JOHN F. RAMEY - John F. Ramey is one of the thrifty farmers and stock raisers of Springfield township, where he has a tract of ninety acres of well improved land which he has operated for eighteen years. His residence in Illinois dates from 1860, at which time he took up his abode in McLean County. He was born in Champion county, Ohio, November 16, 1847, and is a son of John S. Ramey, who was also born and reared there, as was the mother of our subject, who bore the maiden name of Mary Craig. The parents were married in their native county and Mr. Ramey carried on agricultural pursuits until after five of their children were born. He then moved with his family to Indiana and in 1860 came to Illinois, settling in McLean county upon a farm which continued to be his home for a number of years. Subsequently he came to Sangamon county and spent his last years here, dying on the 16th of January, 1891.

John F. Ramey was a lad of thirteen years when the family came to this state, and upon the home farm in McLean county he was reared. He was married there in May, 1868, Miss. Sarah Deardorff, who was born in Ohio, but spent the greater part of her girlhood days in Indiana. After their marriage the young couple located in McLean county, where Mr. Ramey carried on general farming for several years, and in 1879 he came to Sangamon county, locating on a farm in Springfield township. He has since been a successful agriculturist of this community and owns a tract of ninety acres of rich land which returns to him golden harvests for the care and labor he bestows upon it.

Unto Mr. and Mrs. Ramey have been born seven children: Elizabeth, now the wife of George Miller, of Sangamon county; J. A., also living in this county; Grant, who is married and resides in Springfield township; E. J., who is married and resides near his father; Emma, the wife of Leslie Taylor, of Clear Lake township; Laura, the wife of William Hamrick, of the same township; and Maude, the wife of John Hamrick, of Springfield township.

Since casting his first presidential ballot for General U. S. Grant in 1868 Mr. Ramey has supported for the presidency every nominee of the Republican party. He has also kept well informed on the questions and issues of the day and believes the Republican platform contains the best elements of good government. IN 1892, he was elected commissioner of highways and he is the present efficient overseer of the roads and is well worthy of public regard because of his capability in discharging his duties and his loyalty to the public trust. He has lived in Illinois for twenty-five years and is a man of well tried honesty and integrity, whose life has been quietly but honorably passed and who by the exercise of correct business principles has won a fair degree of success.