Among the early settlers of Pa who emigrated from the north of Ireland  in the first part of the 18th century, was William Ramsey, who purchased a  large tract of land in East Nottingham twp, Chester co.  His son Wm married Rebecca Wilson, a dau of te Rev. James Wilson, DD, a prominent Presbyterian minister of Lancaster Co.  She was a niece of the Rev Dr Read, of  Wilmington, Del, and a connection by marriage with the Wise family, of Va, and the Polk family, of Tennessee.   From this marriage came the subject of  this sketch, James Read Ramsey, who was born in Bart twp, Lancaster Co 2-14-1815.  He received his education at Hopewell Academy and at Washington,  Pa, under his uncle, the Rev Obadiah Jennings DD, who was  connected with Washington College.  He was with the Messrs. Dickey Brothers, extensive  merchants and cotton manufacturers at Hopewell, Pa, for some years.  He  married Mary, a dau of Samuel Dickey, 6-6-1845, a descendant of one of the  earliest settlers in the county.  His widow with 3 sons are still living - Wm W, a merchant in Chicago, Ill; Samuel D, a lawyer in West Chester; and J  Everton Ramsey, cahsier of the First National Bank of Oxford.  Owning an  extensive farm in Chester Co, he was largely interested and took an active part in the public improvements of his district.  He was one of the corporators and aided in the construction of the Pa and Baltimore entral RR,of which he was a director, and at the time of his death the treasurer.  He assisted in the organization of the Oxford Public Library and the Oxford agricultural Soc, aciting as the first president of the former and the  treasurer of the latter.  He was also, for many years and at the time of his  death a diretor of the Bank of Oxford.  He was trustee and treasurer of the   Oxford Presbyterian Church and the active member of the building committed in the construction of the present edifice.  having decided views on all subjects, he was a warm supporter of the Republican Party and a member of the Union League,  He died 12-24-1871, in the prime of life, and in the midst of a career whose sudden close felt as a great loss to the community.