A. Ames

Major A. Ames, son of Elisha and Elizabeth (Cook) Ames, was born in Luzerne county, Pa., in 1809. The ancestors of the Ames came from Ireland at an early day, settled in York state, where Elisha was born. The Cooks are of English origin in Connecticut, where Elizabeth was born. Elisha Ames served seventy-four months in Washington's own command during the Revolution, afterwards settled in Delaware on a farm, moved thence to Pennsylvania, where he carried on a lumber yard with his farm, and died there in 1846. They were the parents of thirteen children, of whom M. A. Ames and his sister Polly, now Mrs. Sylvester Sommers, are the only survivors. M. A. Ames remained with his father for two years after arriving of age. In 1831 he came to Peru, Ill., in 1832 moved to Paw Paw Grove, entered eighty acres there for the present occupier, Mr. Price, and in 1846 came here and purchased 160 acres, which he has cultivated up to the present time. In 1849 he married Miss Maria Barber, a native of New York, of which state her parents were also natives. To this marriage ten children were born, of whom seven are living: Alva, Louisa, Edward, Minerva, who married D. Sturm; Frank, who married M. Harmon; all of this county; Sophia, now Mrs. L. L. Liggett, of Johnson county, Neb., and Henan, of this county. The mother of this large family died in 1863, as related in the history. In politics he is Democratic, having voted for Andrew Jackson in 1829. He has, for almost sixty years, stood by the old General's party. In religious matters he is not a church member; but is said to give hearty support to all Christian societies. For several years he has served as school director, and for over forty years has taken a full part in the development of his adopted home.