Sutton and Related Families Genealogical Website
Alexander Ramsey
Born: 8 Feb 1766 in Ireland
Married: Grace M. Smith on unknown at unknown
Died:25 Jan 1840; Butler County, PA
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Biographical information was last updated: May 9, 2026.
Born 8 February 1766, Alexander emigrated to Pennsylvania from County Down in Ireland in 1786 (he was 20). He lived for ten years in Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania, then moved in 1796 to Butler County where he was one of the first permanent settlers. He married Grace Smith and subsequently acquired 400 acres of land in Butler County, in Cranberry Township. He built his first house, a log cabin, on the site of Emmanuel Kirschler's residence in Cranberry Township. He and his wife had either 6 or 7 children. The 1800 census lists an Alexander Ramsey in Butler County with one male over the age of 45 in the household, along with one female between the ages of 16 and 26 plus another female under the age of 10. In 1807 he subscribed to "A Dictionary of the Holy Bible" by John Brown of Haddington, Scotland. Alexander was nearly 67 years old when he died 25 January 1843 on the farm. Burial was in the east section, row 4 of the Ramsey family plot just outside Evans City. (from my grandmother Grace (Ramsey) Sutton's genealogical records)
Alexander Ramsey, Sr., the progenitor of the Ramsey's of Butler County was born in Down County, Ireland, in 1776, and came to America prior to the year 1786. He remained in Westmoreland County, Penna. for some years and in 1796 he settled on a tract of government land in what is now Cranberry Township, Butler County, containing 400 acres; built a cabin in the midst of the forest and began the work of clearing a farm. Returning to Westmoreland County, he married Grace Smith and brought his young bride to his home in Butler County. She was born in Chester County, Penna., in 1776, a daughter of James Smith, who served in the Revolutionary War and fell at the Battle of the Brandywine. They reared a family of seven children as follows:
Mary, deceased wife of Isaac Young; Hannah, who married Joseph Robison, James, John, William, Alexander, and Anthony, all of whom are dead except Alexander. Mr. Ramsey and wife were members of White Oak Springs United Presbyterian Church and died in February 1840 and 1845, respectively. Politically, he was a Democrat and throughout the Pioneer days was influential in the local council of his party. (Both are buried in the Ramsey Cemetery in Cranberry Township)
Taken from "History of Butler County", Published in 1895
Alexander Ramsey, the grandfather of William H., came to Pennsylvania from County Down, Ireland, in early manhood. He married Grace Smith, who was born in Chester County, Pennsylvania, and subsequently acquired 400 acres of land in Butler County. He built his first house on the site of Emmanuel Kirschler's residence in Cranberry Twp. Both he and wife died on their farm, on which they had reared a large family, many of whom have descendants all through this portion of the state. The children of Alexander and Grace Ramsey were: James, father of William H.; John who lived and died on the home farm and married Sarah Covert; Alexander, who married Sarah McGeorge and reared a large family, died on an adjoining farm; Anthony, a farmer, who married Eliza McGeorge; Mary, who married Isaac Young, died in Jackson Twp; and Hannah who died near Butler, married John Robinson.
Taken from the Butler County History of 1909, with the story of the William H. Ramsey
As late as 2002 there was a Ramsey reunion that apparently was a yearly event in the Evans City area.
Here is a link to the Ramsey reunion flyer that my mother had stored in her genealogy records: 2002 Ramsey Reunion
An article in the Cranberry Eagle newspaper on August 7, 1996 provides historical information regarding Alexander Ramsey and the early beginnings of Cranberry Township.
A Dedication of Memorial at the Ramsey Family Cemetery was held on June 29, 1996.
Written records from my grandmother Grace (Ramsey) Sutton shows Alexander died in 1843.
References
Last data update: May 9, 2026
Find A Grave internet website for grave markers, https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/39843353/alexander-ramsey Citation post date: 2025-08-20
Personal genealogical research information and notes provided by Grace (Ramsey) Sutton, Personal Genealogical Records Citation post date: 2026-05-05
Personal genealogical research information and notes provided by James E. Sutton III, Research conducted in Aug 2025 Citation post date: 2025-08-20