Absalom Calvin Ames

Well directed ambition and a spirit of enterprise and progress dominating all the activities of his career have brought Absalom Calvin Ames prominence and success and a place among the substantial and representative farmers of Allamakee county. He owns three hundred and twenty acres of valuable land on section 22, Franklin township, and he give practically all of his attention to the development and improvement of this property, reaping the reward of his labors in its increasing productiveness and added value.

He was born in Morgan county, Ohio, August 11, 1857, and is a son of Erastus Haskins and Plesy Jane (Davis) Ames, also natives of Ohio, the former born January 26, 1834, and the latter January 25, 1839. The father went to Wisconsin in 1859 and located in Crawford county, two miles south of Retreat, where he now lives retired. He is a veteran of the Civil war, having served for one year as a private in a Wisconsin regiment. He saw a great deal of active service and became familiar with life in the arm hospitals, having been confined in one of them by a serious illness.

Absalom Calvin Ames is the oldest in a family of ten children. He acquired his education in a district school at Rush Creek, Crawford county, Wisconsin, and remained at home until he was twenty-one years of age. At that time he rented land in Crawford county and after two years purchased the property, whereon he resided for nineteen years thereafter. At the end of that time he sold his farm, purchasing another, upon which he made his home for two years. In October, 1903, he came to Iowa and bought the farm on section 22, Franklin township, where he has since resided. His holdings comprise three hundred and twenty acres of valuable land and the farm is highly developed and well improved in every particular, Mr. Ames’ practical and progressive methods having been attended with excellent results. He conducts the property as a general stock and dairy farm and keeps large herds of high-grade cattle and good grades of hogs and horses. He is a stockholder in the Luana Creamery Company and the Luana Shipping Association and in business circles is known as a farsighted and discriminating businessman, whose sagacity is far-reaching and whose integrity is beyond reproach.

On the 31st of August, 1879, Mr. Ames was united in marriage to Miss May S. Scheid, a native of Crawford county, Wisconsin, born March 13, 1863. She is a daughter of Charles and Louisa (Sallander) Scheid, natives of Germany, born on the banks of the River Rhine, the former October 23, 1834, and the latter in March, 1839. In early life they crossed the Atlantic to America, the father going directly to Wisconsin, where he first rented land in Vernon county and later purchased property in Sterling township, that county, continuing upon this property until his death, which occurred January 25, 1899. His wife survives him and still resides upon the homestead. The father was a veteran of the Civil was, having served in that conflict as a member of the same regiment with which Erastus H. Ames was connected.

Mr. And Mrs. Ames have become the parents of thirteen children: Plesy Jane, who was born July 6, 1880, and died October 4, 1881; May Louisa, born March 12, 1882, who is the wife of Herbert Jones, residing near Delavan, Wisconsin; Charles William, born March 20, 1884, who married Bertha Rohn, of Springfield, Wisconsin; Floyd Ray, born October 13, 1886, who wedded Laura  Roderick and is engaged in farming in this county; Amos Harrison, whose birth occurred on the 4th of March, 1889; Veranus Eldridge, born April 16, 1891, who married Miss Minnie Barr and resides in this county; Theresa Martha, whose birth occurred July 14, 1893; Iva Etta, born September 26, 1895; Austin Davis, January 26,1898; Miles Calvin, March 20, 1901; Alice Effie, May 30, 1904; Orrin Lester, January 6, 1907; and Agnes Elizabeth, January 18, 1909.

Mr. Ames is a member of the Modern Woodmen of America and is a republican in his political beliefs, taking active interest in community affairs but never seeking public office. He is entirely responsible for his own success, for it has been founded upon his sound judgment, his ability and untiring energy--qualities which have gained him a place among the substantial farmers and valued citizens of Franklin township.

-source: Past & Present of Allamakee County; by Ellery M. Hancock; S. J. Clarke Pub. Co.; 1913
-transcribed by Diana Diedrich

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