Biographical Record of Southeastern Kansas"
Biographical Publishing Co., Chicago, 1894
JAMES A. RAMSEY. The rapid advancement made of late in matters pertaining to
popular education is due in no small part
to the brilliant leaders who have risen here
and there, and who have dedicated their labors
and energies to the upbuilding of the school interests of their respective states. Among those
who have won wide recognition in Kansas is
James A. Ramsey, who early began the career of a
teacher and is now filling creditably the position
of County Superintendent of Schools. He comes
of Scotch descent, and inherits all the thrift and
energy of his ancestors. His grandfather, Robert
Ramsey, was born in Scotland, but came to America at an early date and settled in western Pennsylvania. There he reared five sons and one daughter:
Robert (father of our subject), William, Andrew,
James N., Oliver and Sarah Ann, the latter of whom
married Samuel Dobbins.
The father of our subject, Robert Ramsey, Jr.,
was born in Mercer County, Pa., and after growing up, followed farming in that state for some
time. When a young man, he was tempted by the
fertile prairies of Illinois to make a settlement
within that state, locating in Washington County,
in 1838. There he was married to Miss Mary M.
McAfee, and there he passed the remainder of his
days engaged in agricultural pursuits. He was
the owner of about three hundred acres of land,
and being a member of the Covenanter Church
took no interest in politics. His death occurred
in February, 1885, when sixty-four years of age.
The mother, who was a native of Philadelphia, Pa.,
is still living, and resides with a daughter in New
York State. their five children were named as
follows: Maggie, wife of Hugh Dugan, of Sterling
Center, N. Y.; Nannie, wife of Rev. T. J. Allen,
a minister of the Covenanter Church of Sterling,
Kan.; James A.; Lizzie, wife of William Carson,
of Oakdale, Ill.; and Robert George, a minister
of the United Presbyterian Church of Xenia,
Ohio.
The early scholastic training of our subject was
received in the common schools and in Coulterville Academy, from which he was graduated.
Later he taught school in Washington County,
Ill., for seven years, and then came to Kansas,
where he continued the same occupation for five
years. In the fall of 1890 he was elected Country
Superintendent of Schools, and re-elected in 1892.
Public education in Kansas has no more earnest
advocate and co-operator than he - no one who
more thoroughly understands and appreciates its
needs and interests, and perhaps no one better
qualified through experience to bring it to that
high state of perfection which its present rapid
advancement assures. He is a Republican in his
political preferment,and only two candidates were
elected on the ticket in 1890. In 1892 he received
an increased majority.
Mr. Ramsey selected his wife in the person of
Miss Hattie L. McClurkin, only child of Archibald
McClurkin, of Oakdale, Ill., and their union was
celebrated May 10, 1881. She was born in that
town November 27, 1861. Mr. McClurkin was a
farmer and an early settler of Washington County, Ill. His death occurred in 1863. Two children
were born to Mr. and Mrs. Ramsey: Norman
F. and Lester A. Mr. Ramsey is a member of the
United Presbyterian Church, and is one of the representative men of this section. He founded the
"Anderson County Teacher," a monthly published
in the interests of the Anderson County schools,
and is still its editor. It is now on its second volume. He taught the public schools of Oakdale,
Ill., and Welda, Kan., and met with the best of
success. His mother was a teacher, and each of
her five children followed that profession for over
ten years. In connection with teaching, Mr. Ramsey was also engaged in farming, and for some
time owned a farm near Welda.
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