Essex

RAMSAY, George Lafayette

Men of Vermont: Illustrated Biographical History of Vermonters & Sons of 
Vermont. Ullery. Brattleboro: Transcript Publishing Company, 1894, pp 331-332 
(portrait p 331)

George Lafayette RAMSAY, late of Lemington [Essex County, Vermont], was born 
03 October 1829 in the town of Wheelock [Caledonia County, Vermont], second 
son of Robert and Jane (MORGAN) RAMSAY. His father [Robert RAMSAY], who was 
at the time one of the largest sheep owners in the state, came to Vermont 
from his native town of Londonderry [Rockingham County], New Hampshire, and 
settled at Wheelock, in the immediate vicinity of the place still known as 
"Ramsay's Corners" about the beginning of the present [nineteenth] century. George Lafayette RAMSAY was 
educated in the district schools of Wheelock 
[Caledonia County] and Brownington [Orleans County], and at the old stone 
academy of Brownington, under the discipline of Professor TWILIGHT, received 
what was at that time a far better education than the average farmer thought 
necessary to bestow upon his son.

About 1850, when the gold fields of California had become known, George L. 
RAMSAY had reached his majority and spent the next two years in California. 
Returning east he began work in the "Old Faneuil Hall Market" at Boston 
[Suffok County, Massachusetts], afterwards entering the employment of Briggs, 
Guild & Company. With the exception of a short time spent on the road as 
traveling salesman for the firm, he remained until 1860 with these same 
employers, during the last few years as confidential business clerk. About a 
year previous to the War of the Rebellion, Mr. RAMSAY's health, which had 
been gradually failing, gave way from overwork and confinement and he was 
compelled to leave the city and return to his native state, purchasing in the 
town of Lemington [Essex County, Vermont], five miles south of Colebrook 
[Coos County], New Hampshire, one of the finest meadow farms in Vermont. 
Here he settled and lived contentedly in the possession of a typical Vermont 
home, dispensing hospitality with a liberal hand to all who called upon him, 
until the date of his [George Lafayette RAMSAY's] death of 1892.

During the latter years of his life he entered more extensively into he 
lumber business and for he five years preceding his death manufactured 
annually about $3,000 worth of last blocks from the hard wood of his forest. 
In politics Judge RAMSAY was a Republican. Casting the only vote for Abraham 
LINCOLN in his town in the fall of 1860, he was subjected to disparaging 
remarks, and in reply to the taunt of a neighbor replied proudly, "My vote 
will shine like a golden eagle amid a lot of rusty coppers." He was a 
prominent figure at county conventions, and in 1883 and 1884 held the office 
of assistant judge of Essex County court. Through life he was a man of the 
finest principle, a strong temperance advocate, ever practicing what he 
preached. During his stay in Boston he joined St. Johns Lodge of Free & 
Accepted Masons, the oldest lodge in Massachusetts, and was during his life a 
working member and a regular attendant at the meetings of the order.

He [George Lafayette RAMSAY] was fully six feet in height, erect and well 
proportioned, of fine personal appearance and great courtesy. Men whom he 
had antagonized by his outspoken adherence to what he believed was right were 
forced to admire him and recognize at once his ability, and the superior 
manhood which characterized his life. His [George Lafayette RAMSAY's] death, 
which occurred 29 December 1892, after only an hour's illness from valvular 
disease of the heart, was a great loss both to his family, town and county. 
On 20 February 1862 he [George Lafayette RAMSAY] married Annette Eugenia, 
daughter of Col. George C. and Jane (ROYCE) DYER, of Sutton, Province of 
Quebec, and rarely has a man been more blessed in the choice of a life 
companion. His married life was blessed with six children: Eugene D., Jane 
M., Jeanette R., Gertrude, George R., and Mary M., who with his widow [Mrs. 
Annette Eugenia RAMSAY] survive him.

Submitted by Cathy Kubly