The History of the Yakima Valley, Washington, Comprising Yakima, Kittitas and
Benton Counties, The S.J. Clarke Publishing Co., 1919, Volume II, page 334

JOHN B. RAMERMAN.

John B. Ramerman, who now owns thirty-six acres of valuable land two miles
southeast of Zillah, of which twenty-five acres are in orchard, is one of those
valuable citizens whom Holland has furnished to the United States. He was born
in that country, February 4, 1852, a son of William and Johanna (Meyerenberg)
Ramerman, both of whom passed away in their native land. Throughout his life the
father was successfully engaged as a merchant.

John B. Ramerman passed his boyhood and youth under the parental roof in his
native country and there acquired his education. He began his independent career
there but at the age of twenty-nine crossed the Atlantic in order to profit by
the chances presented here for a quicker rise. In 1881 he arrived in the United
States and at first located in Cleveland, Ohio, where he worked for others, but
later established himself in the coal business. He was thus engaged for about
nineteen years but in 1900 sold out and, having heard favorable reports in
regard to the opportunities for horticulture in the Yakima valley, he made his
way to Yakima county and at first rented eighty acres three miles northwest of
Granger. Two years later he acquired title to thirty-six acres two miles
southeast of Zillah and this he now has in a high state of cultivation. He has
made many improvements and instituted modern equipment and, moreover, has
erected a handsome farm residence. Twenty-five acres are devoted to orchard,
principally apples, but he also raises a few pears, while the remainder of the
tract is under the plow. Since taking up horticulture Mr. Ramerman has closely
studied the latest methods along that line, and profiting by his own experience
and that of others, he has succeeded in developing a property from which he now
derives a very gratifying income. He has raised corn sixteen feet high and his
picture taken in his corn field was exhibited at many local fairs and also at
the World's Fair.

In November, 1879, Mr. Ramerman was united in marriage to Miss Albertine Bos,
also a native of Holland, and to this union have been born the following named:
William, who is a rancher near his father's place and is married and has two
children; Harry, who is also engaged in ranching in the vicinity and is married
and has six children; John, who fills the position of principal of schools in
Iowa; George, who fills a similar position at Lynden, Washington, and has a wife
and one child; and Jerry, who is also married and is farming his father's place.

Mr. Ramerman and his family are highly respected by all who know them. He has
ever been deeply interested in religious matters and assisted in building the
Christian Reformed church, of which he is a devoted member. In politics he is a
republican but outside of performing his duties at the ballot box has had no
connection with public life although he is helpfully interested in all
movements undertaken for the development of the district in which he resides. He
is a loyal American citizen who has made American ideals his own and has become
a valuable resident of this country.

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Submitted to the Washington Bios Project in December 2007 by Jeffrey L. Elmer.
Submitter has no additional information about the subject of this article.