New national era. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1870-1874, 1873-02-27
= The Ames Family.

| A correspondent of the Springfield ReyEb.
I lean writes of North Eaton, the birthplace
and home Of Cakes Anes, the man who jus.
now stands in so disgraeeful prominence be-
| fore the American public. The town is mid.
way between Boston and Fall river, on the
line Of the Old Colony and Newport Railroad.
In this place is the great shovel mandatory
OF Cakes Ames j Co. The number of hands
employed in the various departments of this
| factory ranges from 300 to 400. In an ordi-
nary season each DAYS work produces 3. COO
shovels. Cakes and Oliver Ames are the
senior partners OF the firm, and their sons
comprise the company.
Oliver Ames, ST., the father Of Cakes and
Oliver, began the business in very humble
way, first as a manufacturer of nails, and
then OF shoyels, in a small one-story build.
ing, with no machinery. The little shop gave
way TO larger one each succeeding year
saw steady gain over the preceding one,
and when, ten years ago, Oliver Ames died,
his little nail aud shovel shop had grown to
be one OF the leading industries OF the nation.
and Ames' shovels were known and used
throughout the world. He died at all ad-
yanced age, having lived to see flourishins
town grow up around him, which, in a large
measure, owed to him its existence and pros
perity. He was universally respected-a
keen, energetic man Of business, vet singu-
larly straightforward and upright in his deal
ings.
The Ames family have ALWAYS been in
terested in the welfare of North Easton. and
every scheme for public Improvement meets
their ready support and receives from them
substantial aid. They have always been
firm advocates of the temperance cause, and
have waged relentless warfare against the
liquor traffic in their midst. And this has
not been without its perceptibe effect, for |
will venture to say that no other town in the
State. in which the foreign element so largely
predominates, can show so good temperance
record as does this place Three of four
years ago Cakes Ames began building an
elegant school house, with the intention of
presenting ii to the district in which he re-
sides, but before its completion the school
district system was abolished, and, not car
ing to include the whole town in his liberalty,
he offered TO sell the building at slight ad-
vance upon cost. After much controversy
upon the subject the town finally bought the
house, and some people have been so ungen-
erous as to assert that Mr.. Ames knew that
this measure was to be brought before the
Legislature, and would probably be success
ful, and he took advantage Of this knowledge
to realize few " dividends" by specializing
In school houses. OF the two brothers Oliver
Ames is regarded the general favorite, and
he is certainly morally and intelligently the
superior. If you want favor go to Oliver
ne will grant it If it is within his power; and
II not he will give you courteous refusal,
which is more than you will always get from
Cakes, who is as rough and blunt as one of
his own shovels.
The people of this village met the. "cam-
paign SANDER" at first with indignant denial,
then with attempted defense, which has given
place to feeling of almost personal shame
and humiliation. The Ames family has been
held in such high esteem that the detection
of Cakes 10 keenly felt.