New-York tribune., 1873-05-09

! apoplexy complicated with pneumonia. He died
very easily, passing away without struggle in the
presence of his wife. his three sons, his daughter
| Mrs H. w. French and her husband
! Mrs. 0. A. Ames, his granddaughter; Mrs.
| Maria II Ames his sister Mrs. s. A. WthereIl. the
Hon. Oliver Ames, his nephew. the Hon. Fred l..
Ames. and DR.. Geo. b. Cogswell his family physi-
clan who has scarcely left his bedside day or night
since he was taken sick. The funeral will take
place from his late residence at North Easton, on
! Sunday, May IL.
Seventy years ago there were, at point %
miles from Boston. q few hamets which formed the
nucleus OF what the OF ElstOn. In one of
these resided blacksmith named Oliver Ames He
was an honest. industrious tradesman, who might have
formed the subject OF LCngfelow's village blacksmith
for like him. be led quiet, contented LIFE and was sat-
ised with the local fame he enjoyed maker OF good
shovels. Assisted by few workmen, he would make
load Of these useful implements then proceed
10 Boston, whore he found market for them. Grad
uay his business improved, and he became leading
man IN his trade. He affected by the bad times
which followed the close OF the Of 1872 and
we find him corresponding with Gen. Marcus Morton,
then member Of Congress from Massachusetts, relative
to an increase in the duty shoves The General
plies him quite courteousT, assuring him that ho will
endeayor to secure the shovel industry proec
ton as Congress will eoncede. Oliver pursued
his business persistently, resisting all induce
lnents 10 leave EastOn. and increasing the
capacity his workshop 20 the growing demand
for his wares. until length It became the
sive in the country Two were born to him. Oakes
and Oliver, the former In 1904 the latter a few years
later. Oakes whose death now recorded was edu-
Gated at public school, and then entered his fathers
workshop Finding in due time that he had moderate
wealth at his command, Oakes speculated largely, and
ultimately lost about s100OOOO by the failure OF Caor
nian merchants Ths disaster, however, did not dis
#s.F..
vide reputation orders poured in from Australia
well as from all parts OF the Union. Every shovel was
as perfect good workmanship and careful inspection
could make b and although foreign manufacturers pro-
duced cheaper article, there something about the
American implement which commended II % the CalifOr
man miner or the Australian pioneer The demand
consequently improved with the growth Of the country
and when the civil war began the Ameses worth
about s4OOOOOO af which OIkes's share large
one. Oliver Arnes, the father. had continued in the
business died this time, leaving his interest
mainly 20 Oakes and oliver 1t is 10 be recorded Of
Oakes that he did lose faith in the Unon When many
persons boarded their wealth sent it TO Europe
when others closed their factories expecting general
collapse, kept his workshops busy and evnced un-
doubted confidence in the triumph OF the national cause
He had nearly attained his Goth year without taking an
active part in politics holding office, when Gov An
drew invited him 10 seat in the Executive Council Oh
Massachusetts His duties therein discharged sat-
y,
hcans TO become candidate for member OF Congress in
the lid District He was returned by large majority,
and in March, l83 he entered that House where he was
to be so strongly tempted and fall. He elected IN
all five times to Congress- the votes he received, and
the majority he had each time, being as follows:
ls62-Amps 9271 Swan. 5,ssi majority. 3,3i7.
1S6i-Ames 1881 Mcclure, 5266 maJonty s325.
1S66-Ames 1851 Ide, 2.i56 majority, I.l-5.
1sCS-Ames 1898 avery, 5,6g5 = majority, o,5oo
1s7O--Ames, 9367 Avery, 6,Ol3i majority, J,554
As these figures show, the district was all along
strongly Republican and Ames needed only the regular
nomination to be successful. He however always
the popular candidate and did need party machinery
TO be successful He was good employer, aided liber
aliv the Unitarian Church. OF which he member.
promoted education, and af4ble and agreeable in
manner assuming pretensiOns account Of his vast
wealth
In the House OF Representatives Mr. Ames silent
and apparently inactive member He placed on the
committees Revolutionary Claims and Manufactures
bodies which only trivial and, at best self-im-
posed duties. His vast wealth and experience however
attached great weight To his views, and on industrial
questions listened 70 with attention in committee
or at informal conferences He q strict partisan,
voting Loyalty with his party all important matters,
without questioning whether his course was right or
wrong He was only a short time in Congress
when, In Difference to the popular demand, steps
were taken TO construct Pacific railroad Congress
granted a charter with liberal land grant and subsidy,
but the incorporators found it difficult TO enlist capital
he secured large interest the railroad, and then pro-
ceeded 70 discover how he might realize the largest
profit on his investment There two courses open to
the directors among whom Ames and his brother OhYer
were the leading spritsOne was 10 build the road eco
nomically, and pay back TO the Government all that
could be sparedthe other TO make tue building OF the
road apparently 30 costly that would absorb the Gov
ernment subsidy and large sums beside. Ames and his
copartuers chose the latter contract made with
Oliver Ames for building Of the greater part OF the
eastern section Of the road which agreement IL was IN
derstood he transfer TO corporation called tue
Credit Mobier Of America composed mainly at first OF
directors Of the Union Pacific Railroad The plan which
the directors had in view forming this corporation
was strictly carried out. The sums realized
from the Government subsidy from the sale Of mortgage
bonds and from other sources were absorbed Dy tho
Credit Mobier. adding largely 20 Ames's accumuatons
and securing him the reputation OF a great hnan-
cier In Washington In order 70 carry out
this measure successfully it found necessary TO
procure favors from Congress. while It was deemed
more important still to make friends who would ward
Of nvest CATION. HO had learned by experience that
prominence in politics and wealth are seldom allied, ana
he knew also how willing most men are TO engage IN
speculation and gratded they are when the return
"A ouiek and large. Impressed with these commonplace
notions he proceeded TO enlist leading members IN
the Credit Mobier enterprise by selling them shares
below the real value and deferring payment therefor
until the coming dividend paid for the principal ana et
a liberal surplus beside. 1t is well known how sue
cessful he was, and how Senators and Representa-
tyes who had long resisted greater temptations fell
into the snare allowed themselves TO be conquered
by the prospect OF sudden wealth When he had thus
made influential copartners. Mr.. Ames feo seSure he
knew tnat self interest would Sencefortb make tbs mem
bers reluctant TO the progress OF an enSs
prise in which they more or less Interested Ihe
Union Pacific Railroad duly Completed yielding
millions 10 Oakes Ames and his brother All this might
never have been made public had not Ames quarreied