OBITUARY

Ezra D. Ames, better known as Grandpa Ames, passed away at the home of his son Wilber Ames last Monday morning after a brief illness. The deceased has not been feeling well since last autumn when he had a bad fall. Just a short time ago he celebrated his 86th birthday and was kindly remembered by a large number of old friends. He was one of the oldest citizens of this community, having come here the spring of 1856.

Ezra D. Ames, an early pioneer settler of Mower county, was born in Le Roy, Geneseo county, New York, May 15, 1826. His father was a native of Massachusetts and a millwright by trade. When five years of age Ezra D. went with his parents to Venango county, New York, for two years. They then removed to Pennsylvania, spending eight years in Mercer and Beaver counties, thence to DeKalb county, Indiana. At sixteen years of age Ezra began work with his father; one year later his father died, and he continued working with his brothers two years. He then engaged on the Wabash canal, and followed boating until 1854, when he took up farming DeKalb county, Indiana. In 1855 he removed to Cedar Rapids, Iowa, where he remained until March of the following year, when he hired a team to convey his family to Mower county, Minnesota, first living in an empty shanty which the occupied for a few weeks, in the meantime preempting land in section 21, in Lyle township, and building a log house. The same fall they moved on section 19, where a fine frame house was soon erected. Mr. Ames broke and developed the land, and set out an abundance of fruit trees, as well as planting a fine grove. In 1883 he had 250 trees all bearing fruit, it being at that time the finest and largest orchard in Mower county. He lived on his farm until 1893, at that time renting out his farm, since which time he lived with his children. His wife died June 7, 1893, at that time he lived with his children. He was married June 13, 1852, to Mary Loomis, daughter of Samuel and Christina (Swarts) Loomis. She was born in Wayne county, Ohio, May 19, 1836. They had four children: Emma, wife of A. A. Smith, now of Austin, died September 13, 1885; Ida, wife of John Summers, of Sioux Falls, S. D.; Hattie, now Mrs. Williams Jackman, of Nebraska; Wilber D., of Lyle township.

The funeral was held Wednesday afternoon at 2 o'clock at the London church and was attended by a large number of old friends and relatives. Rev. C. D. Belden of Austin conducted the services. Interment was made in Woodbury Cemetery.