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VERON C. RAMSEYER, manager of the Ramseyer
Hatchery, is one of the aggressive young business men of
Oskaloosa, and one whose public spirit in proverbial. A
veteran of the World war, he not only did his duty during the
war, he not only did his duty during the war period, but upon
his return to civilian life took up the burdens of
reconstruction, and has achieved a prosperity that is all the
more to his credit, in that he has made his own way in life.
He was born at Pulaski, Iowa, August 15, 1894, a son of John
H. and Elizabeth (Brenneman) Ramseyer.
The birth of John H. Ramseyer occurred in Switzerland, and in
the early seventies he came to the United States, locating in
Davis County, Iowa. The Ramseyer family is a well known one in
Iowa, and his brother, Hon. C. W. Ramseyer, is representing
the Sixth Congressional District of Iowa in the National
Assembly. Mrs. Ramseyer was born in Davis County, Iowa.
Growing to vigorous young manhood amid healthful surroundings,
Vernon C. Ramseyer attended local schools and later Bluffton,
Ohio, College, from which he was graduated in 1919 with the
degree of Bachelor of Arts. He was a student of the law
department of the University of Michigan, and also of the
University of Chicago. In the meanwhile, however, he gave his
country a military service, in 1918 being inducted into the
army for the World war, and was a member of Company E, Three
Hundred and Fifty-first Infantry, of which he was ranking
sergeant. Sent overseas to France, he saw service at the
front, and was honorable discharged after his return to the
United States at Camp Dodge, Iowa. While in France he was
given intensive training in the Officers Training School La
Valbonne. Following his discharge in 1919 Mr. Ramseyer went to
college and continued his education as already stated.
From 1919 to 1922 Mr. Ramseyer was superintendent of Bureau
Township schools, Princeton, Illinois, and during 1923 to 1924
he was superintendent of the schools of Pulaski, Iowa. In 1923
he, his father and two brothers, Harry W. and Obern B., the
latter of whom has since died, launched the Ramseyer
Hatcheries, Incorporated, thus entering the baby chick
industry at Pulaski, Iowa. This enterprise has proven a great
success, and expanded to such an extent that in 1925 a branch
was established at Washington, Iowa; and in 1926 a fine plant
was opened at Oskaloosa, and since then the home office has
been at Oskaloosa, but all three plants are operated. Each
year approximately 1,000,000 chicks are hatched the output in
season averaging 50,000 per week. These chicks are sent to
every state in the Union. There are fifteen varieties
produced, known as the Ramseyer Master-Mated chickens, and
they took grand champion award at Iowa State Chick Show at
Ames in 1928-1929, and 1930, besides winning sweepstakes in
Kansas and Michigan. For several years Mr. Ramseyer of this
review has been general manager of the corporation, and is
devoting himself to the further expansion of the business.
In August, 1920, Mr. Ramseyer married at Berne, Indiana, Miss
Florence Lehman, born in Indiana, a daughter of J. F. and
Elizabeth (Neuenschwander) Lehman, of Swiss parentage, but
both born in the same state as their daughter. Mr. Lehman is a
banker and poultryman. Mr. and Mrs. Ramseyer have a daughter,
Janqueline Rose. Both Mr. Ramseyer and his wife are
Mennonites, but there being no church of their faith at
Oskaloosa they are associated with the First Presbyterian
Church of this city, and he is superintendent of the Sunday
School. He belongs to the Kiwanis Club, Gamma Eta Ganna of the
University of Chicago; is president of the Iowa Poultry
Improvement Association, also chairman of the Iowa Poultry
Council; president of the Mahaska County Red Cross; and is a
member of the Iowa State Sunday School Executive Council. Mr.
Ramseyer is regarded among his associates and fellow citizens
as a man of high moral and business character, and the few
years he has resided at Oskaloosa have been a period of
constant and honorable advancement in the business and social
relations of life. |
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~ source: A Narrative History of The People
of Iowa, Edgar Rubey
Harlan, LL. B., A. M.,
Chicago and New York, 1931
~ transcribed and contributed by: Debbie Clough
Gerischer, Iowa History
Project |
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