The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1893-09-16
DEATH OF +. |. AMES.
His Body Pound in His Room on q
Fall River Steamer.
wEALTHIEsT MAN IN NEW ENGLAND

His Fortune Estimated at Thirty-fye
Million Dollars-Noted for His Modest
Domeanor and Devotion to Commerce,
Art and Science.
NEW YORK, Sept. 14.-Frederick L.
Ames, vice president of the Old Colony
railroad, and millionaire, was found
dead Ill state room of the steamer Pill
grim, soon after her arrival ut Pier %,
North river
O'Clock Captain Davis sent messenger to
him. There was no response to the mes
senger's knocks, and when told of this
Captain Davis became uneasy. He waited
until 10 O'Clock, when he ordered that the
state room window be broken open This
was done, and Mr.. Amos was then seen to
be lying on his face upon the floor He
was dressed only in his night shirt His
clothing had been neatly arranged on the
hooks in the state room.
The coroner's investigation into the death
OF Mr. Ames develops the fact that he
died from cerebral apoplexy, and a certi-
hcate to that effect was given
BOSTON, Sept. 14.-Mr Ames, whose
death is announced from New York. was
not only the richest man in New ENGLAND,
put was one of the most widely esteemed
OF the citizens of the commonwealth He
performed his widest public service in the
active intelligent direction of the many
railroad and other corporations with
which he was identified. He had been for
many years the working director of the
Union Pacific, which his uncle and father
originally built. He was also an active
director in the General Electric corpora
ton, the Western Union Telegraph COM
pany, the Chicago and Northwestern, and
about seventy other railroad companies
lie headed the list of directors in all the
leading trust companies of Boston,. was
the largest real estate owner in tho city.
and had very large real estate interests in
Kansas City, Omaha and other growing
places in .he west.
Mr. Ames was a member of the corpora
ton of Harvard college, and identified
with many charitable organizations Not
withstanding his vast interests in rail
roads, real estate and manufacturing, he
kept we'll abreast of the best literature and
the latest discoveries in science.
MIR. Ames leaves five children, about
S3o.OOOO GOO, and one of the widest circles of
friends and business associates of any
man i'll the United States He was SO
years of age.
MT. Ames was Il member of the corpora.
ton of Harvard college, and identified with
many charitable organizations He had
collection of orchids, said to he the finest
i'll the United States. These were kept ut
his estate in North Easton, and he had
many valuable paintings, rare china, etch-
ings, etc, at his home on Boston
Notwithstanding his vast interests in
railroads, real estate. and manufacturing,
Mr.. Ames kept himself we'll informed in
matters literary and scientific
Oliver Ames. IT,, second son of the dead
millionaire, arrived in Boston with the
body of his father at o'clock this morn
ing over the New Haven and Hartford
road.
Mr.. Ames was son of the second Oliver
Ames, and grandson of the original
Oliver Ames, who founded the shovel
making industry in Easton. The founder
of the family had two sons-Oliver. the
father of Frederick L., and Oakes. the ex-
congressman and father of Ex-Governor
Oliver Ames. The last named is thus a
cousin Of the dead millionaire, but al
though man of great wealth his fortune
is not probably more than $4,000, 900.
Frederick L. Ames was born in North
Easton, Mass, on June 8, 1885
Mr.. Ames was an untlring methodical
and constant worker passionless patient,
punctual and swift in determination.
Plain and transformations in dress and
habits. this millionaire would never be
taken for other than an everyday shovel
maker until you came to drive bargain
with him or interest him in railroad. He
was to he found daily at his Office
from about o'clock until 2 o'clock, but
after the latter hour it was impossible to
induce him TO talk about any matter of
business.