In 1877, Thomas Abner  “Ab” Ramsey arrived in Janesville from his native Iowa. In Janesville, he had numerous relatives, as his mother was a McMurphy. In February 1882, he went into partnership with John T. Masten to purchase the Benjamin Wood ranch in the Tule District of the Honey Lake Valley, each paying $2,000 for the 400-acre ranch. It should be noted that Masten had been a resident of this district since 1872, who had purchased the adjoining John M. Kelley  ranch (now Tanner 2016). Within two years, it was no longer just a business proposition, but a family affair when Ab Ramsey married Masten’s daughter, Minnie, on Christmas Eve, 1884.

More changes were on the horizon when in 1886, they sold the ranch to the Dotta Brothers. (Seasoned residents will know this property as the old Bailey Ranch, now owned by Jay Dow). In the meantime, Masten purchased a 640-acre just south of Susanville on Richmond Road from David Knoch for $12,000. The two families relocated to their new home.

In 1892, Ab Ramsey purchased the Marc Bantley place on Johnstonville, about halfway between Susanville and Johnstonville. It should be noted that at all three ranches they had dairy cows.

In 1907, John Masten and his wife Amelia decided it was time to retire, after all he was now 74 years old. Ab Ramsey purchased Masten’s ranch and the Masten’s opted to retire at Pacific Grove, commonly referred to as Honey Lake Heaven. A little over ten years later, Ab and Minnie Ramsey would follow suit. In 1919, his sons, Frank and Roy took over the Richmond Road property, and another son, Masten the Johnstonville Road property.

In 1940, Masten sold the Johstonville Road property to Millard Ulch and moved to Likely. The Richmond Road property was a different story. Frank Ramsey died suddenly in 1921, and his wife Grace continued with the ranch later marrying John Millsap. Over the years, they eventually purchased Roy Ramsey’s interest. In 1960, Grace Millsap sold the ranch to Les and Lyn Allen.

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