Ancestry of
Adelbert Ames
27th and 30th Governor of Mississippi
-
- 1st Generation
- Ahnentafel No:
- 1
- Father:
- Jesse Ames
- Mother:
- Martha Bradley Tolman
- Birth Date:
- 31 Oct 1835
- Birth Location:
- Rockland, Knox, Maine
- Christening Date:
- Christening Location:
- Death Date:
- 13 Apr 1933
- Death Location:
- Ormond Beach, Volusia, Florida
- Burial Date:
- Burial Location:
- Hildreth Family Cemetery, Lowell, Middlesex, Massachusetts
- Notes:
27th and 30th Governor of Mississippi
Adelbert Ames, born on October 31, 1835, in Rockland, Maine, was a distinguished military officer and a notable political figure. Graduating from the U.S. Military Academy at West Point in 1861, Ames quickly made a name for himself during the Civil War. He was promoted to brigadier general in 1862 after demonstrating exceptional bravery and leadership in battles such as First Bull Run and the Siege of Vicksburg. For his gallant actions at the First Battle of Bull Run, where he was wounded but continued to command his artillery battery, Ames was awarded the Medal of Honor in 1893. His military career culminated in the rank of brevet major general. Ames was the penultimate surviving general officer from the U.S. Civil War, passing away on April 13, 1933.
After the war, Ames transitioned to politics during the Reconstruction era. He served as the provisional governor of Mississippi appointed by military occupation from 1868 to 1870 and then as a U.S. Senator from 1870 to 1874. Ames's political career reached its peak when he was elected the 30th Governor of Mississippi, serving from 1874 to 1876.
A staunch supporter of political equality for African Americans, Ames advocated for the civil rights of newly freed slaves, earning him both praise and enmity. His efforts included promoting African American participation in the political process and supporting legislation aimed at ensuring their rights. Ames's advocacy was met with fierce resistance from white supremacist groups and many white Mississippians, leading to significant controversy and violent backlash. His tenure as governor was marked by intense racial strife and opposition from the Democratic Party, culminating in the "Mississippi Plan" of 1875, which used violence and intimidation to suppress black voters and Republicans.
Despite his controversial tenure, Ames remained committed to his principles of equality and justice. His legacy is a complex blend of military valor and a courageous, if contentious, stand for civil rights during one of the most turbulent periods in American history.
Adelbert Ames
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Marriages for Adelbert Ames
- Spouse:
- Blanche Butler
- Marriage Date:
- 21 Jul 1870
- Marriage Location:
- Lowell, Middlesex, Massachusetts
Scroll down to see sources.
Sources for Adelbert Ames
- 1 Federal Census, ME, Lincoln County, 1850, Rockland, Image 51 of 121.
- 2 General Society of Colonial Wars Membership Applications, 1893-1949, General No. 2893, Membership application for Adelbert Ames.
- 3 Gravestone image at FindAGrave.com, (accessed 07/25/2024).
- 4 Massachusetts, U.S., Marriage Records, 1840-1915, Marriage record for Adelbert Ames and Blanch Butler.
- 5 NEHGS Membership Applications, 1845-1900, Membership application for Adelbert Ames.
- 6 Ames, Blanche Ames, Adelbert Ames, 1835-1933, General, Senator, Governor: The story of his life and times and his integrity as a . . ., New York: Argosy-Antiquarian Ltd. (1964), 570.
- 7 Pierce, Frederick Clifton, Batchelder, Batcheller Genealogy: Descendants of Rev. Stephen Bachiler, of England . . ., Chicago, Illinois: W. B. Conkey Company (1898), 189.
- 8 Roberts, Gary Boyd, The Mayflower 500: Five Hundred Notable Descendants of the Founding Families on the Mayflower, Boston: New England Historic Genealogical Society (2020), 402.
- 9 Wikipedia, "Adelbert Ames", (accessed 03/15/2021).