BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW

THE LEADING CITIZENS OF MADISON COUNTY

CONTENTS
Preface
Names Index
Portrait Index

WARREN W. AMES, editor and proprietor of the Weekly Gleaner, in the town of DeRuyter, was born February 25, 1830, and is a son of Fordyce W. and Electa Ames, of whom mention is made elsewhere in this volume. He received his education in the district schools and at DeRuyter Institute. In 1868 he went to Coffee County, Tennessee, where he followed the occupation of a teacher for one year, and then removed to Illinois, where he taught school at Libertyville, Lake County, for four months. He never held other than first-grade certificates. Then, returning to his native town, he taught two terms of winter school, and commenced to learn the printers trade in the office of the New Era, remaining there one year. In the spring of 1872 he started the Cape Vincent (N.Y.) Eagle, which he continued to publish for a period of five years, and in 1876 bought the Clayton Independent; thus publishing two papers for a year. He then sold the Eagle, but continued to publish the Independent for one year, after which he sold, and came to DeRuyter, where he established the Weekly Gleaner, and in 1884 bought the DeRuyter New Era, consolidating the two papers. The Gleaner has been a success from the start, and probably has a larger circulation (two thousand one hundred) than any other secular weekly published in a place of similar size (six hundred and sixty-seven) in the world. Mr. Ames is also the patentee of the Ames Addressing Machine, which is in use in several hundred printing offices throughout the country. It prints direct from the type.
Mr. Ames was married in 1872 to Ella M. Wilcox, who was born in Taylor, Cortland County, N.Y., and is a daughter of James H. Wilcox, who died at Ypsilanti, Mich., February 10, 1890. They have one son now living, Clifford, who is fifteen years old. Mertie, their first-born, died at the age of five, Carl at the age of three, and Grace when an infant but one and a half years old.
Mr. Ames is a Republican in his political views, is a pronounced free thinker, and a man who has at heart the best interests of his town and county. His influence is ever directed in favor of all worthy and public spirited enterprises; and he may always be found working in harmony with those who are seeking to promote the physical and moral improvement of the community in which his lot is cast. He and his amiable wife have many friends and admirers; and both occupy a place among the intelligent, progressive, and cultured citizens of Madison County.