The Biographical Dictionary of America/Ames, Oliver (governor of Massachusetts)

AMES, Oliver, governor of Massachusetts, was born in Easton, Mass., Feb. 4, 1831, son of Oakes and Eveline (Gilmore) Ames. After a public-school and academic education he entered Brown university for a partial course of study. He gained a practical knowledge of all branches of the shovel manufacture, at which he served a full apprenticeship, and he became a member of the firm of Oliver Ames & Sons. He held various offices in the state militia, and was chosen in 1857 lieutenant-colonel of the 4th Massachusetts regiment. He was interested in town affairs, and served for twelve years as a member of the Easton school committee. Mr. Ames enjoyed a well-deserved reputation as a business man and financier, and was conspicuous in railroad, banking and manufacturing enterprises, by means of which he acquired a large fortune. In 1880 he was elected to the state senate, and was re-elected to the same position in 1881. In 1882 he was elected lieutenant-governor on the Republican ticket, although the candidate for the governorship on the same ticket was defeated by Gen. B. F. Butler, the opposing candidate. Mr. Ames was re-elected to the same office for three successive years, with George D. Robinson as governor. In 1886 he received on the first ballot the almost unanimous vote of the Republican state convention for governor, was elected, and for the two following years was re-elected to that office, which he worthily filled. He was at one time the president of the Merchants' club of Boston, and he was also president of the Boston art club. Brown university conferred upon him the honorary degree of LL.D. in 1892. During the last year of his life he was engaged in the erection of a high-school building for his native town, which was dedicated Dec. 12, 1896, and which is a monument worthy of the donor. He died at North Easton, Oct. 22, 1895.