Ramona’s livery barn—located east of main street on a large lot—was operated by the Coulson family.  The barn was a hip-roofed building with fenced corrals for horses and livestock.  The Coulsons provided livery services to Dr. Saylor, Ramona’s only physician.

Dr. John Harvey Saylor completed his medical training at Kansas University in 1904 and promptly moved to Ramona to start his practice.  He lived in the small yellow house on the west side of what is now “C” Street.  The house still stands.

Doc Saylor began his practice in the days of horse and buggy, and almost lost his life on one occasion, while trying to reach a patient during a snowstorm.  His rig was struck by an oncoming train at the crossing east of Ramona, near the St. Paul’s Lutheran Church.  The horse was killed, and the buggy demolished.  With a broken leg, Doc Saylor crawled to the church parsonage for help.

Saylor served the Ramona community until 1925, when he left to become Marion County’s first Health Officer.

The Coulsons eventually sold the livery business to Lewis Smith, who continued as long as there was a demand.  The Smiths retained a herd of horses, which were used for maintenance work on the city streets and township road.

“I recall Elmer Smith with a four-horse team, pulling a drag over the streets.  They raised an enormous cloud of dust.”

Dale Sondergard

The rig that was used to grade the streets is still in Ramona, resting in a special spot at the corner of 360th and Quail Creek.

The Ramona Oil Company was started because automobiles were becoming more prominent.  Howard Button built a bulk gas station, on the triangle of land just north of the railroad tracks (the intersection of 3rd and F, today).  Two large storage tanks, along with pumps, were on this land, with a pipeline running to the railroad siding, since gasoline was shipped in by tank car.

Mr. Button was a farmer when he began this company, but as business flourished, he eventually gave up farming.  The Durham Oil Company bought the business in 1929, followed by Newt Kleopfer, and finally Ben Brunner.

The Ramona Garage, owned by Maurice Stroda, was the last filling station in Ramona; Maurice quit pumping gas in 1994.