Thomas Jefferson Ramsdell

Thomas Jefferson Ramsdell (1833–1917) was an entrepreneur from Manistee, Michigan. He served as the town's first and only attorney in the later part of the nineteenth century. He was a Michigan State Representative for one term; he also served several terms as prosecuting attorney for Manistee County, and one term as county treasurer.

Ramsdell developed several of the town's commercial enterprises, including a hardware store, the town's first downtown river bridge, the town's first newspaper, the town's first school house, the Ramsdell building, the Ramsdell Theatre, the First National Bank, the Manistee Water Works, and several commercial blocks in downtown Manistee.

Early life Ramsdell was born on a farm in Wayne County, Michigan, near the village of Plymouth on July 29, 1833. He is of Scottish descent; his parents came from Massachusetts after immigrating to the United States from Scotland twenty years earlier. Ramsdell had three other brothers: J.G. Ramsdell, a judge in Traverse City, Michigan, and two who were farmers, D. E. Ramsdell and W. A. Ramsdell. As a boy, he divided his time between working on his father's farm in the summers and attending school in the winter.

Ramsdell attended Plymouth Seminary in 1851. He taught school in between terms, and graduated from the Seminary in 1856. His true interest was always in the legal profession. One year he was introduced to John W. Longyear, and spent this time learning law from him. He then went on to the National Law School of Poughkeepsie, New York, graduating in 1858. While he obtained a license to practice law in New York, he immediately returned to Michigan, where he was admitted to the bar in Ingham County. Ramsdell was welcomed by the entire whiskey-drinking community, which treated him with great respect. Because of the reverence they had for him, he was never asked to drink with them. He rode the law circuit with Judge Littlejohn and was known as the father of the circuit. Ramsdell pursued many projects in the 1860s in addition to his law practice in Manistee. In November 1860 he was elected to the Michigan State House of Representatives in which he served a single two-year term. Ramsdell was also a member of the Manistee school board for eighteen years. In addition to these ventures he served as the Manistee County Treasurer and as well for several terms being the county Prosecuting Attorney.

Community involvement In 1867, Ramsdell joined in partnership with E. E. Benedict. This partnership continued until the retirement of both parties from active law practice in 1897. He also founded the First National Bank in Manistee along with others. Ramsdell developed and founded the Manistee Water Works utility. He was also the contractor for the original school house on the corner of Oak and First Street. A red brick structure with terra cotta accents in the Victorian style, the Ramsdell Building was constructed from 1891 to 1892, and was home to the First National Bank. The Manistee Daily News, on November 22 of the following year, spoke of the need for a new theater, and lack of entertainment because of the previous year's events. It suggested temporary arrangements until a permanent structure could be built. Eleven days later, Ramsdell announced that he would build a new opera house at First Street and Maple Street. Construction took two years, and the Ramsdell Theatre was finally finished in 1903. It still serves western northern Michigan today as a monument to one of Manistee's pioneers. In this theater, James Earl Jones (then known as Todd Jones) began his theatrical career.

Personal residence Ramsdell's residence was constructed in 1875, at the corner of Eighth Street and Cedar Street. It was on a wide street fronting east.

The main structure was , with a five-room wing of , and a cellar under the main building. The entrance was from the east, through a vestibule laid with tile stone of various colors. On the northeast side of the vestibule was a veranda. From the vestibule, guests entered a hall, with a winding staircase that went up to the next floor level. On the north side of the hall was parlor with a bay window. South of the hall was a library. Adjoining the library was the master bedroom; from the master bedroom bathroom was connected a conservatory.

The second story contained a sitting room and five additional bedrooms. From the second story, another winding staircase led to the third story, which had a ballroom, a room with lounge furniture, and a Centennial room. The ballroom was square, on each side, and used as a social center. From the third story was a staircase to a tower, twelve feet on each side and two stories high. From the tower could be seen a wide view of the downtown district of Manistee. The house was built of pressed Milwaukee brick, and had a mansard roof. Ramsdell's residence was lit with gas.

Personal life

While not a Kentucky Colonel himself, Ramsdell was described as having the personality of one; tall, genial, and distinguished-looking, interested in thoroughbred horses and dancing.