The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1893-09-14
FRED ANES SAD DEATH
The News Received With Regret
By His Many Friends.
RICHEST MAN IN NEW ENGLAND.
An Interesting Outline OF the Finanoisr's
Caresr-Left an Estate Of e35,ooo. 900
to BE Divided Among Five Children.
He Was Ambitious

BOSTON, Sept. l4-Frederlck L. Ames
was found dead in the president state
room of the steamer Pilgrim yesterday.
He had left his Office In the Ames building
about o'clock Tuesday and appeared to
be in perfect health. He bade the gentle
men all pleasant goodby and left. He
took the regular Fall River boat train to
60 to New York to attend to some busi-
ness. When the train arrived at Fall
River Mr.. Ames boarded the Pilgrim and
was given the presidents cabin. When
the boat landed In New York Mr.. Ames
did not appear. A reasonable length of
time was allowed to pass. and when he
still remained in the stateroom the sus-
picions Of the officers Of the boat were
aroused, and the captain, purser and other
officers burst In the door of the stateroom.
Mr.. Ames was then seen to be lying dead
on his face upon the door. A hurried ex-
animation Of the body indicated that Mr..
Ames had died Of heart disease or apo
plexy. The sudden dearh of so prominsnt
q man caused the utmost excitement ON
the streets aud In the corridors Of the
hotels. The news spread like wildfire.
and few could believe the sad intelligence.
Career Of Mr.. Ames.
Frederick Lothrop Ames, capitalist.
railroad builder and director, was the son
of Oliver Ames, the second to bear that
name, and was born In North Easton,
Q,othrop) Ames. He received his early
education at Concord, and at Phillips
Exeter academy prepared for Harvard
,,.tu An ~uukavn hA erpoAssofaA In
1854.
His tastes were then inclined to law, but
in Difference to his fathers desire he went
into business. 1t was his fathers wish
that he begin at the bottom of the ladder,
and he at once became clerk In the great
Ames works at North Easton. From
grade to grade, as the rules of the estab-
lishment required, he advanced, and after
several years be was placed In charge Of
the accountants department.
Very early he showed a marked execu-
tive ability, and when. In 1853, he became
q member of the firm he was an expert
enced business man. Until 1915 the firm
name was Oliver Ames a. Sons. but In
that year 1t was reorganized as Oliver
Ames & Sons corporation, with +. l.
Ames as treasurer, which position he held
to the present time.
Early In his business career Mr.. Ames
had become interested In railroads, and
when young man was director In the
Union Pacific, the Chicago and North
western. Missouri Pacific and Texas Pa
cific railroads. Gradually he diverted his
attention from merchandise to railroads,
and at the time Of his death was officially
connected with some IS railroads and was
conceded to be one OF the best Informed
men on all matters pertaining TO this
branch Of enterprise In the country.
Many of the monetary institutions Of
Boston claimed part of his attention,
and he was identified with many charita-
BILE institutions, to which he gave much
time and money.
A Unitarian in religion, Mr. Ames at
tended the First church, Boston, and here
lent his strength, both moral and financial.
He also took an active interest in the
affairs of the church at North Easton.
He was also member of the corporation
Of Harvard college. His holdings Of real
estate In Boston were very large, and one
Of its most notable structures is the Ames
building at the corner of Washington and
Court streets.
HIS Great Wealth.
The "street" gossiped about Mr.. Ames'
wealth, as 1t always does when q
multi-millionaire dies, The estimates
ranged from $25.0O0.000 to s50,00O,00
Said one Of the most careful and expert
enced of Boston bankers, q prominent
member of the Stock exchange, mo one
except those who will not talk can tell
what Mr.. Ames was worth when he died."
The sum total Of the real estate on
which Mr.. Ames paid taxes in Boston Is
10, 100, zoe, and all of this In said to be free
of encumbrance, except the fremont
House, which had mortgage when he
bought 1t. All this real estate paid taxes
last year Of $7s,6y9, and nearly all of it
returnedsfrom to per cent upon the iu-
yestment. rs fsT
Strange to say, even as recently AZ the
pear 1875, Frederick L. Ames was not
baked for single dollars worth of real
estate in this city. In 1876 his name first
appears on the assessors books. He is
there stated rs owning $500 worth Of
property, the tax being t69.S5.
In the Financial World.
In the financial world Mr.. Amcs was
widely and favorably known. His great
wealth made km q most desirable man
for large corporations TO have as friend,
and the extended experiences which he
possessed gave his views. as expressed at
financial meetings, unusual weight and
value. The chief characteristics that he
displayed at such meetings were a de-
meanor of absolute and unfailing courtesy,
an unusually tenacious memory and q
clear aud terse manner of stating his
opinions No matter how heated the dis
cussion might become, Mr. Ames never
forgot that he was gentleman, and in
variably bore himself rs one.
His opinions on all matters connected
with the finances and administration OF
the various corporations Of which he was
a meml er we've eagerly sought. and, In a
large measure, controlled the decisions OF
The different boards. He never spoke at
any great length in support OF his views,
but seemed content to put them forward
N concise and lucid form aud let them,
Is 1t were, do most Of the talking for
themselves.
Personal Traits.
Mr.. Ames. while liberal man. was not
lavish. In his expenditures he wished
clearly to see the utility Of the object In
which he was embarkinR Wherever he