"Per the bio for Sarah/Benjamin's son William, it says that Sarah's father was John (Mapps), born in New Jersey. "

Knox County, Illinois Biographies - 1886



BENJAMIN RAMP - One of the most important factors in the prosperity of Knox County is found in the person of the subject of this biography, who is a farmer and stockdealer, living on section 3, of Haw Creek Township. He is one of the solid men of the county, owns considerable property, and is an instance of what energy of purpose combined with industry and persistent toil can do.

Mr. Ramp was born in Cumberland County, Pennsylvania, 20 November 1815, and is the son of William and Mary (Hebberling) Ramp, both natives of Pennsylvania. The family was originally of German lineage, as their patronymic goes to show. The subject of this recital removed to Miami County, Ohio, in 1844, and engaged in farming. In 1848 he removed to Knox County, Illinois and took up his abode on section 3, Haw Creek, where he now resides. He owns 2,000 acres of land in this county, located in Haw Creek, Persifer, and Truro Townships, all, except 300 acres of pasture, under a high state of cultivation. Mr. Ramp has one of the best dwellings in the township, built of brick and costing upward of $6,000.00. The grounds are laid out in a tasteful and picturesque manner, and the barn, corn-houses and out-buildings are first class in every respect and second to none in the county.

On the 26th of October, 1837, he deserted the ranks of single blessedness and was united in marriage to Sarah Mapps. She was the daughter of John and Elizabeth (Highland) Mapps and was born in New Jersey. Her mother was a native of Pennsylvania, from a family of English origin on the father's side and Irish on the mother's side. To Mr. and Mrs. Ramp have been born 13 children, as follows:

(1) Elizabeth, born 10 April 1839, was the wife of John W. Cook, and deceased 14 January 1862;
(2) William was born 4 October 1840, united in marriage with Octavia Fravel, and lives near Yates City, Illinois;
(3) Mary Jane, born 28 October 1843, is the wife of Henry Bell, residing in Persifer Township;
(4) John, born 10 March 1842, died 11 August 1842;
(5) David was born 6 September 1845, was married to Virginia Vores, of Persifer Township, their present home;
(6) Aaron, born 1 March 1847, died 14 January 1854;
(7) Benjamin, born 11 December 1848, died 5 June 1850;
(8) Samuel, born 11 November 1850, united in marriage with Amanda Jacobs, who lives in Truro Township, this county;
(9) Jesse M. Born 11 February 1853, died 31 October 1853;
(10) Asa M., born 24 January 1855, married Deborah Westner, and lives in Truro Township;
(11) Cephas A., born 18 November 1856, married Julia Biggerstaff, and lives in Persifer Township;
(12) James W. born 22 February 1859, married Mary Biggerstaff, and resides in Haw Creek Township; and
(13) Charles A., born 12 August 1862, is married to Sarah Estella "Stella" Green, of Haw Creek Township. They reside at home, assisting to carry on the home place.

Mr. and Mrs. Ramp have 40 grandchildren and 6 great-grandchildren.

When Mr. Ramp moved to Ohio, in 1844, he only had about $150, and when he came to Knox County, in 1848, his possessions amounted to only about $1,200 on arrival. On arriving here he purchased a farm of 87 acres. He rented a house and spent the winter in Knoxville, and desiring to earn a little money he engaged in teaming from Knoxville to Peoria. On the third trip, going down the Spoon River Hill, the staple on the neck-yoke broke; Mr. Ramp was walking, and in attempting to catch the team he was thrown to the ground, the wheels passing over his left leg, which necessitated its amputation at the upper part of the thigh. From this accident he was all winter recovering, and when in the spring he moved out to the farm with his wife and six small children, he had but a few dollars and was in debt on account of his sickness. Now a man of less courage would have been disheartened, but not so with Mr. Ramp. With commendable energy he set about to recover his fortunes, and by the exercise of foresight and good judgment he finally carved out success. Little by little he added to his landed estate, until now his broad acreage comprises one of the finest farms in Knox County. Both Mr. and Mrs. Ramp refer with much gratitude to the kind attentions bestowed on them by the citizens of Knoxville, during the sore trials; the remembrance of those kind acts will ever be green in their memories. The people of Knoxville wished to present them with two hundred dollars, but they would not accept it. In 1860, while Mr. Ramp was driving a mower, one of the wheels fell into a blind ditch, and he was thrown on the ground in front of the sickle-bar, which cut off his right arm below the elbow. Even this did not discourage him, and he still continues to manage his farms.

Mr. Ramp has held many minor offices of this county, and township, and has been Justice of the Peace for four years. Both himself and wife are members of the Presbyterian Church at Knoxville, and in politics he is a Republican. At their beautiful home, Mr. and Mrs. Ramp dispense a liberal hospitality. He ranks as one of the enterprising and public-spirited citizens of Knox County.
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This excerpt was copied from the Bible of Benjamin and Sarah Mapps Ramp (about her father, John Mapps)
At the time it was in the possession of Mrs. Lorraine Ramp Mosher

Relatives, neighbors and friends celebrated the 90th birthday of John Mapps on Monday, November 16, 1885, at 97 West Columbia Street, Springfield, Ohio. (Clark County)

John Mapps was born November 16, 1795, in Long Branch, New Jersey. His father was a soldier of the Revolutionary War. He first learned the trade of brick mason in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and after working one year in that city, went to the city of New York and engaged in the coopering business with his brother. He married in the year 1818 and in the year 1844 came to Ohio locating on the lot where he now resides and carried on the business of coopering as long as he was able to work at it. His wife died in the year 1862. There were ten children, five of whom are living.

Mr. Mapps is a member of the First Presbyterian Church. He is a great reader and a very intelligent man. His brain is the repository of many curious historical and geographical facts.