Traer Star Clipper, Friday, April 4th, 1969 – page 1
John T. Ames, who lived all of his life in the Traer community, a past Iowa grand master of Masons, and for 48 years a member of the Board of Custodians of the Masonic Grand Lodge of Iowa, died about 4 o'clock Wednesday morning in the Americana Nursing Home in Waterloo at the age of 93 of infirmities of advanced age. He had been in the Waterloo nursing home since November 17, 1968 and had previously been hospitalized several weeks.
His funeral services have been set for 1:30 o'clock Saturday afternoon in Ripley Congregational church, to be conducted by the Rev. Robert Opperman, pastor. Some of the funeral arrangements were indefinite Thursday, awaiting the arrival of a son, John Ames Jr., of Houston, Texas Thursday afternoon. All or a part of the active pallbearers will be members of Hesperia Lodge, A. F. & A M. Five prominent Iowa Masons, personal friends of John, were asked to serve as honorary pallbearers. They are Hoyt Woody, Iowa Grand master of Reasoner, Iowa, Ralph Whipple, Iowa Grand lodge secretary, and head of the State Masonic Library in Cedar Rapids, Laverne Clary, of Waverly. who is presently secretary of Grand Lodge Board of Custodians. Leslie C. Eddy of Anita, a custodian, and Guy Swartzlander, custodian emeritus and past Iowa grand master, of Indianola Masonic committal services are to be conducted at the grave in Buckingham cemetery by several officials of the Masonic Grand Lodge of Iowa.
Mr. Ames, the youngest son of Mr. and Mrs. John T. Ames Sr. , among the earliest settlers of Buckingham township in 1854, was born on the Ames homestead in Buckingham January 22, 1876. His pioneer parents had come here from Wisconsin in a covered wagon, powered by a team of oxen, and the wagon was kept by the family as a relic for many years In 1923 the wagon was in the parade during Traer's four-day celebration of its 50th anniversary, and shortly after was given to the State Historical Museum opposite the State Capitol building in Des Moines, where it has been viewed by many visitors since.
John attended the country school at Old Buckingham in boyhood, then high school in Traer, where he was graduated in 1893. He was in recent years the oldest living Traer High School graduate. After graduation he attended Stanford university at Palo Alto. California, for two years, then enrolled at Iowa State Teachers college at Cedar Falls, now the University of Northern Iowa. Before the end of the college years at Cedar Falls the nation was engaged in the Spanish-American war, and John enlisted in May, 1898, in the Waterloo National Guard company, which became Company B of the Iowa Volunteer Infantry regiment. It was trained at Jacksonville, Florida and saw service in Cuba. He was discharged from the army in May 1899 and was the teacher of a country school near Traer for a time but had begun farming on a part of the Ames homestead before his marriage to Lola Young, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. James H. Young at the Young home in Buckingham township in February 1903.
Mr. and Mrs. Ames farmed until 1916 then moved lo Traer to occupy the former D E. Baker large home opposite the Traer school which for several I years had been owned and occupied by Mrs. Ames' parents where they had spent their last years after retiring from the farm.
Mr. and Mrs. Ames were the parents of two sons, John Jr. now an engineer in Houston, Texas, and Herbert of San Rafael, California and a daughter, Mrs. Allen (Isabelle) Miller, whose husband was with the U. S. Forestry Service many years and they now live in San Diego, California. Mrs. Ames, who with their three children, five grandchildren, and five great grandchildren survive him, is in ill health and has been a patient many months in the Sunnycrest Nursing home in Dysart. She is 89 and hopes to be able to attend the services here on Saturday.
John's father died in 1902; his mother in 1905, and John is the last of their family. Two sisters and a brother died in infancy, and three older brothers, Herbert, Asa and Maurice, preceded him in death. Asa, who spent most of his life in the Traer community and served as a state senator from this district in the Iowa legislature, died in 1934. His widow, Harriett served as Traer's postmaster.
John, who for more than 60 years was one of the most widely known officials of the Masonic order in Iowa, became a member of Hesperia lodge of Traer in 1901. In 1919 he was elected by the Iowa Grand lodge as grand junior warden and as a member of the state board of three Masonic lodge custodians. As a state custodian he served a total of 48 years, and his duties required him to visit many Iowa lodges and Masonic meetings each year for many years. He was elected Iowa grand master for the year 1935-36 and was honored by many Masons and lodge officials from many places in the state, at a meeting following in Traer.
John was also a member of the Masonic Consistory of Cedar Rapids, the Knights Templar and Commandery of Vinton, and two Masonic honorary societies, the Royal Select Masters of Waterloo, and the Red Cross of Constantine, of Des Moines. He and his wife, Lola, were workers and officers in the local Eastern Star chapter, for many years. He served several times as worthy patron and was also a member of the White Shrine of Jerusalem of Waterloo where he served as Watchman of Shepherds. Mr. Ames served as master of Hesperia lodge for fraternal funeral services of deceased members of Traer and elsewhere for many years. He was honored by his home lodge when he received his 50th year membership certificate in 1951, and as a 60th anniversary member 10 years later.
John was active most of his life in Ripley Congregational church of Traer. His mother. Mrs. J. T. Ames Sr was one of seven persons who formed the Congregational church of Twelve-Mile Creek in June, 1856 at a meeting in the log cabin home of Mr. and Mrs. Christopher Hester, which then occupied a site near the present Traer C. & N W railway depot. This meeting later resulted in the building of Ripley Congregational church in Old Buckingham, which was moved to Traer shortly after the town appeared on the map in 1873, when the B. C R. & N. railroad was extended north-west from Cedar Rapids.
John and Mrs. Ames held several offices in the local church, and he was clerk of the church for several years. He was also a member of the church choir, and of the Congregational and Masonic male quartets for 40 years or longer. Until their health failed, John and Mrs. Ames seldom missed a service of the church. For years he was a member of the Waterloo Post of the United Spanish American War Veterans. John, who was a capable and interesting writer, wrote several articles for the Star-Clipper at various times including accounts of travels he had made with Mrs. Ames. He wrote an excellent history of Ripley Congregational church in connection with its Centennial celebration in 1956, and he also wrote some highlights of early history of Hesperia lodge, A. F. & A. M., for this newspaper.
The couple celebrated their golden wedding anniversary at their home here in 1953, attended by their family and many friends from near and far. Their 60th wedding anniversary date was observed by a reunion of their family in 1963, at which there was an anniversary cake from the local Eastern Star chapter, and flowers from O. E S. past patrons as well as from the Masonic order.
Of John it has been said that he was the personal friend of more Iowa Masons than any Mason in the history of the order, known and esteemed in every corner of the state. He was also a leader and all-around good citizen in his home community all of his life.
John T. Ames, who lived all of his life in the Traer community, a past Iowa grand master of Masons, and for 48 years a member of the Board of Custodians of the Masonic Grand Lodge of Iowa, died about 4 o'clock Wednesday morning in the Americana Nursing Home in Waterloo at the age of 93 of infirmities of advanced age. He had been in the Waterloo nursing home since November 17, 1968 and had previously been hospitalized several weeks.
His funeral services have been set for 1:30 o'clock Saturday afternoon in Ripley Congregational church, to be conducted by the Rev. Robert Opperman, pastor. Some of the funeral arrangements were indefinite Thursday, awaiting the arrival of a son, John Ames Jr., of Houston, Texas Thursday afternoon. All or a part of the active pallbearers will be members of Hesperia Lodge, A. F. & A M. Five prominent Iowa Masons, personal friends of John, were asked to serve as honorary pallbearers. They are Hoyt Woody, Iowa Grand master of Reasoner, Iowa, Ralph Whipple, Iowa Grand lodge secretary, and head of the State Masonic Library in Cedar Rapids, Laverne Clary, of Waverly. who is presently secretary of Grand Lodge Board of Custodians. Leslie C. Eddy of Anita, a custodian, and Guy Swartzlander, custodian emeritus and past Iowa grand master, of Indianola Masonic committal services are to be conducted at the grave in Buckingham cemetery by several officials of the Masonic Grand Lodge of Iowa.
Mr. Ames, the youngest son of Mr. and Mrs. John T. Ames Sr. , among the earliest settlers of Buckingham township in 1854, was born on the Ames homestead in Buckingham January 22, 1876. His pioneer parents had come here from Wisconsin in a covered wagon, powered by a team of oxen, and the wagon was kept by the family as a relic for many years In 1923 the wagon was in the parade during Traer's four-day celebration of its 50th anniversary, and shortly after was given to the State Historical Museum opposite the State Capitol building in Des Moines, where it has been viewed by many visitors since.
John attended the country school at Old Buckingham in boyhood, then high school in Traer, where he was graduated in 1893. He was in recent years the oldest living Traer High School graduate. After graduation he attended Stanford university at Palo Alto. California, for two years, then enrolled at Iowa State Teachers college at Cedar Falls, now the University of Northern Iowa. Before the end of the college years at Cedar Falls the nation was engaged in the Spanish-American war, and John enlisted in May, 1898, in the Waterloo National Guard company, which became Company B of the Iowa Volunteer Infantry regiment. It was trained at Jacksonville, Florida and saw service in Cuba. He was discharged from the army in May 1899 and was the teacher of a country school near Traer for a time but had begun farming on a part of the Ames homestead before his marriage to Lola Young, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. James H. Young at the Young home in Buckingham township in February 1903.
Mr. and Mrs. Ames farmed until 1916 then moved lo Traer to occupy the former D E. Baker large home opposite the Traer school which for several I years had been owned and occupied by Mrs. Ames' parents where they had spent their last years after retiring from the farm.
Mr. and Mrs. Ames were the parents of two sons, John Jr. now an engineer in Houston, Texas, and Herbert of San Rafael, California and a daughter, Mrs. Allen (Isabelle) Miller, whose husband was with the U. S. Forestry Service many years and they now live in San Diego, California. Mrs. Ames, who with their three children, five grandchildren, and five great grandchildren survive him, is in ill health and has been a patient many months in the Sunnycrest Nursing home in Dysart. She is 89 and hopes to be able to attend the services here on Saturday.
John's father died in 1902; his mother in 1905, and John is the last of their family. Two sisters and a brother died in infancy, and three older brothers, Herbert, Asa and Maurice, preceded him in death. Asa, who spent most of his life in the Traer community and served as a state senator from this district in the Iowa legislature, died in 1934. His widow, Harriett served as Traer's postmaster.
John, who for more than 60 years was one of the most widely known officials of the Masonic order in Iowa, became a member of Hesperia lodge of Traer in 1901. In 1919 he was elected by the Iowa Grand lodge as grand junior warden and as a member of the state board of three Masonic lodge custodians. As a state custodian he served a total of 48 years, and his duties required him to visit many Iowa lodges and Masonic meetings each year for many years. He was elected Iowa grand master for the year 1935-36 and was honored by many Masons and lodge officials from many places in the state, at a meeting following in Traer.
John was also a member of the Masonic Consistory of Cedar Rapids, the Knights Templar and Commandery of Vinton, and two Masonic honorary societies, the Royal Select Masters of Waterloo, and the Red Cross of Constantine, of Des Moines. He and his wife, Lola, were workers and officers in the local Eastern Star chapter, for many years. He served several times as worthy patron and was also a member of the White Shrine of Jerusalem of Waterloo where he served as Watchman of Shepherds. Mr. Ames served as master of Hesperia lodge for fraternal funeral services of deceased members of Traer and elsewhere for many years. He was honored by his home lodge when he received his 50th year membership certificate in 1951, and as a 60th anniversary member 10 years later.
John was active most of his life in Ripley Congregational church of Traer. His mother. Mrs. J. T. Ames Sr was one of seven persons who formed the Congregational church of Twelve-Mile Creek in June, 1856 at a meeting in the log cabin home of Mr. and Mrs. Christopher Hester, which then occupied a site near the present Traer C. & N W railway depot. This meeting later resulted in the building of Ripley Congregational church in Old Buckingham, which was moved to Traer shortly after the town appeared on the map in 1873, when the B. C R. & N. railroad was extended north-west from Cedar Rapids.
John and Mrs. Ames held several offices in the local church, and he was clerk of the church for several years. He was also a member of the church choir, and of the Congregational and Masonic male quartets for 40 years or longer. Until their health failed, John and Mrs. Ames seldom missed a service of the church. For years he was a member of the Waterloo Post of the United Spanish American War Veterans. John, who was a capable and interesting writer, wrote several articles for the Star-Clipper at various times including accounts of travels he had made with Mrs. Ames. He wrote an excellent history of Ripley Congregational church in connection with its Centennial celebration in 1956, and he also wrote some highlights of early history of Hesperia lodge, A. F. & A. M., for this newspaper.
The couple celebrated their golden wedding anniversary at their home here in 1953, attended by their family and many friends from near and far. Their 60th wedding anniversary date was observed by a reunion of their family in 1963, at which there was an anniversary cake from the local Eastern Star chapter, and flowers from O. E S. past patrons as well as from the Masonic order.
Of John it has been said that he was the personal friend of more Iowa Masons than any Mason in the history of the order, known and esteemed in every corner of the state. He was also a leader and all-around good citizen in his home community all of his life.
Traer Star Clipper, Friday, April 4th, 1969 – page 1
John T. Ames, who lived all of his life in the Traer community, a past Iowa grand master of Masons, and for 48 years a member of the Board of Custodians of the Masonic Grand Lodge of Iowa, died about 4 o'clock Wednesday morning in the Americana Nursing Home in Waterloo at the age of 93 of infirmities of advanced age. He had been in the Waterloo nursing home since November 17, 1968 and had previously been hospitalized several weeks.
His funeral services have been set for 1:30 o'clock Saturday afternoon in Ripley Congregational church, to be conducted by the Rev. Robert Opperman, pastor. Some of the funeral arrangements were indefinite Thursday, awaiting the arrival of a son, John Ames Jr., of Houston, Texas Thursday afternoon. All or a part of the active pallbearers will be members of Hesperia Lodge, A. F. & A M. Five prominent Iowa Masons, personal friends of John, were asked to serve as honorary pallbearers. They are Hoyt Woody, Iowa Grand master of Reasoner, Iowa, Ralph Whipple, Iowa Grand lodge secretary, and head of the State Masonic Library in Cedar Rapids, Laverne Clary, of Waverly. who is presently secretary of Grand Lodge Board of Custodians. Leslie C. Eddy of Anita, a custodian, and Guy Swartzlander, custodian emeritus and past Iowa grand master, of Indianola Masonic committal services are to be conducted at the grave in Buckingham cemetery by several officials of the Masonic Grand Lodge of Iowa.
Mr. Ames, the youngest son of Mr. and Mrs. John T. Ames Sr. , among the earliest settlers of Buckingham township in 1854, was born on the Ames homestead in Buckingham January 22, 1876. His pioneer parents had come here from Wisconsin in a covered wagon, powered by a team of oxen, and the wagon was kept by the family as a relic for many years In 1923 the wagon was in the parade during Traer's four-day celebration of its 50th anniversary, and shortly after was given to the State Historical Museum opposite the State Capitol building in Des Moines, where it has been viewed by many visitors since.
John attended the country school at Old Buckingham in boyhood, then high school in Traer, where he was graduated in 1893. He was in recent years the oldest living Traer High School graduate. After graduation he attended Stanford university at Palo Alto. California, for two years, then enrolled at Iowa State Teachers college at Cedar Falls, now the University of Northern Iowa. Before the end of the college years at Cedar Falls the nation was engaged in the Spanish-American war, and John enlisted in May, 1898, in the Waterloo National Guard company, which became Company B of the Iowa Volunteer Infantry regiment. It was trained at Jacksonville, Florida and saw service in Cuba. He was discharged from the army in May 1899 and was the teacher of a country school near Traer for a time but had begun farming on a part of the Ames homestead before his marriage to Lola Young, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. James H. Young at the Young home in Buckingham township in February 1903.
Mr. and Mrs. Ames farmed until 1916 then moved lo Traer to occupy the former D E. Baker large home opposite the Traer school which for several I years had been owned and occupied by Mrs. Ames' parents where they had spent their last years after retiring from the farm.
Mr. and Mrs. Ames were the parents of two sons, John Jr. now an engineer in Houston, Texas, and Herbert of San Rafael, California and a daughter, Mrs. Allen (Isabelle) Miller, whose husband was with the U. S. Forestry Service many years and they now live in San Diego, California. Mrs. Ames, who with their three children, five grandchildren, and five great grandchildren survive him, is in ill health and has been a patient many months in the Sunnycrest Nursing home in Dysart. She is 89 and hopes to be able to attend the services here on Saturday.
John's father died in 1902; his mother in 1905, and John is the last of their family. Two sisters and a brother died in infancy, and three older brothers, Herbert, Asa and Maurice, preceded him in death. Asa, who spent most of his life in the Traer community and served as a state senator from this district in the Iowa legislature, died in 1934. His widow, Harriett served as Traer's postmaster.
John, who for more than 60 years was one of the most widely known officials of the Masonic order in Iowa, became a member of Hesperia lodge of Traer in 1901. In 1919 he was elected by the Iowa Grand lodge as grand junior warden and as a member of the state board of three Masonic lodge custodians. As a state custodian he served a total of 48 years, and his duties required him to visit many Iowa lodges and Masonic meetings each year for many years. He was elected Iowa grand master for the year 1935-36 and was honored by many Masons and lodge officials from many places in the state, at a meeting following in Traer.
John was also a member of the Masonic Consistory of Cedar Rapids, the Knights Templar and Commandery of Vinton, and two Masonic honorary societies, the Royal Select Masters of Waterloo, and the Red Cross of Constantine, of Des Moines. He and his wife, Lola, were workers and officers in the local Eastern Star chapter, for many years. He served several times as worthy patron and was also a member of the White Shrine of Jerusalem of Waterloo where he served as Watchman of Shepherds. Mr. Ames served as master of Hesperia lodge for fraternal funeral services of deceased members of Traer and elsewhere for many years. He was honored by his home lodge when he received his 50th year membership certificate in 1951, and as a 60th anniversary member 10 years later.
John was active most of his life in Ripley Congregational church of Traer. His mother. Mrs. J. T. Ames Sr was one of seven persons who formed the Congregational church of Twelve-Mile Creek in June, 1856 at a meeting in the log cabin home of Mr. and Mrs. Christopher Hester, which then occupied a site near the present Traer C. & N W railway depot. This meeting later resulted in the building of Ripley Congregational church in Old Buckingham, which was moved to Traer shortly after the town appeared on the map in 1873, when the B. C R. & N. railroad was extended north-west from Cedar Rapids.
John and Mrs. Ames held several offices in the local church, and he was clerk of the church for several years. He was also a member of the church choir, and of the Congregational and Masonic male quartets for 40 years or longer. Until their health failed, John and Mrs. Ames seldom missed a service of the church. For years he was a member of the Waterloo Post of the United Spanish American War Veterans. John, who was a capable and interesting writer, wrote several articles for the Star-Clipper at various times including accounts of travels he had made with Mrs. Ames. He wrote an excellent history of Ripley Congregational church in connection with its Centennial celebration in 1956, and he also wrote some highlights of early history of Hesperia lodge, A. F. & A. M., for this newspaper.
The couple celebrated their golden wedding anniversary at their home here in 1953, attended by their family and many friends from near and far. Their 60th wedding anniversary date was observed by a reunion of their family in 1963, at which there was an anniversary cake from the local Eastern Star chapter, and flowers from O. E S. past patrons as well as from the Masonic order.
Of John it has been said that he was the personal friend of more Iowa Masons than any Mason in the history of the order, known and esteemed in every corner of the state. He was also a leader and all-around good citizen in his home community all of his life.
John T. Ames, who lived all of his life in the Traer community, a past Iowa grand master of Masons, and for 48 years a member of the Board of Custodians of the Masonic Grand Lodge of Iowa, died about 4 o'clock Wednesday morning in the Americana Nursing Home in Waterloo at the age of 93 of infirmities of advanced age. He had been in the Waterloo nursing home since November 17, 1968 and had previously been hospitalized several weeks.
His funeral services have been set for 1:30 o'clock Saturday afternoon in Ripley Congregational church, to be conducted by the Rev. Robert Opperman, pastor. Some of the funeral arrangements were indefinite Thursday, awaiting the arrival of a son, John Ames Jr., of Houston, Texas Thursday afternoon. All or a part of the active pallbearers will be members of Hesperia Lodge, A. F. & A M. Five prominent Iowa Masons, personal friends of John, were asked to serve as honorary pallbearers. They are Hoyt Woody, Iowa Grand master of Reasoner, Iowa, Ralph Whipple, Iowa Grand lodge secretary, and head of the State Masonic Library in Cedar Rapids, Laverne Clary, of Waverly. who is presently secretary of Grand Lodge Board of Custodians. Leslie C. Eddy of Anita, a custodian, and Guy Swartzlander, custodian emeritus and past Iowa grand master, of Indianola Masonic committal services are to be conducted at the grave in Buckingham cemetery by several officials of the Masonic Grand Lodge of Iowa.
Mr. Ames, the youngest son of Mr. and Mrs. John T. Ames Sr. , among the earliest settlers of Buckingham township in 1854, was born on the Ames homestead in Buckingham January 22, 1876. His pioneer parents had come here from Wisconsin in a covered wagon, powered by a team of oxen, and the wagon was kept by the family as a relic for many years In 1923 the wagon was in the parade during Traer's four-day celebration of its 50th anniversary, and shortly after was given to the State Historical Museum opposite the State Capitol building in Des Moines, where it has been viewed by many visitors since.
John attended the country school at Old Buckingham in boyhood, then high school in Traer, where he was graduated in 1893. He was in recent years the oldest living Traer High School graduate. After graduation he attended Stanford university at Palo Alto. California, for two years, then enrolled at Iowa State Teachers college at Cedar Falls, now the University of Northern Iowa. Before the end of the college years at Cedar Falls the nation was engaged in the Spanish-American war, and John enlisted in May, 1898, in the Waterloo National Guard company, which became Company B of the Iowa Volunteer Infantry regiment. It was trained at Jacksonville, Florida and saw service in Cuba. He was discharged from the army in May 1899 and was the teacher of a country school near Traer for a time but had begun farming on a part of the Ames homestead before his marriage to Lola Young, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. James H. Young at the Young home in Buckingham township in February 1903.
Mr. and Mrs. Ames farmed until 1916 then moved lo Traer to occupy the former D E. Baker large home opposite the Traer school which for several I years had been owned and occupied by Mrs. Ames' parents where they had spent their last years after retiring from the farm.
Mr. and Mrs. Ames were the parents of two sons, John Jr. now an engineer in Houston, Texas, and Herbert of San Rafael, California and a daughter, Mrs. Allen (Isabelle) Miller, whose husband was with the U. S. Forestry Service many years and they now live in San Diego, California. Mrs. Ames, who with their three children, five grandchildren, and five great grandchildren survive him, is in ill health and has been a patient many months in the Sunnycrest Nursing home in Dysart. She is 89 and hopes to be able to attend the services here on Saturday.
John's father died in 1902; his mother in 1905, and John is the last of their family. Two sisters and a brother died in infancy, and three older brothers, Herbert, Asa and Maurice, preceded him in death. Asa, who spent most of his life in the Traer community and served as a state senator from this district in the Iowa legislature, died in 1934. His widow, Harriett served as Traer's postmaster.
John, who for more than 60 years was one of the most widely known officials of the Masonic order in Iowa, became a member of Hesperia lodge of Traer in 1901. In 1919 he was elected by the Iowa Grand lodge as grand junior warden and as a member of the state board of three Masonic lodge custodians. As a state custodian he served a total of 48 years, and his duties required him to visit many Iowa lodges and Masonic meetings each year for many years. He was elected Iowa grand master for the year 1935-36 and was honored by many Masons and lodge officials from many places in the state, at a meeting following in Traer.
John was also a member of the Masonic Consistory of Cedar Rapids, the Knights Templar and Commandery of Vinton, and two Masonic honorary societies, the Royal Select Masters of Waterloo, and the Red Cross of Constantine, of Des Moines. He and his wife, Lola, were workers and officers in the local Eastern Star chapter, for many years. He served several times as worthy patron and was also a member of the White Shrine of Jerusalem of Waterloo where he served as Watchman of Shepherds. Mr. Ames served as master of Hesperia lodge for fraternal funeral services of deceased members of Traer and elsewhere for many years. He was honored by his home lodge when he received his 50th year membership certificate in 1951, and as a 60th anniversary member 10 years later.
John was active most of his life in Ripley Congregational church of Traer. His mother. Mrs. J. T. Ames Sr was one of seven persons who formed the Congregational church of Twelve-Mile Creek in June, 1856 at a meeting in the log cabin home of Mr. and Mrs. Christopher Hester, which then occupied a site near the present Traer C. & N W railway depot. This meeting later resulted in the building of Ripley Congregational church in Old Buckingham, which was moved to Traer shortly after the town appeared on the map in 1873, when the B. C R. & N. railroad was extended north-west from Cedar Rapids.
John and Mrs. Ames held several offices in the local church, and he was clerk of the church for several years. He was also a member of the church choir, and of the Congregational and Masonic male quartets for 40 years or longer. Until their health failed, John and Mrs. Ames seldom missed a service of the church. For years he was a member of the Waterloo Post of the United Spanish American War Veterans. John, who was a capable and interesting writer, wrote several articles for the Star-Clipper at various times including accounts of travels he had made with Mrs. Ames. He wrote an excellent history of Ripley Congregational church in connection with its Centennial celebration in 1956, and he also wrote some highlights of early history of Hesperia lodge, A. F. & A. M., for this newspaper.
The couple celebrated their golden wedding anniversary at their home here in 1953, attended by their family and many friends from near and far. Their 60th wedding anniversary date was observed by a reunion of their family in 1963, at which there was an anniversary cake from the local Eastern Star chapter, and flowers from O. E S. past patrons as well as from the Masonic order.
Of John it has been said that he was the personal friend of more Iowa Masons than any Mason in the history of the order, known and esteemed in every corner of the state. He was also a leader and all-around good citizen in his home community all of his life.
Gravesite Details
John has a Spanish American War marker on his gravesite, honoring his service.
