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Ramsey, Justus Cornelius "J.C."

Sessions Served    Other Information

Territorial House 1851 (District 3); Territorial House 1853 (District 2); Territorial House 1857 (District 2)

Party when first elected:  Not Available

Counties Served:  Ramsey

BIOGRAPHICAL INFORMATION

Date of Birth: ??/??/1823
Birth Place: Hummelstown, Pennsylvania
Birth County: Dauphin
Birth Country: United States
Date of Death: 1/24/1881
Gender: Male
Religion:
Reported Minority: None Reported
Other Names: J.C.
City of Residence (when first elected): Saint Paul
Occupation (when first elected): Grocery Business; Ramsey, Tyson, and Chase Grocery House/Real Estate

EDUCATION

Common Schools; At Least Elementary School;

OTHER GOVERNMENT SERVICE

FAMILY RELATIONSHIPS

Spouse: Single
Children:
Family Members Who Have Served in the Minnesota Legislature:

GENERAL NOTES

He moved to St. Paul, Minnesota in 1849.

He was the brother of Alexander Ramsey, who served as Minnesota Governor and United States Secretary of War.

He was Secretary of the first St. Paul Mason's Lodge and had passed the 32nd degree. He was a charter member of the St. Paul International Order of Odd Fellows' (I.O.O.F) Lodge Number 2.

The house he built at 252 West Seventh Street in St. Paul, Minnesota is one of the oldest houses in St. Paul and is on the National Register of Historic Places.

He died from a bullet wound to the brain, which was ruled a suicide, in his apartment in St. Paul, Minnesota. He was buried in Oakland Cemetery in St. Paul, Minnesota.

Total Days Served: 1064

SESSIONS SERVED

8th Territorial Legislative Session (1857)

  Session Details   Convened Date: 1/7/1857
Body: Territorial House
District: 02
Elected: 10/14/1856
Residence: Saint Paul
Term of Office: 1/7/1857 to 12/1/1857
Oath Date: 1/7/1857
Counties Represented: Ramsey
Occupation: None Listed
Party: Republican Party Notes: He is listed as a Republican in the 1856 election. (A History of the City of St. Paul to 1875, 1983 edition, by J. Fletcher Williams, p. 366)
Committees:
  • County Boundaries (Chair)
  • Mineral Interests
Session Notes: From 1849 to 1886, the term of office start date is uncertain.

4th Territorial Legislative Session (1853)

  Session Details   Convened Date: 1/5/1853
Body: Territorial House
District: 02
Elected: 10/12/1852
Residence: Saint Paul
Term of Office: 1/5/1853 to 1/3/1854
Oath Date: 1/5/1853
Counties Represented: Ramsey
Occupation: Grocery Business; Ramsey, Tyson, and Chase Grocery House/Real Estate
Party: Opposition Party Notes: He is listed under the Opposition column in the 1852 election. (A History of the City of St. Paul to 1875, 1983 edition, by J. Fletcher Williams, p. 331)
Committees:
  • Printing (Chair)
  • Public Buildings
  • Territorial Expenditures
Session Notes: From 1849 to 1886, the term of office start date is uncertain.

2nd Territorial Legislative Session (1851)

  Session Details   Convened Date: 1/1/1851
Body: Territorial House
District: 03
Elected: 9/2/1850
Residence: Saint Paul
Term of Office: 1/1/1851 to 1/6/1852
Oath Date: 1/1/1851
Counties Represented: Ramsey
Occupation: Grocery Business; Ramsey, Tyson, and Chase Grocery House/Real Estate
Party: Not Available
Committees:
  • Election Districts
  • Engrossed Bills
  • Public Buildings (Chair)
  • Schools
Session Notes: From 1849 to 1886, the term of office start date is uncertain.

OTHER INFORMATION

Articles & Books About

  • "Justus Ramsey House, St. Paul," Minnesota History, Winter 2009-10, p. 335.
  • "Secretary Ramsey's Brother: Grief of Old Pennsylvania Friends at His Death," New York Times, January 27, 1881.
  • "Rash Ramsey. Another Tragic Event in the Annals of St. Paul. J.C. Ramsey the Victim. Who Fires a Bullet into His Own Head and Drops Dead." St. Paul Daily Globe, January 25, 1881, p. 1.

Photographs


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