Peter Ramsey, said to have been another son of Samuel, and to have followed his father and brother to America, had two sons, Peter P. and William P. Ramsey, both of whom settled in the Ramapo district of Bergen County. Peter P. married Jane Reyerson, and William P. married Hannah –. The inscriptions on their tombstones show the following facts: Peter P. Ramsey, born July 18, 1770, died March 30, 1854; Jane Reyerson, his wife, died January 28, 1825. William P. Ramsey, born December 25, 1774, died July 19, 1863; Hannah, his wife, born January 29, 1775, died August 6, 1S19. These were the first of the name in the county, and were undoubtedly the ancestors of all the Ramseys in Bergen County, including the subject of this sketch. On his mother's side John R. Ramsey's ancestors were of English descent.

Mr. Ramsey was born in Wyckoff, Bergen County, N. J., on the 25th of April, 1862, and spent much of his early life-from 1872 to 1879-with his maternal grandfather, John V. Rathbone, in Parkersburg, W. Va., where he received a private school education. In 1S79 lie returned to New Jersey and entered the law office of the late George H. Coffey, of Hackensack. He subsequently continued his law studies with the firm of Campbell & De Baun, also of Hackensack, and was admitted to the New Jersey bar as an attorney in November, 1883, and as a counselor in February, 1887. For nearly twelve years following his admission he was actively and successfully engaged in the practice of law in Hackensack, displaying marked ability as a counselor and advocate, and gaining an extensive clientage.

Mr. Ramsey has always been an active, ardent, and consistent Republican, and for many years has been a power in the councils of his party. He was the Republican candidate for the office of County Clerk, of Bergen County, in 1890, but was defeated by a very small majority, although lie ran ahead of the rest of the Republican ticket by several hundred votes. In November, 1895. lie was again the Republican candidate for that office and was elected by a majority of 961, for a term of five years from November 18, 1895, being the first Republican ever elected County Clerk in the County of Bergen. lie has discharged the duties of this office with marked ability and satisfaction, and has displayed the same energy which characterized his career at the bar. He is a member of Fidelity Lodge, No. 113, Free and Accepted Masons, of Ridgewood. N. J. of Wortendyke Lodge. No. 175, Independent Order of Odd Fellows, and of various social organizations and clubs.