Unknown Ramsey Family

RAMSEY

Posted By: Richard Crowe (email)
Date: 1/14/2013 at 11:05:14

David Ramsey moved with his family to Iowa from Indiana probably in early-mid 1830s. They lived in Des Moines (DM) County, very large at that time, probably in what today is Monroe County. David married Susan Shuck in 1838 in DM County and the household, living in DM County, is recorded in the 1840 census.

The Ramsey conundrum is that we cannot determine who David Ramsey's parents were. There were a number of Ramsey families in DM County in those days. One might have been his and some number of them might have been related. We do know from the 1880 census for David and Susan that both of David's parents were born in North Carolina. As David Ramsey was born in 1815, his father would most like have been born prior to 1798.

David and Susan had the first 4 of 10 children in Monroe County then moved by wagon train to Oregon in 1847 where he spent his work life as a miller of grain and timber. He may have been a miller in Iowa, as well. The first names of some of his male children may hint at his father's name are William, David, George, and James.

Nothing is known of any siblings that David might have had.

David's parents did not go to Oregon in 1847. This fact and information in the 1840 census suggest that his mother died prior to 1840 and his father died between 1840 and 1847.

Does anyone know of 1) a pair of Ramsey graves in DM or Monroe county with death dates as noted above, 2) a Ramsey family history that suggests a David Ramsey sibling in the line and parents born in North Carolina, & 3) have a history on territorial grain/lumber mills in the 2 indicated counties?

Richard Crowe