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.