# Oakes Ames

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American businessman, investor, and politician (1804–1873)

For his grandson, an orchid specialist, see [Oakes Ames (botanist)](/source/Oakes_Ames_(botanist)).

Oakes Ames Ames, 1860–1873 Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Massachusetts's 2nd district In office March 4, 1863 – March 3, 1873 Preceded by James Buffington Succeeded by Benjamin W. Harris Personal details Born (1804-01-10)January 10, 1804 Easton, Massachusetts, U.S. Died May 8, 1873(1873-05-08) (aged 69) Easton, Massachusetts, U.S. Party Republican Spouse(s) Evelina Orville Ames, née Gilmore Children Oakes Angier Ames Oliver Ames Parents Oliver Ames Sr. Susanna Ames, née Angier Relatives Ames family Captain John Ames (paternal grandfather) Oliver Ames Jr. (brother) Oakes Ames (grandson) Winthrop Ames (grandson) Signature

**Oakes Ames** (January 10, 1804 – May 8, 1873) was an American businessman, investor, and politician. He was a member of the [United States House of Representatives](/source/United_States_House_of_Representatives) from [Massachusetts](/source/Massachusetts). As a congressman, he is credited by many historians as being the single most important influence in the building of the [Union Pacific](/source/Union_Pacific) portion of the [transcontinental railroad](/source/First_Transcontinental_Railroad_(North_America)). He is also noted for the subsequent [scandal](/source/Cr%C3%A9dit_Mobilier_of_America_scandal) that alleged the improper sale of stock of the railroad's construction company.

## Biography

Ames was born in [Easton, Massachusetts](/source/Easton%2C_Massachusetts), the son of Susanna (Angier) Ames and [Oliver Ames Sr.](/source/Oliver_Ames_Sr.), a [blacksmith](/source/Blacksmith) who had built a business of making shovels, the [Ames Shovel Shop](/source/Ames_Shovel_Shop), and became nicknamed "King of Spades".[1][2] In his youth, he obtained a public school education and later worked in the family workshops to learn each step of the manufacturing process. He eventually became a partner in the business, and with his brother [Oliver Ames Jr.](/source/Oliver_Ames_Jr.) he established the firm Oliver Ames & Sons. Driven by the settlement of the [Midwest](/source/Midwest), by the discovery of gold in California and Australia, as well as by railroad construction, the shovel manufacturing business boomed. During the [Civil War](/source/American_Civil_War), the firm prospered with contracts for swords, shovels, and other tools and implements.[3] Ames made a large fortune.

He was influential in the establishment of the [Republican Party](/source/United_States_Republican_Party) in Massachusetts. In 1860, he became a member of the executive council of Massachusetts, and from 1863 to 1873 he served in Congress as a U.S. Representative for the Second District of Massachusetts. While there, he became a member of the Committee on Railroads during the early building of the transcontinental railroad. In 1865, [President Abraham Lincoln](/source/Abraham_Lincoln) appealed to him to take control of the Union Pacific (UP) portion of the project, which had become mired down because of the war, and had built only 12 miles (19 km) of track.

Through his influence he obtained contracts for his family firm in the construction of the Union Pacific and staked nearly all the family's holdings as capitalization for the project. The contracts were later transferred to the [Credit Mobilier Company of America](/source/Cr%C3%A9dit_Mobilier_of_America_scandal) after Ames ousted its founder [Thomas Durant](/source/Thomas_C._Durant). His brother Oliver was appointed president of the UP in 1866. The railroad was completed in 1869.[4]

In 1872, it was disclosed Ames sold shares in Credit Mobilier to fellow congressmen at a price greatly below the market value of the stock. The subsequent public scandal led to a House investigation, which formally recommended expulsion. On February 28, 1873, the House passed a resolution formally [censuring](/source/Censure_in_the_United_States) Ames "in seeking to secure congressional attention to the affairs of a corporation in which he was interested, and whose interest directly depended upon the legislation of Congress, by inducing members of Congress to invest in the stocks of said corporation."[5] Detractors referred to him as "Hoax Ames".[6] Ames died soon afterward at [North Easton, Massachusetts](/source/Easton%2C_Massachusetts), May 5, 1873, due to a stroke.[7][2]

On May 10, 1883, the 14th anniversary of the completion of the railroad, the [state legislature of Massachusetts](/source/Massachusetts_General_Court) passed a resolution exonerating Ames.[3] His son [Oliver Ames](/source/Oliver_Ames_(governor)) served as [Governor](/source/Governor_of_Massachusetts) from 1887 to 1890.[8]

## Honors

Oakes Ames

The contributions of Ames and his brother Oliver in the building of the Union Pacific are commemorated in the [Oliver and Oakes Ames Monument](/source/Oliver_and_Oakes_Ames_Monument) at Sherman Summit, near [Laramie, Wyoming](/source/Laramie%2C_Wyoming), along the original route. The [pyramidal](/source/Pyramid) monument was designed by famous architect [Henry Hobson Richardson](/source/Henry_Hobson_Richardson) (who designed a number of projects for the Ames family) with sculpted plaques of the Ames brothers by [Augustus Saint-Gaudens](/source/Augustus_Saint-Gaudens). At the time of its construction, the monument was located at the highest point attained by the UP's transcontinental route. With a change in the route of the railroad, the monument today is not on any major transportation route.

The city of [Ames](/source/Ames%2C_Iowa), Iowa is named for Oakes,[9] as is likely the community of [Ames](/source/Ames%2C_Nebraska), Nebraska, and Ames Avenue in [Omaha](/source/Omaha%2C_Nebraska).

## See also

- [Oakes Ames Memorial Hall](/source/Oakes_Ames_Memorial_Hall) (Easton, Massachusetts)

- [Ames Free Library](/source/Ames_Free_Library) (Easton, Massachusetts)

- [Ames Shovel Shop](/source/Ames_Shovel_Shop)

- [Ames family](/source/Ames_family)

- [List of United States representatives expelled, censured, or reprimanded](/source/List_of_United_States_representatives_expelled%2C_censured%2C_or_reprimanded)

- [List of federal political scandals in the United States](/source/List_of_federal_political_scandals_in_the_United_States)

## References

1. **[^](#cite_ref-1)** [Modern Marvels](/source/Modern_Marvels) television program; episode "Construction Machines." Originally aired February 22, 2001.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-:0_2-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-:0_2-1) [Johnson, Rossiter](/source/Rossiter_Johnson), ed. (1906). "[Ames, Oakes](https://en.wikisource.org/wiki/The_Biographical_Dictionary_of_America/Ames,_Oakes)". *[The Biographical Dictionary of America](/source/The_Biographical_Dictionary_of_America)*. Vol. 1. Boston: American Biographical Society. pp. 104–105.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-amer_3-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-amer_3-1) Rines, George Edwin, ed. (1920). ["Ames, Oakes"](https://en.wikisource.org/wiki/The_Encyclopedia_Americana_(1920)/Ames,_Oakes). *[Encyclopedia Americana](/source/Encyclopedia_Americana)*.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-4)** Ambrose, Stephen E. (2000). [*Nothing Like It In The World; The Men who Built the Transcontinental Railroad 1863–1869*](https://archive.org/details/nothinglikeitinw00ambr). New York: Simon & Schuster. pp. [363–368](https://archive.org/details/nothinglikeitinw00ambr/page/363). [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [0-684-84609-8](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/0-684-84609-8).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-5)** United States Congress, Washington, D.C. ["Ames, Oakes, (1804 - 1873)."](http://bioguide.congress.gov/scripts/biodisplay.pl?index=A000175) *Biographical Directory of the United States Congress.* Accessed December 26, 2011.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-6)** Massachusetts Foundation for the Humanities, Northampton, MA. ["Ames brothers celebrate 'Golden Spike.'](http://www.massmoments.org/moment.cfm?mid=139) *Mass Moments.* Accessed December 26, 2011.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-7)** ["Oakes Ames | American Experience"](https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/americanexperience/features/tcrr-ames/). *www.pbs.org*. Retrieved February 28, 2024.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-8)** Commonwealth of Massachusetts, Boston, MA. ["Oliver Ames (1831-1895)."](http://www.mass.gov/portal/government-taxes/laws/interactive-state-house/historical/governors-of-massachusetts/commonwealth-of-massachusetts-1850-1900/oliver-ames-1831-1895.html) Accessed December 26, 2011.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-9)** Chicago and North Western Railway Company (1908). [*A History of the Origin of the Place Names Connected with the Chicago & North Western and Chicago, St. Paul, Minneapolis & Omaha Railways*](https://books.google.com/books?id=OspBAQAAMAAJ&pg=PA37). p. 37.

## Further reading

- *Oakes Ames: A Memoir.* (Cambridge, 1884) [OCLC](/source/OCLC_(identifier)) [3574882](https://www.worldcat.org/oclc/3574882)

- [White, Richard](/source/Richard_White_(historian)) (2011). [*Railroaded: The Transcontinentals and the Making of Modern America*](https://archive.org/details/railroadedtransc00whit_0). W. W. Norton & Company. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [978-0-393-06126-0](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-0-393-06126-0).

## External links

- [Oakes Ames](http://www.orchids.co.in/orchidologists/oakes-ames.shtm) Work on orchids by Oakes Ames's grandson, Oakes Angier Ames Jr.

- [National Park Service](https://web.archive.org/web/20011030224614/http://www.nps.gov/gosp/research/ames.html) site on Oliver and Oakes Ames

- [Oliver and Oakes Ames Monument](https://web.archive.org/web/20031229095752/http://www.sgnhs.org/Augustus%20SGaudens%20CD-HTML/Monuments/PortraitsStatues/AmesMonument.htm) in Wyoming

- [Harvard University](http://oasis.harvard.edu/html/hua08003.html) papers of Oakes Ames

- [Iowa State University](https://web.archive.org/web/20040910161349/http://www.ames.lib.ia.us/farwell/publication/Pub573.htm) Oakes Ames photographs

- [PBS](https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/americanexperience/features/tcrr-credit-mobilier-scandal/) the Credit Mobilier Scandal

- [Spencer Marks](https://web.archive.org/web/20150930052654/http://www.spencermarks.com/html/ames_family.html) The Ames Family of North [Easton, Massachusetts](/source/Easton%2C_Massachusetts)

- [Historic Unity Church](https://web.archive.org/web/20070927024558/http://www.historicunitychurch.com/Ames%20Family/Ames%201.htm) Ames Family Tree

- ["Ames, Oakes"](https://en.wikisource.org/wiki/Appletons%27_Cyclop%C3%A6dia_of_American_Biography/Ames,_Oakes). *[Appletons' Cyclopædia of American Biography](/source/Appletons'_Cyclop%C3%A6dia_of_American_Biography)*. 1900.

- "[Ames, Oakes](https://en.wikisource.org/wiki/The_Biographical_Dictionary_of_America/Ames,_Oakes)". *[The Biographical Dictionary of America](/source/The_Biographical_Dictionary_of_America)*. Vol. 1. 1906. pp. 104–105.

Wikimedia Commons has media related to [Oakes Ames](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Category:Oakes_Ames).

U.S. House of Representatives Preceded by James Buffinton Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Massachusetts's 2nd congressional district 1863–1873 Succeeded by Benjamin W. Harris

Authority control databases International ISNI VIAF FAST WorldCat National United States Netherlands Israel People US Congress Other Open Library SNAC Yale LUX

v t e Griffon Corporation Subsidiaries Ames True Temper Ames Shovel Shop People Capt. John Ames Oakes Oliver, Jr. Oliver Ames, Sr. Related Ames Manufacturing Company Ames Monument

v t e United States representatives from Massachusetts 1st district F. Ames Dexter Goodhue Holten Sedgwick Skinner Sedgwick J. Bacon Eustis Quincy Ward Jr. Mason Gorham Webster Gorham N. Appleton Gorham A. Lawrence Fletcher A. Lawrence Winthrop N. Appleton Winthrop S. Eliot W. Appleton Scudder T. D. Eliot Hall T. D. Eliot Buffington Crapo R. Davis Randall Wright G. Lawrence Treadway Heselton Conte Olver Neal 2nd district Goodhue Foster W. Lyman Sedgwick Ward Sr. W. Lyman Shepard J. Crowninshield Story Pickman W. Reed Pickering Silsbee Barstow B. Crowninshield Choate Phillips Saltonstall D. King Rantoul Fay Crocker Buffington O. Ames Harris Long E. Morse Gillett Churchill Bowles Kaynor Granfield Clason Furcolo Boland Neal McGovern 3rd district Gerry Bourne Coffin S. Lyman Mattoon Cutler Nelson Livermore White Pickering Nelson Varnum Nelson Osgood Cushing A. Abbott Duncan Edmands Damrell C. Adams Thomas A. Rice Twichell Whiting I Pierce Field B. Dean Field Ranney L. Morse J. Andrew Walker J. R. Thayer R. Hoar C. Washburn J. A. Thayer Wilder Paige F. Foss Casey Philbin Drinan Donohue Early Blute McGovern N. Tsongas Trahan 4th district Sedgwick Dearborn G. Thatcher Wadsworth Foster L. Lincoln Sr. Hastings Varnum W. Richardson Dana Stearns Fuller E. Everett Sa. Hoar Parmenter Thompson Palfrey Thompson Sabine Walley Comins A. Rice Hooper Frost J. Abbott L. Morse Collins O'Neil Apsley Weymouth Tirrell Mitchell Wilder Winslow Stobbs P. Holmes Donohue Drinan Frank Kennedy III Auchincloss 5th district Partridge Bourne Freeman L. Williams T. Dwight Ely Mills Lathrop Sibley J. Davis L. Lincoln Jr. Hudson C. Allen W. Appleton Burlingame W. Appleton Hooper Alley Butler Gooch Banks Bowman L. Morse Hayden Banks Sh. Hoar Stevens Knox B. Ames J. Rogers E. Rogers B. Morse Cronin P. Tsongas Shannon Atkins Meehan N. Tsongas Markey Clark 6th district G. Thatcher Leonard J. Reed Sr. J. Smith Taggart S. Allen Locke Kendall Grennell Alvord Baker Ashmun G. Davis Upham T. Davis Alley Gooch Banks Butler Thompson Loring Stone Lovering Lodge Cogswell Moody Gardner Lufkin A.P. Andrew G. Bates W. Bates Harrington Mavroules Torkildsen Tierney Moulton 7th district Leonard Ward Sr. Leonard Bullock Bishop Mitchell Barker Baylies Turner Baylies Hulbert Shaw H. Dwight S. Allen Grennell Briggs J. Rockwell Goodrich Banks Gooch Boutwell Brooks Esty E. Hoar Tarbox Butler W. Russell Stone Cogswell W. Everett Barrett Roberts Phelan Maloney W. Connery L. Connery Lane Macdonald Markey Capuano Pressley 8th district Grout G. Thatcher F. Ames Otis Eustis L. Williams Green Gardner Green J. Reed Jr. Baylies Sampson Hobart Lathrop Bates Calhoun J. Adams Mann Wentworth Knapp Train Baldwin G. Hoar J. M. S. Williams Warren Claflin Candler W Russell C. H. Allen Greenhalge Stevens McCall Deitrick Dallinger H. Thayer Dallinger Healey Goodwin Macdonald O'Neill Kennedy II Capuano Lynch 9th district Varnum Bishop J. Dean Wheaton J. Reed Jr. Folger J. Reed Jr. H. Dwight Briggs Jackson Hastings H. Williams Hale Fowler Little De Witt E. Thayer Bailey A. Walker W. Washburn Crocker G. Hoar W. Rice T. Lyman Ely Burnett Candler G. Williams O'Neil Fitzgerald Conry Keliher Murray Roberts Fuller Underhill Luce R. Russell Luce T. H. Eliot Gifford Nicholson Keith McCormack Hicks Moakley Lynch Keating 10th district Goodhue Sewall Read Hastings Upham J. Allen Brigham Wheaton Morton F Baylies Bailey H. A. S. Dearborn W. Baylies Borden H. Williams Borden Burnell Grinnell Scudder Dickinson Chaffee Delano Dawes Crocker Stevens Seelye Norcross W. Rice J. E. Russell J. Walker McEttrick Atwood Barrows Naphen McNary O'Connell Curley Murray Tague Fitzgerald Tague Douglass Tinkham Herter Curtis Martin Heckler Studds Delahunt Keating 11th district Bradbury Bartlett Cutler Stedman A. Bigelow Brigham B. Adams J. Russell Hobart J. Richardson J. Adams J. Reed Jr. Burnell Goodrich Trafton Dawes Chapin Robinson Whiting II Wallace Coolidge Draper Sprague Powers Sullivan Peters Tinkham Douglass Higgins Flaherty Curley Kennedy O'Neill Burke Donnelly 12th district H. Dearborn I. Parker Lee S. Thatcher Skinner Larned Bidwell Bacon Dewey Hulbert Strong Kendall L. Bigelow Baylies Hodges J. Adams Robinson F. Rockwell Crosby E. Morse Lovering Powers Weeks Curley Gallivan McCormack Keith Studds 13th district Wadsworth Seaver Ruggles Dowse Eustis J. Reed Jr. Randall Simpkins Greene Weeks Mitchell Carter Luce Wigglesworth Burke 14th district G. Thatcher Cutts C. King J. Holmes Lovering E. Foss Harris Gilmore Olney Frothingham Wigglesworth Martin 15th district Wadsworth Ilsley Whitman Widgery Bradbury Whitman Greene Leach Martin Gifford 16th district S. Thatcher Cook Tallman S. Davis Brown Orr Hill Thacher Walsh Gifford 17th district Bruce Chandler Gannett F. Carr Wood J. Carr Wilson Kinsley 18th district Wilson T. Rice J. Parker 19th district J. Parker Conner Gage Cushman 20th district Hubbard Parris E. Lincoln At-large Cobb

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