SAM P. RAMSEY, president of Traders’ State Bank, is classed with the representative business men of Cleburne and has been connected in various ways with its progress and development, so that the consensus of public opinion is very favorable regarding his worth as a citizen and business man. He was born at Alvarado, Johnson county, Texas, his parents being John J. and Nancy (Clark) Ramsey. He is a brother of Judge W. F. Ramsey, who is represented elsewhere in this work and in whose history more elaborate mention is made of the parents.
Samuel P. Ramsey was reared and educated in the place of his nativity, but in early life entered upon his business career in a clerical position in an abstract office at Waxahachie, Ellis county, Texas. He became a resident of Cleburne about 1880 and this place has since been his home, covering a period of a quarter of a century. He has been connected with active business enterprises throughout this entire period save for six years spent as county clerk of Johnson county. He was first elected to that office in 1894, and he served by re-election for three consecutive terms, discharging his duties with promptness and capability. After spending a short time in Shawnee, Oklahoma, he returned to Cleburne and became a factor in the promotion and establishment of the Western Bank and Trust Company, of which Fred Fleming of Dallas is the president. The company was organized in 1903 and had a highly successful existence, conducting a general banking business. Mr. Ramsey was manager for the company at this point and when the State Bank Act became effective he organized the Traders’ State Bank here and was made its president. He is recognized as a thoroughly reliable representative of financial interests, conducting his business affairs in a most honorable manner and in accordance with a high standard of business ethics. He is a man of keen discernment, of marked enterprise and also has the executive ability and energy which enables him to carry forward to successful completion whatever he undertakes.
Mr. Ramsey was married in Cleburne to Miss Onie Bishop, a daughter of W. B. Bishop, a prominent old time resident of Johnson county, who at one time was county clerk. There is a little son born of this marriage, William Bishop Ramsey. Both Mr. and Mrs. Ramsey enjoy the friendship and favorable regard of many with whom they have been brought in contact and as a citizen his worth is widely acknowledged, for he has co- operated in many movements for the general good, giving active and tangible aid to measures that have resulted in material intellectual and moral progress here.
Source: B. B. Paddock, History and Biographical Record of North and West Texas (Chicago: Lewis Publishing Co., 1906), Vol. II, p. 19.