Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1907-03-08


from death than he did at Gettysburg,
and vet he escaped in way that was
truly miraculous. Ever since that day
he has firmly believed that there Is
Divine Providence who watches over
humanity, and guides the footsteps OF
those who trust Him. Captain Ames,
then first lieutenant OF his battery, was
directed to plant the guns at a certain
point on top of a hill overlooking -
enemy's country, where any app
OF the confederates could be ST "a.
He met his major general, saluts mo
asked about the order. The sitter
pointed out the prominence, al Ames
reconnoitered on horseback. ne was
far away from his picket lines. in the
enemy's territory, and when he reached
the spot pointed out was surprised to
see Jump out OF the very bowels of the
earth a rebel officer. you Yankee
----- ----- --." the confederate
said, Are you thru looking? Surren-
der!" Before him, staring him in the
federate pickets, who were hidden On a
rayine. He realized he was practically
surrounded, but he never gave up hope.
He knew the feetness of his horse, and
wheeled without word to the left,
darting for point $50 yards away.
where he saw he could outtiank the
enemy. Crack, crack, crack went the
rifles. Whiz, whiz, whiz the balls, as
they sped close to his ears. His horse
fairly few, clearing the dense UNDER
growth in leaps and bounds, urged on
by Ames' spurs. He reached his lines.
scarcely knowing whether he was alive
or not. None OF his men thought he
would be. He examined himself,
Eleven bullet holes pierced his cloth
Ing, and but one bullet had grazed the
skin sufficiently to draw blood.
Sketch Of Amss' Life.
Nelson Ames was born in Mexico, N.
r., Dec. 81, 1888. and in that town was
recruited the battery which he was la
ter to command. He lived at Mexico
until Sept o, 1851, when he was mus
tered into the service as first lieutenant
OF Battery G, First New York light ar
tillery, Second army corps. He was
promoted to the captaincy of the bat
terry in December, 1862, and remained
in that capacity until November, 1864,
when he was mustered out owing to
his impaired physical condition and
health.
In 1856 Captain Ames went to Penn
sylvania, and entered in the oil bus
iness, and after a residence of few
years, left in the winter of 1912, for
Kansas, where he engaged in cattle
raising. At Columbus, Neb on June
IL, 1872, he was married to Miss Julia
Buerley, and shortly after his wedding
moved To California, where he again
engaged in stock raising In the noun
tains. The winter Of 1894 was a se-
we're one, SHOWS were heavy, and Mr..
Ames; lost 400 head of cattle, and con-
sequently small fortune. He returned
to his native home in 1876, and started
years. He came to this city on March
!, 1881. and has been a resident of
Marshalltown ever since.
His Later Career.
G Captain Ames has been honored by
the city of his adoption by his election
as mayor, member of the city council.
and justice Of the peace for Marshall
township. In the spring of 1886 he
was first elected mayor, succeeding j..
H. IL. Frisbee. He served until the
spring of 1891, when the late Henry
Arson followed him. a
I'm the spring of 1894 he again en-
tered the public life Of the nicipaltty,
and was elected to the council from
the Fourth ward. succeeding A. A.
Moore. He was succeeded by Richard
Mcclure in 1896.
i AS republican candidate for justice
4l~ ,,ooo ~ nv mos WoS S1IccaSSfnI
and served two terms
Ames' "cane" Episode.
Marshalltown people who We're con-
yersant with the affairs Of the day
when Captain Ames was mayor, will
recall with interest an episode in his
official career that brought him COM
siderable newspaper prominence at the
time.
The Iowa Soldiers Home had then
only recently, been opened for member
Ship and the members, in the blue un-
forms. were something of novelty on
the streets There was an ex-member
of the British navy who was lounging
about town, and as he was heavy
had more or less money to
spend, and was generally pompous He
delighted in casting slurs at the blue
uniformed members of the home, and
one day picked. on the wrong man
when he termed him a government
pauper." The veteran replied to the
insult by breaking his cane over the
Jack Tar's head. City Marshal EN-
met Waters arrested the assailant and
the Englishman appeared as complain
ant in the mayors court. Ames lis
tened to the Englishman's story, of
how he had been unprovokingly as
saulted by the old soldier, and showed
the wound on his head to substantiate
his allegations. There was no doubt
that the veteran had used his cane to
good advantage, and the broken stick
was an exhibit in the evidence. Mayor
Ames insisted on hearing the veteran
side of the story, and when the old
soldier told how the Englishman had
called him government pauper, the
mayor Immediately discharged him.
and instructed Waters to take the COM
planning witness down street and buy
him the best cane he could find. Ames
added: Tell him that I will buy all
the canes he can break over the heads
Of people who call defender of his
country a pauper."
Wife, Sisters and Brother Survive.
Captain Ames leaves in his immedi-
ate family only his wife, with whom
his life during many years has been
most happy one. Two sisters, Mrs. M.