++++++++++++++++++ Baird's History of Clark County (1909): Rev. E. R. Ames, Presiding elder at the Utica Methodist Episcopal Church in 1851-1852. Edward R. Ames "WALL STREET METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH, JEFFERSONVILLE "The churches in the circuit were gradually becoming stronger, and in 1833 the church in Jeffersonville was separated from the circuit and made a station, of which the celebrated Edward R. Ames became the first pastor." [Page 245] "Among the most prominent men who have been pastors of Wall Street church may be mentioned Edward R. Ames, who became missionary secretary and later bishop." Wall Street United Methodist Church is still in existence. The address is: 240 Wall Street Jeffersonville, Indiana 47130 (812) 282-9868 +++++++++++++++++++ AMES, EDWARD RAYMOND (May 20, 1806-Apr. 25 1879), Methodist bishop, was a descendent of William Ames, who came to Braintree, Mass., from England in 1643. His grandfather. Sylvanus, was a graduate of Harvard in the class of 1767 and died at Valley Forge while serving as Anglican chaplain in Washington's army. Edward's father, also Sylvanus, was born in Bridgewater, Mass., in 1771, and in 1795 married Nabbie Lee Johnson. Two years later they migrated westward and finally settled in what is now Athens County, Ohio, in a place later called Amesville. Here Edward was born and amid rough frontier conditions was reared. His father soon became a leader in the county, serving as sheriff, colonel of the militia, trustee of Ohio University, representative in the legislature, and, from 1813 to 1823, associate judge. In his home, which was the resort of the politicians of southern Ohio and a favourite stopping place for public men on their long trips from East to West, young Ames had opportunity to see many prominent people and hear much about the political movements of the day. His formal education was meagre, but he made good use of the local Western Library Association, later the Coonskin Library, said to have been the first public library founded in the Northwest Territory, though not the first incorporated, in which his father was one of the original stockholders. For two or three years he attended Ohio University, supporting himself by teaching and other work. While there, Bishop Robert R Roberts induced him to attend a session of the Illinois Methodist Conference, and here he met two men who persuaded him to open a seminary at Lebanon. The school was a success, and was the beginning of McKendree College. In 1830 he joined the Illinois Conference, and became an itinerant minister. Ten years later the General Conference elected him corresponding secretary of the Missionary Society for the South and West. During the four years that he filled this office he travelled some 25,000 miles. On one trip he passed over the entire frontier from Lake Superior to Texas, camping out during almost the entire trip, at one period, it is said. so destitute of provisions that for two days the only nourishment he and his companions had was a little moistened maple sugar(Walker p 422-3). His task was to systematise the missionary work, take an inventory of the property, and obtain land grants from the government for educational work among the Indians. In 1844 he returned to the itinerancy and in 1818 was elected to succeed Matthew Simpson as president of Indiana Asbury University, but declined. In 1852 he was made Bishop. His Episcopal residence was Indianapolis, and during the Civil War he was energetic in behalf of the Union. He was the only Methodist bishop appointed chaplain in the army, and during the winter of 1861 preached to the soldiers in the various camps. In January 1862, with The Hon. Hamilton Fish, he was appointed by the War Department as commissioner to visit Union prisoners at Richmond and provide for their comfort at the expense of the United States. The appointment of the commission aroused indignation in the South, and Bishop Ames's presence upon it seems to have given special offence. Prof. William W. Sweet quotes from a letter from a Confederate officer, an ex-Methodist minister, to Jefferson Davis, warning him not to allow Ames to enter the lines, characterising him as an "astute politician, who in the garb of a Christian minister and with the specious plea of 'Humanity' upon his lips, would insinuate himself into the very heart of that Government whose very foundation he would most gladly sap and destroy" (Sweet, p. 114). The commission was not permitted to enter Richmond. Ames had a clear, practical mind and business ability of a high order. He was strong in his convictions, imperious in manner, and sometimes dealt with a heavy hand. His sermons were usually conversational in style, but he was capable of impassioned oratory, and was at his best when addressing the thousands who gathered at Western camp meetings. His talent as an organiser and administrator was of great va1ue to the church. The last years or his life were spent in Baltimore, where he died at the age of seventy-three. (Chas. M Walker: History of Athens County Ohio (l869); H.N Herrick and W.W.. Sweet, History of the North Indianna Conference (1917); Wm. W. Sweet. The M E. Church ond Civil War( 1912): J. M. Reid, Missions and Missionary Societies of the ME Church ~1879); Gen. Conf. Tour 1880~: Mathew Simpson, Cyc. of Methodism 1878; Methodist, NY. May 3 1879 J.W.J, ++++++++++ Source: 07035