JOHN L. RAMSEY, broker and retired farmer, Jackson, Ohio, is a son of Samuel and grandson of Moses Ramsey.  The latter was a lineal descendant from Scotch ancestors, a native of Lancaster County, Pa., where he ever lived, and followed coopering for his livelihood.  Of his children Samuel was the eldest, who was born in the same county as his father, and there grew to manhood.  In the fall of 1859 he settled in Scioto County, Ohio, where he died.  In early life he learned blacksmithing in Pennsylvania, which he also followed in Scioto County.  His wife was Mary, daughter of Thomas Lyons, of Irish parents, and also a native of Pennsylvania.  Of Samuel and Mary's nine children, John L. is the second, and was born Mar. 7, 1826, near Danville, Columbia (now Monteur) Co., Pa.  He lived until he was fifteen years of age in his native State, receiving only a meager education.  His parents then moved to Belmont County, Ohio, where he matured, and on Aug. 20, 1851, married Nancy M. Rozell, of Monroe County, Ohio, a lineal descendant from France, her grandfather having been born in that country.  In 1859 John L. and Nancy M. Ramsey settled near the town of Jackson, Ohio, having previously purchased a farm which he still owns.  In minor life he engaged in shipping coal down the river from Pittsburg to New Orleans, but owing to misfortune in the business he abandoned it and learned the blacksmith trade, which he followed to some extent together with farming, in Jackson County.  They lived on their farm until 1861, and again from 1863 to 1869, the remainder of the time in Jackson.  He has, through his life in Jackson County, been one of its most energetic stock-dealers, though now almost retired with a neat competency, the result of his and his wife’s legitimate and untiring efforts.  Mr. Ramsey has been a stockholder in both the Iron and First National banks of Jackson for some time.  He and Mrs. Ramsey are both ardent members of the Methodist Episcopal church, of Jackson, to which they have belonged for a number of years.  Mr. Ramsey is one of the well-to-do citizens of Jackson, willing to assist in all public and laudable enterprises that tend toward the elevation of the county or mankind.  Even though they have no family he has always manifested an active interest in the educational welfare of the community.  The hospitality and generosity of the family are too well known by the people of the present day to need comment.  Their residence is beautifully located at the junction of Broadway and South streets, Jackson, Ohio.
Source: History of Lower Scioto Co., Ohio - Publ. Chicago: Inter-state Publishing Co. 1884 - Page 578

JOHN R. ROWLAND, civil engineer and miner, Jackson, Ohio, was born May 9, 1840, in Cardiganshire, South Wales, the youngest of two sons of John N. Rowland, who through life has been a civil engineer, and is still living in Wales, over eighty years of age.  John R. learned his trade in Wales, working most of the time in lead mines, but the last six years he was there he was agent for John Waddingham.  He came to America in 1878 and in the fall of the same year located in Jackson.  He has been employed as surveyor for the Huron, Tropic and Globe furnaces, and since Mar. 8, 1882, has held his present position.  He was married in 1858 to Miss Magdalene Davies.  They have a family of eleven children.
Source: History of Lower Scioto Co., Ohio - Publ. Chicago: Inter-state Publishing Co. 1884 - Page 579