Biographical Sketch of Frank N. Ames, Johnson County, Missouri, Hazel Hill Township >From "History of Johnson County, Missouri," by Ewing Cockrell, Historical Publishing Company, Topeka, Cleveland, 1918. ********************************************************************** Frank N. Ames, proprietor of "Elm-Waln Farm," is one of Johnson countys most valued citizens. He was born August 29, 1853 in Litchfield county Connecticut, the son of William B. and Clara Lambert (Allen) Ames. William B. Ames was a native of Litchfield county, Connecticut. He came to Johnson county, Missouri and October 22, 1869 settled on the farm in Hazel Hill township, which is now owned by his son, Frank N., the sub- ject of this review. At the time of the coming of the Ames family to this place, there was an old plantation house standing on it, an "L" shaped structure, built with three large chimneys, four fireplaces, and of two stories, the entire house covered with black walnut weather boarding. The frame had been put together by mortising. This house was burned to the ground March 8, 1877. In it had taken place the horrible Sweitzer murder in 1866, the cold bloodedness of which gave rise to the organization of the Vigilance Committee, which put an end to the horror inflicted upon innocent victims by desperadoes, who followed their trade in this vicinity. William B. Ames rebuilt the home in the same year, 1877, and the residence, a house of eight rooms constructed of white pine, is today one of the most attractive homes in the township. The Ames farm was originaly owned by Joel Walker. Mr. Ames had nearly 400 acres of land on his farm raised grain and stock. William B. and Clara L. Ames were the parents of the following children: Olive, who died in Connecticut; Nellie, who died in Connecticut; Frank N., the subject of this review; Herbert L., Larned, Kansas; Mrs. Maud Coats, Hazel Hill township, Johnson county; and William C., who died September 7, 1893. The mother, who was also a native of Connecticut, died March 13, 1891 and in 1893, she was joined in death by her husband. The par- ents and their children, who have gone on before, are all buried in Liberty cemetery. Frank N. Ames obtained a good common school educa- tion and he has since added to his store of knowledge by reading widely on many subjects and by observing closely. Mr. Ames is a reader of discriminating tastes and he has chosen from the inexhaustible field of literature only the best and now is conceded to be one of the well informed, most thoroughly educated men in this county. From boyhood, he has made his way in the world, though he was employed in work on the home farm until the time of his marriage, at the age of thirty-one years. In 1884, Mr. Ames purchased 40 acres of land from his father and later acquired the homestead. He now owns 185 acres of land, loca- ted six and one half miles north of Warrensburg on the Lexington road, a place that is widely known as "Elm-Waln Farm." For many years, Mr. Ames has raised hogs, usually keeping from 100 to 150 head of Poland China hogs on the farm. He raises annually from 25 to 30 choice cattle and at the present time owns one of the finest Shorthorn steers in the country. In the dry year of 1878, Mr. Ames dug a well on his place, seventeen feet deep, which is a real "gusher," a veritable fount ever- flowing, for it has furnished an abundance of water for all purposes even in the dryest seasons. Mr. Ames is not now engaged in the actual work of the farm, but in supervising and managing the same, his plans being carried out by others. December 31, 1885, Frank N. Ames and Fannie Narron, the daughter of James and Susan (White) Narron, of Simp- son township, were united in marriage. Mrs. Ames was engaged in teach- ing school for eight years prior to her marriage and she was one of the most highly valued and prominent teachers in Johnson county. James H. Narron came to Missouri with his father, Haywood Narron, who left Tenn- essee about 1840 to make the new home in the West and they first locat- ed in Lexington, coming thence to Simpson township, where the elder Narron entered land from the government, perhaps in 1856. On this farm the father and mother spent the rest of their lives. Mrs. James Narron died in 1886 and she was followed in death by her husband in 1904. Mr. and Mrs. Narron were the parents of nine children: Fannie, the wife of Frank N. Ames, the subject of this review; James Augustus, of Iowa; Mrs. Lizzie Stewart, Independence, Missouri; Mrs. Lottie Tidswell, Independence, Missouri; Mrs. Daisy Cook, Independence, Missouri; Ben- jamin, Elbert, Colorado; Mrs. Della A. Truitt, Richmond, California; John W., Richmond, California; and Mrs. Blanche MacQuiddy, Bakersfield, California. To Frank N. and Fannie Ames have been born two children: Edith Grace, who was a student of the Warrensburg State Normal School and died a few weeks before she would have graduated; and Loris, who died in infancy at the age of five months. Mr. and Mrs. Ames are enrolled among the county's best families and most respected and intel- ligent citizens. ==================================================================== USGENWEB NOTICE: In keeping with our policy of providing free information on the Internet, data may be used by non-commercial entities, as long as this message remains on all copied material. These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or for presentation by other persons or organizations. Persons or organizations desiring to use this material for purposes other than stated above must obtain the written consent of the file contributor. 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