JOHN B. RAMSDELL, a resident of Cortland, Trumbull county, Ohio, was born at Bristol, this county, May 21, 1841, and was the only child of Gideon Ramsdell, a native of Vermont, who came to Ohio in 1834 and settled in Bristol township, Trumbull county, where he was married to Hannah Cummings, a native of Bristol, and a daughter of James Cummings, who settled in Bristol in 1804.
The subject of our sketch was left an orphan at the early age of three years, and was reared by his uncle, Edson [Chester] Hescock, who married Gideon Ramsdell's sister. Mr. Hescock was a man highly respected in this county, and he did a good part by the little orphan who had come into his home. At the age of sixteen John began to learn the trade of shoemaker, that being Mr. Hescock's trade, and under him he served an apprenticeship.
When the Civil war came on John's ambitious young spirit was fired with patriotism, and he at once responded to his country's call for troops, enlisting at Bristol, August 2, 1862, in Company B, One Hundred and Fifth Ohio Infantry. His great-grandfather had served in the Revolutionary war and his grandfather in the war of 1812, and his record in the Civil war is one of which his posterity may well be proud. At Lincoln's call for "300,000 more" he enlisted in Company B, One Hundred and Fifth Ohio Infantry, and his service covered a period of about three years, two years and eight months of which time he served as color guard. He was in the battle of Perryville; was at Milton, Tennessee, and made a forced march of 120 miles to Stone river, arriving at that place too late to take part in the battle. He also took his share of service at Chickamauga, Chattanooga, Mission Ridge, Ringgold, Dalton, Resaca, Kenesaw Mountain, New Hope Church, Peach Tree Creek;
assisting at the siege of Atlanta, was in the famous raid after General Hood, returning to Atlanta by way of Rome and Kingston, this being the second visit to Kingston. At Atlanta the company again joined Sherman's main army. After burning Atlanta they started for Savannah, Georgia, taking part in the battles of Thomas Station and Waynesboro before arriving at Savannah. After staying in Savannah a month for supplies and for rest, which was greatly needed, as they had been without communication for a period of seventy days, they took up the line of march through the Carolinas, and were present at the capture and burning of Columbia, South Carolina. They then marched to Goldsboro, where they rested for two weeks, receiving supplies and communications.
Leaving this place for Raleigh, North Carolina, they were met by the officials of the city, who surrendered it without resistance. After a week's rest they left for Holly Springs, waiting at this place for the terms of surrender to be made between General Joseph Johnston and General Sherman at Greensboro, North Carolina. After the surrender of Johnston, there being no resistance, they marched to Richmond, Virginia. After viewing the places of interest in the city during a stay of a week they left for Washington, District of Columbia, where they had a grand review of the army of the Potomac and Sherman's army. Thus ended the famous march which was begun at Atlanta, Georgia, November 7, 1864, and ended May 19 at Washington, District of Columbia. General Sherman is authority in stating the distance traveled to have been 1,850 miles. He was slightly wounded by a ball at Perryville. He received a sunstroke while in the service, and is now a recipient of a pension.
After his honorable discharge at Cleveland, Ohio, Mr. Ramsdell returned to Trumbull county. About a year and a half later he went to Indianola, Iowa, where he was engaged in business two years. At the end of that time he returned to Ohio, and to the home of his uncle and aunt, whom he cared for until the time of their death, repaying in a measure for the kindness they had bestowed on him.
Mr. Ramsdell has been married twice. In 1868, at Bristol, Ohio, he wedded Louise [Louisa] Huntley, a native of Canandaigua, New York, daughter of Calvin Huntley. Five children were born to them: Eva J., Bert E., Frank P. and two that died in infancy. Eva J. and Frank H. died in 1888, leaving Bert the only survivor. Mrs. Ramsdell died August 4, 1889. She was a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and was a woman whose pure Christian character was admired by all who knew her.
At Bloomfield, Trumbull county, Ohio, March 20, 1892, Mr. Ramsdell was wedded the second time, being united to Mrs. Emma J. Towns, whose former home was Olean, New York, and a native of that State. A relative, on the maternal side, of Colonel Don Piatt, Mrs. Towns was the widow of a soldier who was killed at the siege of Charleston, South Carolina, and buried at that place.
Mr. Ramsdell is an ardent Republican, and a member of Books Post, No.2, G.A.R., at Bristol. He took an active part in organizing this post. He was made a member of
Masonic Rural Lodge, F.& A.M. Bloomfield, Ohio, in 1867, and was at one time associated with the order of American Mechanics. He has all the characteristics of the old soldier, is frank, cordial, genial, and is well liked by all who know him.
