- HAMMOND SAMUEL AMES, the genial and popular liveryman of
South Bluff street, Janesville,
- is a Veteran Union soldier. He is the only son of Lester
AMES - one of the early settlers of Center Township - and was
born in Chautauqua County, N.Y., Aug. 29, 1843. His grandparents,
Samuel and Lucy (BUSH) AMES, came from Connecticut to Stafford
Township, Genesee Co., N.Y., very early in the development of
that section. They opened up a farm in the heavy timer, four
miles from the present city of Batavia. Samuel AMES was a contractor
and builder, and erected a large number of dwellings in Stafford
and Byron. He also developed the fine farm of 320 acres, which
is now in the possession of one of his granddaughters, and includes
a very excellent sugar-maple grove. Mr. AMES was an active member
of the Methodist Church, and a prominent Whig and Republican.
He served as Justice in Byron, and was widely known for sterling
qualities of character. He died in the spring of 1865, aged eighty-seven
years, and his widow survived to the age of ninety-two. They
had three sons and a daughter, Lester being the second of these.
The AMES family is of English origin, and Oakes and Oliver AMES,
prominent American citizens, were nearly related to Samuel. The
wife of the latter came of Scotch ancestry. Samuel AMES was captain
in command of a company of American soldiers in the Mexican war.
- Lester AMES was born in Stafford, where he grew to manhood.
He assisted his father in building
- operations, thus becoming an expert carpenter, and also learned
the cooper's trade. While resident in Byron he married Eleanor
DUNBAR, whose immediate ancestors - of English origin - came
from Connecticut. He soon after removed to Chautauqua County
and bought a farm. Here four of his children were born, and when
the youngest was two months old the mother expired. He then sold
his farm, and, leaving the children with his parents, came west
to look for a new home. In the autumn of 1845 he purchased a
farm in Center Township, on which he settled in the spring of
1846. His death occurred in August, 1865, and was caused by cancer,
which carried him off at the early age of fifty-one years. His
religious connections were with the Methodist Church. He was
an earnest Republican and an active supporter of the public schools,
in whose management he was often called to officiate. For his
second spouse he took Mrs. Betsey RICE, a widowed sister of his
first wife, who bore him one daughter. Following are the names
of his offspring, in order of birth: Adaline J. died at Footville,
while the wife of Charles CAMPBELL; she was a teacher and taught
in the Footville school two years before her marriage. Josephine,
also a teacher, married Charles G. HUNT, and died at Janesville
in 1864. Hammond is the third. Eleanor (Mrs. Sanford B. HAYNOR)
resides in Chicago. Elvira D., now the wife of Daniel SHAW, dwells
on the homestead near Footville.
- H. S. AMES was reared in Rock County, and was educated at
the public schools in Footville and
- Janesville. When seventeen years old he engaged as clerk
in the store of BENNETT & BOSTWICK, at Janesville, where
he continued a year and a half. On the outbreak of the Civil
War he was among the first to enlist - his name being enrolled
as a member of Company E, 5th Wisconsin Infantry. This was on
the 25th of April, 1861. When the regiment went into camp at
Madison, he joined it, and this gave the first knowledge of his
enlistment to his father. The latter procured his release, because
of his youth, and brought him home to the farm. After a few days
spent in the hayfield, the patriotic youth determined to again
join his regiment, which was now about to move to Washington.
Securing permission to drive his favorite horse to Janesville,
he there gave the animal in charge of a neighbor to drive home,
and proceeded by rail to join the brave Fifth. The first service
of the regiment consisted in quelling a riot at Milwaukee, after
which it went to Washington and became part of the Army of the
Potomac, under Brig. Gen. King. It was soon transferred to Gen.
W. S. Hancock's brigade and went into winter camp on the Virginia
side of the Potomac. The first battle in which Mr. AMES took
part was that of Williamsburg, Va., May 5, 1862. For its action
in this engagement the regiment was personally addressed by Gen.
McClellan in words of thanks and warm praise. Here Mr. AMES was
slightly wounded in the ankle. He was then successively exposed
at Golden's Farm, Savage Station, White Oak Swamp, Malvern Hill,
Crampton's Gap, Antietam, Fredericksburg and Marye's Heights.
In February, 1863, the "Light Davison" of the 6th corps
was formed by Gen. Pratt for special service in reconnaissance's
and movements requiring great activity, and this included the
5th Wisconsin. The storming of Mary's Heights was undertaken
on the 3d of May, in the face of terrible opposition, and in
the ascent of that steep slope, Corporal AMES was shot through
the left thigh. After lying nearly two months in Armory Square
Hospital, at Washington, he was granted a forty days' furlough
for recuperation. He rejoined the regiment in August, at New
York City, where it was employed for some time in enforcing the
draft. Their first action, after again joining the 6th corps,
was at Rappabannoch Station, and the next at Locust Grove, in
the Mine Run expedition. During the first days' fight of the
Wilderness campaign, Sergt. AMES was shot through both thighs
and was discharged - his three years' term of enlistment having
been for some time expired. After recovering from these injuries
he was appointed, on the recommendation of his former officers,
to the position of distributing clerk in the quartermaster's
department at Memphis, Tenn. This he was compelled to resign
at the end of six months, by serious illness, and was unfitted
for business for a year. After farming a year he bought a half
interest in a drug store at Boscobel. Tiring of store confinement
he sold out and bought a farm near Brodhead, which he operated
till he purchased his present place of business in 1880. He has
a fine property, including two residences, and enjoys a good
business. He is a member of the G.A.R., a Royal Arch Mason and
Odd Fellow. He attends Christ Episcopal Church, of which his
wife is a member. His wedding took place Oct. 18, 1865, the bride
being Miss Victoria ARMSTRONG, a native of Groton, N.Y. Her brother,
Dr. L. G. ARMSTRONG, was a department surgeon during the War
of the Rebellion, and is now President of the Wisconsin State
Medical Association. Mr. and Mrs. AMES are valued members of
Janesville society, and enjoy the peace which they have earned.
-
- Taken from "The Portrait and Biographical Album of
Rock County, Wis." (c)1889, pp. 454-455.
-
- Courtesy of Carol
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