Page:Encyclopedia of Virginia Biography volume 5.djvu/85

 VIRGINIA BIOGRAPHY

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Bristol, England, in 1560. His son, John (2) Ames, horn in 1560, died in 1629, mar- ried Cyprian Browne, who bore him four sons, tile two eldest, William and John (4), coming: to .\merica, and from them spring all of the family name claiming early Colo- nial ancestors. The family has been promi- nent in the South for many generations and in 1867 an Ames was governor of Missis- sippi. In England they bore arms, the Bristol branch bearing: "Argent, on a bend cottised sable. Three roses of the field. Crest : A white rose. Motto : Fauia Candida rosa dulcior.

At a very early day the name appeared on the Eastern Shore of Virginia, Captain John Ames in 1651 commanding the vessel "Sea Horse," which, while on a mission in the Delaware river, sent by Colonel Scar- burgh, was seized by the Dutch governor general, who "Lowered the King's colors, ran the Dutch flag to the masthead, carried the ship, John Ames, the skipper, \\'illiam Scott, the pilot, and the entire crew to Fort Nassau." In a list of tithables on the East- ern Shore, made in 1666, the names of John and Sam Ames appear.

(D Several generations of the family now represented in Norfolk by David Baker .Ames resided in Nansemond county, Vir- ginia, where his grandparents. John and Mary Ames, lived and died, John Ames, a farmer, and member of the Methodist Epis- copal church.

(ID John \\'esley Ames, son of John and Alary Ames, was born in Nansemond coun- ty. \'irginia. in 1824. and died in 1906. His bovhood years were passed in study in the public schools of the locality, and as a young man he began farming operations at Knott's Neck, in his native county, thus continuing until the beginning of active hos- tilities between the states. He served with honorable record through the four years of this conflict, returning at its close to his agricultural pursuits, which he followed until his retirement. A Democrat in polit- ical belief, he was strongly attracted by pub- lic affairs and possessed a wide influence in matters of local interest. He was a steward of the Methodist church, a citizen whose opinion and example counted for much in moulding public sentiment, a power that was always directed to worthy ends. John ^^'esley .Ames married Martha Amy Wain- wright. and had children : John, resides.

with his family, at Port Norfolk, Virginia; Texanna, married John T. Capps ; Molly, married E. M. Beaton, and has issue: Wil- liam T., married Mittie D. (iaskins, and has two children ; Mattie E. ; David Baker, of whom further.

(Ill) David Baker Ames, son of John Wesley and Martha Amy (Wainwright) Ames, was born in Nansemond county, Vir- ginia, in 1868, and after attending public and ])rivate schools finished his studies at Churchland, \"irginia, under the instruction of C. W, Coleman. He began his mercan- tile career in Portsmouth, Virginia, in 1887, there entering the employ of a dry goods house, subsequently coming to Norfolk. His career as a merchant of this city had its inception in his connection with the old and well-known firm of Russell & Simcoe ; he was later associated with Peter Smith : then with Spratley Brothers; and in 1898 formed the relation that has resulted in the present incorporated business of Ames, Brownley .S' Hornthal. In this year Mr. Ames and John H. Brownley (q, v.) formed a part- nership under the name of Ames & Brown- ley, Mr. Hornthal being afterward admitted to the firm, which has since been incorpor- ated and at the present time transacts a large and increasing business as Ames, Brownley & Hornthal.

Mr. Ames adheres to the church of his family, the Methodist Episcopal church, and supports the Democratic party. He is a member of the Norfolk Chamber of Com- merce, the Norfolk Country Club, and affili- ates with the Masonic order, belonging to Ruth Lodge, Eree and Accepted Masons, St. John's Chapter, Royal Arch Masons, Grice Commandery, Knights Templar, and Khedive Temple, Ancient Arabic Order Nobles of the Mystic Shrine. Mr. Ames stands high in the business world of Nor- folk, and holds a correspondingly lofty posi- tion in the estimation of his fellows, with many of whom he has been associated dur- ing a lifetime of successful effort. His citi- zenship is of the highest, and Norfolk profits through his participation in her affairs. David Baker .'\mes married, in 1898, Grace H., daughter of John A. and Mattie (Eos- ter) Heldin, of Prince George county, Vir- ginia.

James Markham Marshall, A lineal de- scendant of lohn ]\Iarshall, of the "Forest,"