WI BIO - Lafayette Co - AMES, Harry
Commemorative Biographical Record of Counties of Rock, Green, Grant, Iowa and 
Lafayette, Wisconsin, Containing Biographical Sketches of Prominent and 
Representative Citizens, and of Many of the Early Settled Families. Chicago: 
Beers, 1901, p 919

Harry AMES, proprietor of the "St. Charles Hotel" at Belmont, one of the most 
popular and successful hotel men of Lafayette County [Wisconsin], who keeps a 
neat and tidy establishment and caters to the wants of his patrons in a 
hearty and taking manner, was born in Albion [Orleans County], New York, in 
October 1847, a son of George W. and Sarah (HOWELL) AMES, who were born in 
England, and brought to this country when young. George W. AMES learned the 
painter's trade in New York, and after some years of married life in that 
State, moved to Detroit [County], Michigan, where his wife [Sarah (HOWELL) 
AMES] died in 1857, leaving him three children, who are grown up and residing 
in different parts of the United States. After the loss of his wife, George 
W. AMES returned to Albion [Orleans County], New York, and is now engaged in 
the grocery business in that city.

Of his children [the children of George W. and Sarah (HOWELL) AMES], (1) 
William, his oldest son, was for some years in the service of the Detroit & 
Bay City Railroad, and is now engaged in the real estate business in Bay City 
[Bay County], Michigan; he [William AMES] married Miss Ida BARNS, of Lapeer 
[Lapeer County], Michigan, and is the father of four children. (2) Lizzie 
AMES was born in New York in 1845, a student of the high school at Erie [Erie 
County], Pennsylvania, and married Bernard GOOD, who is the superintendent of 
the dead letter department of the postal service at Washington, D. C.; they 
[Bernard and Lizzie (AMES) GOOD] have five children, who were born at Detroit 
[Wayne County], Michigan. [The subject, (3) Harry AMES, is the third child 
of George W. and Sarah (HOWELL) AMES.]

Harry AMES received his education in the schools of Erie [Erie County], 
Pennsylvania, and began to take care of himself very early in life, earning 
his way as a newsboy. For two years he was a driver for Charles READ on one 
of this canal boats, navigating the Erie Canal. In 1871 he [Harry AMES] 
secured a position on the Philadelphia & Erie Railroad, running from Erie to 
Kane [McKean County], Pennsylvania, being on that division eight years.

Mr. [Harry] AMES and Miss Mary POWERS were married in 1885 in Janesville 
[Rock County], Wisconsin. She is the estimable daughter of Anthony and Ellen 
POWERS, who were born in Ireland, and are still living in Janesville. After 
his marriage Mr. AMES located in Rockford [Winnebago County], Illinois, where 
he was a contractor for seven years. In 1892 he opened a restaurant at 
Belvidere [Boone County], Illinois, and made his home in that city for two 
years. In 1894 he moved to Beloit [Rock County], Wisconsin, remaining two 
years, and then passed a similar period in Monroe [Green County, Wisconsin]. 
In September 1898 Harry AMES came to Belmont [Lafayette County, Wisconsin] 
and assumed the management of the "St. Charles Hotel," which he has 
successfully conducted to the present time [1901]. He has a livery barn in 
connection with his hotel, and that is an important part of his business.

To Mr. and Mrs. AMES [Harry and Mary (POWERS) AMES] were born three children: 
(1) Pearl, born in Rockford [Winnebago County], Illinois, in August 1889, 
is now a student in the Belmont schools, and is well advanced in music for a 
child of her age; (2) Hazel was born in Rockford [Winnebago County, 
Illinois] in 1891; and (3) Harry W. was born in Beloit [Rock County, 
Wisconsin], in 1893.

Mr. [Harry] AMES is a Republican, and is a member of the Brotherhood of 
Locomotive Firemen. He fired the first engine that ran from St. Paul to 
Aberdeen, over the H. & D. Railroad. He was brought up in the Baptist 
church. Mr. AMES is one of Belmont's genial, whole-souled landlords, and he 
has made many friends among the people of this region by his manly and 
courteous ways.

Submitted by Cathy Kubly