George Lafayette Ramsdale
Paradise, Wise County, Texas
Marker Inscription
George Lafayette Ramsdale (1820-1884) was a native of Devonshire, England. By 1836, he had come to Texas and enlisted in the army during the war for independence from Mexico. After the Revolution, Ramsdale, his wife, Elizabeth (1825-1909), and their children lived in Harrison, Rusk, Houston, and Bosque counties. During the Civil War, he served the Confederacy by protecting the frontier. The family moved to Wise County in 1866, where he farmed and operated a tannery. His military service, adventuresome spirit, and community leadership are significant examples of the state's pioneer heritage. (1985)
Erected by Texas Historical Commission
The Story
George Lafayette Ramsdale left Devonshire, England, and by 1836 had reached Texas, enlisting in the army during the war for independence from Mexico. He and his wife Elizabeth moved across several counties before the Civil War, when he served the Confederacy guarding the frontier. Settling in Wise County in 1866, he farmed and ran a tannery until his death in 1884.
Why it matters
Ramsdale's journey from England to the Texas Revolution and frontier defense captures how immigrants poured into the young republic and helped fight and settle its edges.
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Related people
- · George Lafayette Ramsdale
- · Elizabeth Ramsdale
Themes & tags
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