Matthew Ignatius Ramsey was born on April 23, 1886 in Abbeville, Louisiana. His parents were Laura Alice O’Bryan and Ambrose Knox Ramsey. He married Edolise Meyers and they had five daughters and one son. Ramsey died at the age of 68 on February 26, 1955 in Beaumont, Texas.

Ramsey lived most of his life in Gueydan, where he formerly served as mayor from 1917-1919. As a newspaper man, her published and edited numerous newspapers: "The Church Point Democrat", "The Washington Progress", "The Gueydan News", and "The Kaplan Times" (the latter two of which he also owned). In addition, Ramsey was the owner of the Filmdom Theatre (Motion Pictures) of Gueydan.

Ramsey was a fourth degree member of the Knights of Columbus. He was a charter member of the KC in Gueydan and a member of St. Anthony’s Catholic Church in Beaumont.