Page:The Biographical Dictionary of America, vol. 09.djvu/29

 RALSTON

RAMSAY

RALSTON, James Qrier, educator, was born in Chester county. Pa., Dec. 28, 1815; son of Samuel and Nancy Hays (Grier) Ralston ; grand- son of John and Christiana (King) Ralston, and a descendant of John and Mary (McCummack) Ralston, who came from Ballymena parish, county Antrim, Ireland, to "Craigs," or the Irish settlement in Northampton county, Pa., about 1733. He was graduated at Washington college. Pa., 1838; attended Princeton Theological semi- nary, 1839—10 ; was principal of Oxford Female seminary, Chester County, Pa., 1841-15 ; was or- dained by the presbytery of New Castle, Dec. 17, 1815 ; founded, and was principal of Oakland Fe- male institute, Norristown, Pa., 1845-74 and 1877- 80. He was a student of natural history and chem- istry and the discoverer of a fluoride of alum- inum and calcium, the mineral being named Ralstonite after the discoverer. He received the honorary degree of LL.D. from Lafayette college in 1865, having served as trustee of that institu- tion, 1860-65 ; and the degree of D.D. from Wash- ington and Jefferson college in 1868. He died in Norristown, Pa., Nov. 10. 1880.

RAMBAUT, Mary LucindaBonney, educator, was born at Hamilton, N.Y., June 8. 1816 ; daughter of Benjamin and Lucinda (Wilder) Bonney, and granddaughter of Benjamin Bonney and of' Abel Wilder, both of Chesterfield, Mass., and both soldiers in the Revolution. She ac- quired her education at Hamilton academy, and at Troy Female seminary, graduating from the latter in 1834, and taught at Jersey City, N.J., New York city, De Ruyter, N.Y., and at the Troy Female seminary, successively, 1834-42. She was a teacher at Beaufort and Roberville, S.C, 1843-48, and in 1850, with the assistance of Harriette Dillaye, opened the Chestnut Street Female seminary, Philadelphia, Pa., which soon became an important institution. It was re-

rKoN-r view

moved in 1883 to Ogoutz. near Philadelphia, the estate formerly occupied by Jay Cooke (q.v.), where it continued to increase in attendance and influence. In 1879, with Mrs. Amelia S. Quinton (q.v.), she was instrumental In forming the Women's National Indian association which led the popular movement for Indian citizenship, es-

tablished fifty missions among the Indians, made loans, and provided many with homes and educa- tional advantages. In March, 1881, Miss Bonney was elected president and in 1879 a first petition, endorsed by 50,000 signatures, was sent to the President and both houses of congress " to guard the Indians in the enjoyment of all the rights guaranteed to them by the faith of the nation."' A second petition with 100,000 signatures affixed was sent in 1880 and a third in 1881. In 1880 she resigned as senior principal of the Ogontz school and in the same year was made a delegate to the World's Missionary convention at London. While in London, she was married to the Rev. Dr. Thomas Rambaut (q.v.). After her husband's death she made her home with her brother in Hamilton, N.Y'.. wliere she died, July 24, 1900,

RAMBAUT, Thomas, educator, was born in Dublin, Ireland, Aug. 25. 1819. His parents were Huguenots, and he attended the Huguenot academy at Portarlington. Ireland, and was grad- uated from Trinity college, Dublin, Ireland, in 1839. He came to the United States in 1810, and settled in Savannah, Ga., where he intended to enter upon the study of law, but decided to study for the ministry. He was principal of Beach Island academy, D.C., 1843-43 ; was ordained to the Baptist ministry, 1843, and was pastor of churches at Robertsville, S.C, 1843-44, and at Savannah, Ga., 1848-56. He was professor of ancient languages at Cherokee Baptist college, Cassville, Ga., 1856-63, and president of Cherokee Baptist college, 1857-63. He was professor of history and Roman literature in Georgia Military institute. Marietta, Ga., 1863-64, and agent of the Baptist Home Missionary society, preaching in nearly every southern state, 1864-67. He was president of William Jewell college, Liberty, Mo., 1867-74, meantime filling the chair of philosophy and theology, 1868-73 ; and traveled abroad, 1873- 74, visiting the principal European universities, under the authority of the trustees of the college. He was pastor of Baptist churches at Brooklyn, N.Y''., Newark, N.J., Albany, N.Y^.. and Franklin Pa., 1874-84, and returned to Brooklyn, N.Y.. in

1887. He was the general delegate of the Baptist church in the United States to the World's Mis~ sionary convention held at London, England, it*

1888. The honorary degree of A.M. was con, ferred on him by Mercer university, Macon, Ga., in 1857 and that of LL.D. by Madison university. New Y'ork, in 1860. He removed to Hamilton, N.Y., in 1888. and died there, Oct. 15. 1890.

RAMSAY, David, delegate, was born iu Dunmore, Lancaster county, Pa., April 2, 1749; son of James and Jane (Montgomery) Ramsay. He was graduated from the College of New Jersey, A.B., 1765, A.M., 1768 ; was a tutor in Maryland, 1765-67, and was graduated M.B. from