From History of Walworth County Wisconsin by Albert Clayton Beckwith, Vol. II, 
Publ. 1912 - Page 1037-1039
 
ERASTUS H. AMES.  The life history of Erastus H. AMES, one of the well known 
and highly esteemed venerable veterans, now living in honorable retirement in 
the picturesque little town of Delavan, shows what industry, good habits and 
stanch citizenship will accomplish in the battle of acquiring property and 
rearing children to lead steady and respectable lives.  His life has been one 
replete with duty well and conscientiously performed in all its relations.  He 
has not been a man to shrink from his duty, however irksome or dangerous, 
whether in the role of private citizen, public servant or on the field of 
battle, and it is such traits that win in life's affairs.  He has come down to 
us from the pioneer period and has noted the wondrous transformation from that 
time to this, playing well his part in the drama of civilization.  He has been 
an advocate of wholesome living and cleanliness in politics as well, and has 
ever been outspoken in his antipathy to wrong doing, whether by the humble 
citizen or by the incumbents of influential offices.
 
Mr. AMES was born on January 26, 1834, in Morgan county, Ohio.  He is the son 
of Absolom and Margaret (HOTTENGOHAN) AMES, the father a native of the state 
of Pennsylvania and the mother born in Germany, from which country she came to 
the Untied States when young, and met and married Mr. AMES in the old Quaker 
state, where he grew to manhood, and from there they moved to Morgan county, 
Ohio, in an early day, settling on a farm, and in 1859 they came to Wisconsin, 
locating on a farm in Crawford county, where the permanent home of the family 
was established.  Absolom AMES died there June 29, 1880, and his wife followed 
in November 1881.
 
The following children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Absolom AMES, namely: Jabish, 
Doresey, Elizabeth, Joseph, and Mary are all deceased; those living being, 
John, Sarah, Ann, Hannah, Erastus H., Margaret, Dexter, and Harriet.
 
Erastus H. AMES, of this sketch, grew up on the home farm in Morgan county, 
Ohio, and there worked with his father when a boy.  He received his education 
in the common schools of his district, and he remained in the Buckeye state 
until he was twenty-two years old, then came to Wisconsin, and settled in Bad 
Axe (now Vernon) county, and there he was united in marriage and Pleasy Jane 
DAVIS on  July 3, 1856.  She was the daughter of Samuel and Emily (EWERS) 
DAVIS, of Belmont county, Ohio, an old family.  In September after his 
marriage Mr. AMES returned to Morgan county, Ohio, where he remained about 
three years, then moved to Vernon county on a farm for two years, then came to 
Crawford county, Wisconsin, where he bought a farm of eighty acres and 
continued to reside there for a period of thirty-five years, when he sold out 
and moved to the city of Delavan, Walworth county, Wisconsin, and retired from 
active life.
 
Mr. AMES enlisted in the Fiftieth Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry in 1865, in 
which he served very faithfully for one year, being stationed at Benton 
Barracks, Booneville and other places up the Missouri river, chiefly guarding 
against bushwhackers and Indians.
 
To Mr. and Mrs. AMES were born the following children: Absolom, Festus, Emma, 
Effie and Agnes are all living; the following are deceased; Margaret, May, 
Martha, Veranus and Elizabeth.  He has twenty-nine grandchildren and fifteen 
great-grandchildren.
 
Politically, Mr. AMES is a Republican, and he has been a member of the 
Christian church for a period of fifty-four years, and very faithful in his 
support of the same.  Mrs. AMES, too, is a member of the same church.
 
Mr. AMES devoted his life to farming until he retired and was very 
successful.  He is the owner of a commodious and attractive home, where he 
lives a quiet life, at No. 126 South Eighth street, Delavan.
 
Submitted by Carol