Benton Co., AR - Biographies - D. D. Ames

***********************************************************
Submitted by:
        Date: 20 Jun 1998
Copyright.  All rights reserved.
http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm
http://www.usgwarchives.net/ar/benton/bentonco.html
***********************************************************

----------------------------------------------------------------------
SOURCE: History of Benton, Washington, Carroll, Madison, Crawford,
Franklin, and Sebastian Counties, Arkansas. Chicago: The Goodspeed 
Publishing Co., 1889.
----------------------------------------------------------------------

D. D. Ames, who is the acknowledged fruit king of Arkansas, was born in Ohio July 14, 1840, and
is a son of Lyman and Celinda Ames, who were born in the "Nutmeg" State. They became residents of
Ohio in 1832, and there died only a few years ago. D. D. Ames was reared in his native State and
is, by natural proclivities, a horticulturist. He was married in Ohio to Miss Emma Rinehart, and
by her became the father of eight children: Emma, Alice, Burton, Walter, Ernest, Gracie, Freddie
and Bessie. Mr. Ames came to Arkansas the 1st of May, 1883, with only 25 cents in money, but,
with that determination, energy and intelligence which has ever characterized his actions, set to
work to rebuild his fallen fortunes. He first became a traveling agent for a nursery, and his
success in that capacity was exceptionally good. As soon as he had acquired sufficient means he
leased seventeen acres of land of Albert Peel, and put it all in orchard and small fruits. The
first crop on five acres of strawberries cleared Mr. Ames $500, and the first crop on an acre and
a half of raspberries cleared $525. The enterprise had been ridiculed by the people near his
home, but at this juncture their eyes began to be opened, and they began to follow his example.
About this time Mr. Ames purchased eighty acres of land at Van-Buren, and the first year put in
twenty-two acres of small fruit, on which he has realized a large amount of money. He is now the
owner of 130 acres of land, and has sixty-four acres in small fruits, which is the admiration and
wonder of all who see it. Mr. Ames took for his second wife Miss Frona Callis, a member of one of
the prominent and highly respected families of the county. Although quite young she is an
exemplary wife and mother. They have one child, Nellie Don. Mr. Ames is a stanch Democrat.