Alfred Elisha Ames (December 14, 1814 – September 23, 1874) was an American physician and politician. Born in Colchester, Vermont, he moved to Orwell, Ohio, in 1831. In 1836 he moved to Chicago, Illinois. He then moved to

Vandalia, Illinois Vandalia is a city in and the county seat of Fayette County, Illinois, United States. At the 2020 Census, the population was 7,458. Vandalia is northeast of St. Louis, on the Kaskaskia River. It served as the state capital of Illinois from 1 ...

, where he served as deputy secretary of state of Illinois and as private secretary to the Governor of Illinois. In 1839, he moved to

Springfield, Illinois Springfield is the capital of the U.S. state of Illinois and the county seat and largest city of Sangamon County. The city's population was 114,394 at the 2020 census, which makes it the state's seventh most-populous city, the second largest o ...

where he served in the same positions and clerk of the

Illinois House of Representatives The Illinois House of Representatives is the lower house of the Illinois General Assembly. The body was created by the first Illinois Constitution adopted in 1818. The House under the current constitution as amended in 1980 consists of 118 re ...

. He lived in

Belvedere Belvedere (from Italian, meaning "beautiful sight") may refer to: Places Australia *Belvedere, Queensland, a locality in the Cassowary Coast Region Africa *Belvedere (Casablanca), a neighborhood in Casablanca, Morocco *Belvedere, Harare, Zim ...

and Roscoe, Illinois. In 1845, Ames graduated from Rush Medical College. He served in the Illinois House of Representatives and then in the Illinois State Senate. He also served as probate judge and postmaster of Roscoe, Illinois. In 1851, he moved to Minnesota Territory and settled in what is now

Minneapolis, Minnesota Minneapolis () is the largest city in Minnesota, United States, and the county seat of Hennepin County. The city is abundant in water, with thirteen lakes, wetlands, the Mississippi River, creeks and waterfalls. Minneapolis has its origins ...

. In 1853, Ames served in the Minnesota Territorial House of Representatives. In 1857 he served in the first Minnesota Constitutional Convention of 1857 as a

Democrat Democrat, Democrats, or Democratic may refer to: Politics *A proponent of democracy, or democratic government; a form of government involving rule by the people. *A member of a Democratic Party: **Democratic Party (United States) (D) **Democratic ...

. He practiced medicine in Minneapolis until his death in 1874. His son was

A.A. Ames Albert Alonzo "Doc" Ames (January 18, 1842 – November 16, 1911) was an American physician and politician who held four non-consecutive terms as List of mayors of Minneapolis, mayor of Minneapolis, Minnesota. His fourth term was marked by multip ...

who was also a physician and mayor of Minneapolis. Ames also served as the first Masonic Grand Master for the

Grand Lodge of Minnesota The Grand Lodge of Minnesota, formally known as "The Most Worshipful Grand Lodge, Ancient Free and Accepted Masons of Minnesota," is the oldest independent Masonic Grand Lodge established in Minnesota. It was formed in 1853. History Many early s ...

from 1853-1855 List of Past Grand Masters of Minnesota
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Notes

{{DEFAULTSORT:Ames, Alfred Elisha 1814 births 1874 deaths People from Belvidere, Illinois People from Roscoe, Illinois Politicians from Minneapolis People from Colchester, Vermont Rush Medical College alumni Physicians from Illinois Physicians from Minnesota Members of the Minnesota Territorial Legislature 19th-century American politicians Members of the Illinois House of Representatives Illinois state senators Illinois state court judges People from Vandalia, Illinois People from Springfield, Illinois People from Orwell, Ohio 19th-century American judges

See also

Notes