Ellis County Sheriff's Office, Kansas
End of Watch: Monday, June 7, 1875
Age: 27
Tour of Duty: Not available
Badge Number: Not available
Cause of Death: Gunfire
Date of Incident: June 7, 1875
Weapon Used: Gun; Unknown type
Suspect Info: Shot and killed
Sheriff Ramsey was shot and killed when he and a deputy encountered two horse thieves while traveling to Stockton, Kansas. They observed a horse trail in Rooks County and went to investigate to see if the county's most wanted man and horse thief was involved. They encountered two men attempting to sell horses and a shootout ensued. Sheriff Ramsey and one of the suspects were killed. The second suspect was wounded and apprehended, but acquitted at trial.
When Sheriff Ramsey's 24-year-old wife was told of his death she went into a state of shock and died a few days later. He was a Union Civil War Veteran.