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History of Adair
County, Iowa, 1915.

Biographical.  Volume 2.

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Henry Ramsbottom.

Henry Ramsbottom, who has lived in Adair county for four decades, now residing on section 19, Union township, owns about five hundred acres of valuable land and is widely recognized as a leading and enterprising agriculturist of the community.  His birth occurred Waushara county, Wisconsin, on the 18th of March, 1859, his parents being John and Ellen (Foster) Ramsbottom, both of whom were natives of England.  They emigrated to the United States in young manhood and young womanhood, locating in Rochester, New York, where they were married.  A short time later they removed to Wisconsin and took up their abode among the Indians in the virgin forest, the father having purchased government land at a dollar and a quarter per acre.  In 1875 they came west to Adair county, Iowa, locating on section 20, Union township, where John Ramsbottom bought one hundred and sixty acres of land and spent the remainder of his life.  When he passed away in February, 1903, the community mourned the loss of one of its substantial agriculturists and esteemed citizens.  His wife was called to her final rest on the 5th of September, 1905.

Henry Ramsbottom acquired his early education in the district schools of Wisconsin and after the family home was established in this county attended school here during two winter terms.  In order to secure the capital necessary that he might start out as an agriculturist on his own account, he was engaged in breaking prairie for about six years, breaking as high as two hundred acres a season and being paid from two to tow dollars and a quarter an acre.  When twenty-two years of age he bought his first land, coming into possession of an eighty-acre tract on section 29, Union township, on which he built a small frame house and kept bachelor's hall for two or three years.  In the spring of 1888 he disposed of that place and bought a farm of two hundred and forty acres on section 19, Union township, which he has operated continuously since and the boundaries of which he has extended by additional purchase from time to time until it now embraces about five hundred acres of rich and productive land.  He has every reason to feel gratified with the success which has come to him, as it is in every way highly creditable and a tribute to his enterprise and energy.

On the 30th of October, 1886, Mr. Ramsbottom was united in marriage to Miss Sarah Nelson, her father being William Nelson, who came to Adair county from Ontario, Canada, in 1872 and located on the farm which is now in possession of our subject.  Mr. Ramsbottom purchased the property from his father-in-law and the latter now makes his home in Santa Monica, California.  To Mr. and Mrs. Ramsbottom have been born ten children, eight of whom survive, as follows:  Ethel, who is the wife of W. A. Henry, of Creston, Iowa;  Lyda, who gave her hand in marriage to R. W. Johnson and resides in Alberta, Canada;  and Ida, Harry, Elbert, Earl, Maud and Mildred, all at home.  In his political views Mr. Ramsbottom is a democrat, exercising his right of franchise in support of the men and measures of that party.  He has won an extensive acquaintance throughout the community during the long period of his residence here, and the circle of his friends is a wide one.

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