Erskine Ramsay

Erskine Ramsay (born September 24, 1864 at Six Mile Ferry, Pennsylvania; died August 15, 1953 in Birmingham) was a mining engineer, inventor and philanthropist.

Early life and career

Erskine was the son of Robert and Janet Erskine Ramsay of Dunfermline, Scotland (also the birthplace of Andrew Carnegie). The couple emigrated to the United States after the outbreak of the U. S. Civil War when the skills of experienced miners were in great demand. His father was just emerging from the mines to learn the mechanic's trade when Erskine, their second son, was born. They soon moved to Shafton, where Robert was given charge of the hoisting engine and later promoted to superintendent of the Frick Company's Monastery Mine. Erskine grew up in his father's machine shop and was, at the age of 13, placed in charge of managing a co-operative general store. He remained employed while studying at the public school and saved his earnings.

Ramsay was frequently withdrawn from schooling by his father, eager that he learn from practical experience in the machine shop, and, later, in the clerk's office. In 1882 Ramsay joined the senior class at St Vincent's College in Latrobe, Pennsylvania. He graduated at the head of the class the following June and, at the age of 18, succeeded his father as superintendent of the Monastery Mine. He soon set a goal of surpassing the record of four tons of coke per oven charge, and was successful. The performance earned him the superintendency of the Morewood Coke Company, which was soon expanded by the additions of the former Southwest Coal Company and Red Top Mine. The combined company, which took the Southwest name, was the third-largest coke producer in Pennsylvania, with a 20-year-old Erskine Ramsay at its head. Despite his position, though, he turned his earnings over to his father, who paid him an allowance in return.

In 1886 Frick placed Robert and Erskine Ramsay in charge of constructing the Standard Mine and Coke Works in Mount Pleasant, Pennsylvania. The operation broke all records for coke production and earned the Ramsay's wide acclaim.

References

• Price, Bem (February 16, 1940) "Erskine Ramsay: City Developer" Birmingham Age-Herald - via Birmingham Public Library Digital Collections
• Childers, James Saxon (1942) Erskine Ramsay: His Life and Achievements. New York: Cartwright & Ewing