Frederick Lothrop Ames

Frederick Lothrop Ames
Born	Template:Birth date Easton, Massachusetts, U.S.
Died	September 13, 1893(1893-09-13) (aged 58) Aboard steamboat Pilgrim, en route to Fall River, Massachusetts, U.S.
Occupation(s)	Businessman, railroad executive, philanthropist
Years active	1854–1893
Known for	Vice President of Old Colony Railroad; director of Union Pacific Railroad; co-founder of General Electric; art patron; orchid enthusiast; Massachusetts State Senator

Frederick Lothrop Ames (June 8, 1835 – September 13, 1893) inherited a substantial fortune rooted in railroad enterprises and shovel manufacturing. He held the position of Vice President at the Old Colony Railroad, was a director of the Union Pacific railroad, and played a key role as a co-founder of General Electric. At the time of his passing, Ames was considered the wealthiest individual in Massachusetts.

Ames Family

The Ames family built their fortune over several generations in Easton, Massachusetts. Frederick’s grandfather, Oliver Ames Sr., established the successful Ames Shovel Shop, capitalizing on the growth of canals and railroads. His father, Oliver Jr., presided over the Union Pacific Railroad during the era of transcontinental railroad development. Additionally, his cousin Oliver Ames governed Massachusetts from 1887 to 1890.

Biography

Frederick was born on June 8, 1835, in Easton, Massachusetts, as the sole son of Oliver Ames Jr. and Sarah Lothrop. Sarah descended from a politically prominent family that included her father Hon. Howard Lothrop and her brother George Van Ness Lothrop, who served as minister to Russia under President Cleveland.

After completing his education at Phillips Exeter Academy and Harvard College in 1854, Frederick initially considered pursuing law but ultimately entered the family shovel manufacturing business at his father’s encouragement. Following his grandfather’s death, he became a partner and treasurer by 1876. When his father died in 1877, Frederick assumed leadership of the Ames & Sons Corporation and inherited an estimated five to six million dollars, which he invested extensively in railroad ventures.

On June 7, 1860, he married Rebecca Caroline Blair; together they had five children: Helen Angier, Oliver, Mary Shreve, Frederick Lothrop Jr., and John Stanley Ames.

The family maintained a winter home on Boston’s Commonwealth Avenue in addition to their main estate located in North Easton. In 1893, Frederick commissioned Boston’s first skyscraper—the 13-story Ames Building—which introduced the city’s inaugural elevators and stood as the tallest structure east of New York City at that time. He conducted his business operations from offices within this building.

Physically, Ames stood approximately five feet eleven inches tall and weighed about 175 pounds. A Unitarian by faith, he was connected with both the Unity Church of North Easton and Boston’s First Church. His leadership extended to presiding over numerous organizations such as the Home for Incurables, Massachusetts General Hospital, and the McLean Insane Asylum—now known as McLean Hospital.

Business interests

Ames served as Vice President of the Old Colony Railroad and held a directorship at the Union Pacific Railroad. His involvement spanned approximately forty railroads—arguably more than any other person in the United States. He also occupied a director role with the Old Colony Steamboat Company. His real estate investments exceeded six million dollars in Boston alone, with additional properties in Kansas City and Omaha. Upon his death at age 58, estimates placed his fortune between twenty-five and fifty million dollars.

Patron of the Arts and Architecture

Frederick L. Ames was a distinguished art enthusiast and served as a trustee for Boston's Museum of Fine Arts. His generous donations included notable large jade artifacts, crystal pieces, and two Rembrandt portraits dating back to 1632. His collection also encompassed works by French Romantic painters such as Constant Troyon’s Pointer Dog, Eugène Fromentin’s Tiger Hunt, and various landscapes by Charles-François Daubigny. In 1885, several valuable paintings were stolen from his North Easton residence, among them pieces by Stanisław Chlebowski and Jean-François Millet.

In 1882, Ames commissioned John La Farge to design the stained glass window titled Angel of Help for the Unity Church in North Easton as a tribute to his sister, Helen Angier Ames.

The Ames family maintained a close relationship with architect Henry Hobson Richardson, engaging him for several architectural endeavors. One significant project funded by a $50,000 legacy from Frederick’s father was the Ames Free Library, constructed between 1878 and 1883. Additionally, the well-known Ames Building in Boston, completed after Richardson’s death by his firm, stood as the city’s tallest skyscraper for many years.

Orchid Enthusiast

Ames was passionate about cultivating orchids, sharing this hobby with his nephew, botanist Oakes Ames. Their orchid collection was recognized as one of the finest nationally. The orchid species named amesianus honors both men. He was a benefactor of Harvard’s Arnold Arboretum and held the position of vice president at the Massachusetts Horticultural Society. At the time of his passing, he was also a member of Harvard University’s governing corporation.

Political Career

In 1872, Ames was unexpectedly elected as a Republican to the Massachusetts State Senate and served one term despite initially being unaware of his nomination.

Death and Legacy

Frederick L. Ames passed away suddenly on September 13, 1893, while aboard the steamboat Pilgrim en route to Fall River, Massachusetts. Although he went to bed in apparent good health, he was discovered deceased the following morning due to cerebral apoplexy, now identified as a stroke.

External links

• Ames family profile, newyorksocialdiary.com. Accessed March 27, 2024.
• Ames Family History, mass.gov. Accessed March 27, 2024.
• Portrait of a man wearing a black hat, a Rembrandt painting owned by Frederick L. Ames