Biography of Joseph Ramsey

Joseph Ramsey
Company F
1832-1923

Joseph Ramsey was born January 3, 1832 in Rainsboro, Highland County, Ohio to Samuel Ramsey and Mary Keyes. He became a mason and plasterer by trade and was 5 feet 8 inches tall with a light complexion and blue eyes. He had at least six siblings: John, Margaret, Maria, Martha J., George W., and Mary E.

Joseph entered into service on August 18, 1862 to serve one year. He was residing in Liberty Township in Highland County just prior to his enlistment. He enlisted in Hillsboro, Ohio with Company F of the 60th Ohio Volunteer Infantry as a Private. His regiment was captured at Harpers Ferry and paroled. He mustered out with his Company on November 10, 1862 at Camp Douglas, Chicago.

On February 22, 1866, Joseph married Sarah E. (surname unknown) in Hillsboro, Ohio. There were two children born to this union: Allie Ray on June 1, 1870 and William “Willie” Edward on May 9, 1876. The family, including his mother, was residing in Washington Township, Highland County, Ohio in 1870. In June of 1880, he and his wife and children were living in Cass County, Minnesota.

By 1900, Joseph Ramsey had become a widower. He was residing in Hubbard Township, Hubbard County, Minnesota with his son, William. Four years later, Joseph applied for a pension, but was denied. He had failed to serve the required 90 days of service in the Civil War. The documents failed to mention that as part of his parole, he had to agree not to fight for the Union during the remainder of the Civil War. According to his pension records, Joseph had resided for 15 years in Washington Township, (Highland County), Ohio and 27 years in Hubbard, Hubbard County, Minnesota, as of 1904.

In 1910, Joseph was still living in Hubbard. It wasn't until the 1920 census, that he is found living in Duluth, St. Louis County, Minnesota with his daughter, Allie; his son-in-law, Frances Morgan; and his grandchild, Veron.

Joseph Ramsey was in Fullerton, California only ten days before he died on October 7, 1923. He died at the home of his daughter, Mrs. Allie Morgan. He was 91 years old. He was buried in an unmarked grave at Loma Vista Memorial Park cemetery in Fullerton, California.

A special thanks to Charles Beal for contributing this soldier's pension records. He is not related to Joseph Ramsey and has no further information on him. Charles' project is to identify all the Civil War veterans buried in Orange County, California.