JOHN WESLEY RAMEY A merchant, financier and president of the Russell Times Company, John Wesley Ramey has achieved the full measure of success, and his activities have been of direct benefit to Russell, which for nearly twenty years has numbered him among its leading citizens. He was born January 15, 1873, in Floyd county, Kentucky, and his parents were Abraham C. and Angeline (Adkins) Ramey. His father was a native of Pike county, Kentucky, and on February 3, 1912, was called to his final rest. He was a minister of the Christian church and filled pastorates in Floyd, Pike and Johnson counties. He was imbued with firm faith in the doctrines he preached, and a life of much usefulness and far-reaching influence won for him the respect, honor and affection of all with whom he was associated. John W. Ramey was a pupil in the public schools of East Point, Kentucky, and afterward took a normal course at Prestonsburg, this state. He taught school for two years in Floyd county and for a similar period in Greenup county. In 1899 he turned his attention to commercial pursuits, opening a general store in Wurtland, Kentucky, and was its proprietor for two years. He sold the business in 1901 and for three years was a traveling salesman for the Union Grocery Company, a wholesale house of Greenup, covering Carter, Lewis, Mason and Greenup countles. In 1904 he located in Russell, becoming the owner of a small grocery store formerly conducted by W. H. Green. Mr. Ramey has wrought a marvelous transformation in the business, converting it into a fine department store, and handles dry goods, groceries and other merchandise. He is the owner of the building in which it is housed and in 1916 erected the structure, which constitutes one of the architectural ornaments of the town. He is one of the foremost merchants of northeastern Kentucky and his annual business transactions amount to one hundred and fifty thousand dollars. He believes in judicious advertising and gives to his patrons good values for the amounts expended, never resorting to questionable methods in order to attract trade. Mr. Ramey's enterprising spirit has led him to venture into other fields, in which he has been equally successful. He was one of the founders of the First National Bank of Russell and is president of the institution, which upholds the financial stability of the community, carefully safeguarding the interests of depositors and stockholders. He aided in forming the Russell Building & Loan Association, which has enjoyed a steady growth, and acts as its treasurer. He also aided in establishing the Times, the first newspaper issued in Russell, and is president of the corporation. The paper embodies the best elements of modern journalism and under his wise management has grown continuously in power and usefulness. Mr. Ramey is a business man of exceptional capacity, unerring in his judgment, and his identification with an undertaking is a guarantee of its success, for the word "fail" has no place in his vocabulary. Mr. Ramey was married June 28, 1895, to Miss Myrtle M. Franz, a daughter of Edward and Ella (Worthington) Franz, of Wurtland, Kentucky. Mr. and Mrs. Ramey have a family of seven children: Eleanor, Evelyn, John Edward, Gladys, Woodrow, Dorothy and Lloyd Francis. Mr. Ramey gives his political allegiance to the democratic party, and his public spirit finds expression in his connection with the local board of education. He is one of the influential members of the Russell Chamber of Commerce and his fraternal affiliations are with the Masons and the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. A tireless worker, Mr. Ramey seems readily to comprehend the possibilities, opportunities and difficulties of a business situation and avoids the latter while improving the former to the fullest extent. He has reaped the rich harvest of his labors and at the same time has won the respect, confidence and good will of his fellowmen, for the principles of truth and honor have constituted his guide throughout life. taken from "history of kentucky, published 1928. hope this helps someone �