| Among the many thriving and prominent
towns of Central Iowa, AMES, in this Centennial year, is deserving of front
rank and prominent mention. It is situated on the line of the Chicago &
Northwestern Railway, three hundred and twenty-four miles west of Chicago,
one hundred and sixty-five miles east from Council Bluffs, thirty-seven
miles North from Des Moines, and within a few miles of the geographical
center of the State.
The town took its name from the late Hon. Oakes Ames, of Massachusetts, a man of world-wide notoriety and formerly an active pioneer in western railroad enterprise. He always manifested a lively interest in the improvement and welfare of his western namesake, which took practical and material shape on more than one occasion. It is not presumptuous to declare that even in the great and growing West, where often under the stimulus of unexpected or suddenly inaugurated public improvements, or private enterprise, towns spring into existence and become objects of local wonder and speculation in a day, few instances can be found of towns whose record will bear favorable comparison to the truthful history of AMES. It dates its birth in the fall of l864, and its paternity to the enterprise of John I. Blair, the "Railroad King" of Iowa, as exhibited in the building of the Cedar Rapids & Missouri River Rail Road, now operated by the Chicago & Northwestern R. R. Co., forming an important link in their line from Chicago to Council Bluffs. While towns already established along the line of this road, were inspired with new life by its completion, AMES was one of its creations. It was finished to this point in October 1864 and nearly simultaneously with that event the town was laid out and the first dwelling house within what is now the incorporation, was erected and occupied during the same month by Noah Webster who is still a citizen of AMES. Although the road was completed to this point and beyond at the time above stated, regular trains for freight and passengers were not run until the following June. On the opening of the road for general business in 1865, H. F. Kingsbury came as local agent, discharging at the same time the rather onerous duties of Express Agent. Mr. Kingsbury soon engaged in mercantile pursuits, and was the first postmaster appointed at this place, the duties of which position he continued to discharge in an acceptable manner until the spring of 1869, when he was superceded by L. Q. Hoggatt who held the office until June, 1871, when he was succeeded by S. L. Lucas who was the incumbent until his death which took place Dec. 29th, 1875. |
In February, 1876, his widow, Mrs. Hattie A. Lucas,
was appointed and commissioned as his successor in office, the duties of
which she has since discharged. In July, 1871, a Postal Money Order Office
was established here, the disbursements of which during the quarter ending
June 31, 1876, were about $2,100.00, and the amount received during same
period for orders sold was about $6,000.00. It may be proper here to note
that this is an office of the third class, the salary being $1,200.00.
This latter fact is presented as one index of the intelligence of our people.
Incorporation of the Town
The results of this measure have justified the most ardent hopes of our people. Under it our streets have been graded and drained, sidewalks built, and other improvements made tending to beautify the town and advance the convenience, health and happiness of our citizens.
CHURCHES If the number and respectability of church organizations, is to be taken as an index of the character of a community, we may justly be denominated a religious people. Beyond a care for educational interests, another characteristic of our Yankee nation, is their earnest and commendable desire to evangelize the world. The citizens of AMES in large proportion come of that puritan stock who made all other interests subservient to the paramount one of religious development. Methodist Episcopal Church
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