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Ames Monument Many Easton residents are aware that Oakes and Oliver Ames are owed great credit for connecting the US by rail. The First Transcontinental Railroad was completed in 1869. There is a pyramid not far from Laramie, Wyoming, called the Ames Pyramid, dedicated to Oakes and Oliver as they provided essential financial support for the project. Oliver served as president of the Union Pacific Railroad from 1866 to 1871, and Oakes largely controlled the construction. The monument marked the (original) highest point on the railroad line (8,247 feet); the tracks were later moved south of that location.  Ames Monument, seen from Hermosa Road, Albany County, Wyoming, September 2011. Wikipedia. In July of 2017 the Ames Monument became a National Historic Landmark. Designed by H.H. Richardson, the monument is a four-sided pyramid of local granite. Inside the pyramid is a passageway that is now sealed. On the pyramid are 2 bas-relief medallions showing Oakes & Oliver Ames. These were completed by August Saint-Gaudens, a well-known sculptor who was also responsible for the bas-relief of Oliver Ames in the reading room at Ames Free Library.  Ames Monument, Sherman WY. Cowboy State Daily. The pyramid is in the town of Sherman, Wyoming. Unfortunately, the town became a ghost town when the Union Pacific moved the original tracks south as the grade was better. After thriving for a relatively short time, Sherman ceased to exist. Today the Ames monument is pretty much in the middle of nowhere!  Sherman, Wyoming, about 1870 Correction to the last Biweekly: Dr. Moody had the 1907 Morse car until he died, and then it was sold. In 1991 the Morse car went to collector/dealer Charles LeMaitre of western Massachusetts. LeMaitre traded the 1907 car to Fred Hoch of NJ where it still resides. Sources/Links:
Anne Wooster Drury [email protected] Don't forget to renew your membership if you have not done so already or join if not currently a member. If you're not sure of your membership status call or email the Easton Historical Society and Museum and we will give an update. Early Massachusetts License Plates Thank you to EHS member Paul Berry for his research on this topic. “In 1893, the first running, petrol-driven American car was built and road-tested by the Duryea brothers of Springfield, Massachusetts.” (Wikipedia)  This is a photo of a car belonging to William H. Ames. It is a 1908 Pierce Arrow enclosed car. Mr. Ames’ chauffeur was Philip Riley. In the beginning, early cars drove about as they pleased, often exceeding the 15 mile per hour speed limit, and angering many. There was no accountability or ability to identify offenders. In 1903 Major Henry Lee Higginson, a very influential citizen, with homes in both Boston and Manchester, asked the Massachusetts legislature to license automobiles and his proposal was approved. Massachusetts was the first state to register cars and issue license plates. In 1903 three thousand two hundred and forty-one (3,241) cars were registered in Massachusetts, 97% of which belonged to the upper and middle classes. These first plates were porcelain, and “Mass Automobile Register” was written across the top. In 1906 twenty-four automobiles were registered in Easton, thirteen of those belonging to members of the Ames family. The following makes of cars were represented: Peerless, Buffum, Steamobile, Mercedes, Duryea, Morse, Gilmore, Mobile, Stanley, Oldsmobile, Ford, Daimler, Hotchkiss, Leon Bollee, Stearns, and Pierce Arrow The motorcar’s popularity only continued to grow and by 1907 about 24,000 plates had been issued in Massachusetts. By 1914 thirty-nine automobiles were registered to various members of the Ames family in Easton, many of whom owned more than one vehicle. Oakes Ames owned six, Oliver Ames, five, F Lothrop Ames, six, and Anna, Katherine, and Harriet Ames each owned three.  "Around 1910, Mrs. Anna C. Ames, wife of Governor Oliver Ames of 35 Oliver Street in North Easton, Massachusetts with her chauffeur." EHS The car shown below is a 1907 Morse car currently located at the “Breakers” in Newport, Rhode Island. The owner is Dr. Moody Sr. It is the first 4-cylinder automobile manufactured in Easton. A photo of this vehicle hangs in the Railroad Station; originally the car was dark green with red trim. At present it is painted white.  At the time of this writing, it was listed for sale at $250,000.
Anne Wooster Drury [email protected] Sources: Paul Berry, EHS member “James Michael Curley and the #5 License Plate”, by Kevin Burke, first appeared in Antique Automobile. Wikipedia Uncle Sam, Continued. Troy grew into a city and Sam Wilson’s business continued to flourish. When the United States declared war on England in June of 1812, Troy became a transfer center for troops joining the Army of the North. Sam Wilson was now the meat inspector of New York. Another New York merchant, Elbert Anderson Jr., had won a contract from the US Army to supply meat to the troops. He in turn purchased meat from Ebenezer and Sam Wilson. Sam, at this point, was locally known as “Uncle Sam.” Anderson’s containers of provisions were stamped “E.A.-U.S.” The U.S. stood for United States but at some point, was colloquially used to refer to Uncle Sam Wilson. Apparently, this connection spread far & wide with the troops. Betsey Mann Wilson, Sam’s wife, had some interesting connections of her own. Before she married Sam, she had a boyfriend named Johnny Chapman- who later became known as “Johnny Appleseed”. Francis Scott Key, author of the song “Star Spangled Banner” was a family friend of the Manns. Thomas Nast (1870’s) was one of the first cartoonists to popularize Uncle Sam as he appears today, although his appearance was not dissimilar to previous American symbols, Yankee Doodle and Brother Jonathan. Later, James Montgomery Flagg created the iconic WWI recruiting poster that was reissued during WWII. Harper's Weekly June 29, 1872 (Extract from cover)  Thomas Nast’s Uncle Sam, https://thomasnast.com/cartoons/uncle-sam/ Descendants of Sam Wilson, especially Jon Coe’s grandmother, worked hard to collect information that would support Sam Wilson being officially declared the ‘real’ Uncle Sam. It probably didn’t hurt that he was known in his own time as a kind and esteemed man. (See below.)  Testimony on Sam Wilson. Mrs. Robert Wood Coe (Ellen Thomas Jackson Coe), third from left, was instrumental in gathering documents that supported the resolution passed in 1961. Thanks to her, the Coe family of Easton has a famous relative!
Known local descendants of Uncle Sam Wilson: Jonathan Jackson Coe, Sarah Coe Anestam, Sofia Anestam, Bo Anestam, Frederick Allen Coe Jr., Blake Coe, Baker Coe, Quinn Coe, Donald Buckner Coe, Heidi Pierce, Dylan Pierce, Mathew Pierce, Deborah Coe Luke, Heather Luke, George Luke Jr. Kimberly Hedrick, Connor Hedrick, Caitlyn Hedrick, Anne Coe Judge, Michael Judge, Aiden Judge, Brennan Judge. Anne Wooster Drury [email protected] Sources: Uncle Sam, by Thomas I. Gerson & Flora M. Hood Primary sources provided by EHS Vice President, Jonathan Coe |