Los Angeles County
Biographies
WILLIAM ROBERT RAMSDELL
RAMSDELL, WILLIAM ROBERT, Mining, Los Angeles, California, was born in Dodge County, Minnesota, June 7, 1860, the son of Henry Ramsdell and Ellen (Carver) Ramsdell, the latter being a direct descendent of John Carver, the first Governor of Plymouth Colony. Mr. Ramsdell married Florabel McCall at Spokane, Washington, December 28, 1897. They have two children, Henry and Wilma Ramsdell.
As a farmer boy, Mr. Ramsdell got his rudimentary education in the country schools. Later he graduated at Wasioja, Minnesota, in the Wesleyan Methodist Seminary, from there entering the University of Iowa, at Iowa City, but never graduated.
Before he had attained his majority he went to Colorado, going from there to Idaho and Montana, and for a number of years, largely through the spirit of adventure and travel, he worked as cowboy, railroad operator, prospector, etc. In 1884 Mr. Ramsdell settled at Tobacco Plains, Montana, where he and his brother engaged in the cattle business. His operations grew rapidly and his name became prominently associated in the development of Northern Montana. The Indians were bad at this time and Mr. Ramsdell on several occasions was in command of armed bodies of settlers who finally brought the Red Men to terms, and restored an orderly condition to that part of the frontier. Mr. Ramsdell later on became interested in the mercantile business at Egan’s landing in the Flathead country, and his natural fitness as a political leader brought him prominently before the people. He first entered politics, and was elected, as one of the five Constitutional Members from Missoula County to the Constitutional Convention of Montana in 1889. Mr. Ramsdell was the second youngest member of this body. The same year, it is stated, he was in reality elected on the Democratic ticket to the State Legislature, but was counted out by a Republican Board of Supervisors.
His next political honors were gained as the head of the Peoples’ Party in 1891, when he was elected State Senator from Flathead County, which had been formed from a portion of Missoula County.
Mr. Ramsdell has always been a Progressive in Politics, and when the Peoples’ Party movement started in 1892, he joined it. His ability as an orator and organizer soon carried him to the front rank of the party in the State. When he entered the party he was but little known politically in the State outside of his county, and had neither wealth nor strong friends to aid him; however, his natural fitness as a leader, and particularly his gift as an orator, soon made him one of the most prominent men in his party. In 1894 he was honored by the caucus nomination of his party for the United States Senate, and in 1896, in the Peoples’ Party Convention at Helena, Montana, he came within a few votes of being nominated for Governor, the nomination being equivalent to election, as it was a fusion of all the Free Silver Parties of the State.
On account of ill health, Mr. Ramsdell withdrew from politics, closed up his mercantile business and permanently took up mining.
His operations in the mining world have carried him all over the Continent and he has been associated with many big men and enterprises, and has scored some notable successes. Among his successful mining ventures may be mentioned the “First Thought” mine at Bossburg, Washington, credited with the greatest production of any mine in the State. In this he was associated with Pat Burns, the “Cattle King” of Canada. Later on he bought the New Perdrara Onyx Company of Lower California, Mexico, in which he is heavily interested. This company now produces the greater part of the world’s high grade onyx.
In 1900, Mr. Ramsdell went to Old Mexico and became interested in the Hostotipaquillo District, in the State of Jalisco; here he bought and developed El Favor and Casados, two of the big mines of Mexico. In addition to the above he has owned several other mining properties of lesser prominence and value.
Mr. Ramsdell’s success as a mining man, considering the number and value of the properties he has owned, entitles him to rank among the foremost men of the mining world. His success has been won by sound judgment and persistent energy.
Mr. Ramsdell is a home man as distinguished from a club man; he is literary in his tastes, and his progressive tendencies, as a reformer, will undoubtedly bring him into prominence again in the arena of politics.
Transcribed 5-1-09
Marilyn R. Pankey.
Source: Press
Reference Library, Western Edition Notables of the West, Vol. I, Page 257,
International News Service, New York, Chicago, San Francisco, Los Angeles, Boston,
Atlanta. 1913.
© 2009 Marilyn R. Pankey.
GOLDEN NUGGET'S LOS ANGELES BIOGRAPIES