A. A. Ames - Knowledge

33: 389: 434: 1575: 1563: 900:. Emery Washington, a family friend, later recalled, "Richard Strout's family consisted of his wife and one daughter, the latter a handsome girl. I remember as well as though it were yesterday the day she was married to Dr. A. A. Ames. I was at the house when they returned from church, and I remarked to Capt. Strout that I had never seen a finer looking couple... A few weeks after the wedding Dr. Ames went to war with his company." 756:(allowing voters to vote for candidates in either party). He campaigned for votes as a Republican (knowing the competition was limited) and narrowly won the nomination. He went on to win the general election in 1900. Between his underhanded election strategy and accusations of corruption in his prior administrations, Ames was described as "damned politically, socially and professionally" when he entered office in 1901. 582: 723:, but now I do not think the people of Ireland are capable of ruling themselves... I have had plenty of opportunity of studying the Irish question, and I am convinced of one thing, that Ireland is priest-ridden... They are bowed down by superstition and ignorance, and this is to be found wherever the priests are. The priest power of Ireland does not want the people to be educated." 764:

After entering office, Ames consolidated his power over the city's police department (the one area of city government which the mayor had full control over). He fired nearly half of the city's officers and replaced them with his political allies, henchmen, and criminals who purchased their badges. As

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began an investigation into the Minneapolis city government and its officials. Clarke was a respected and successful citizen who singlehandedly took on the case, dismissing the county's prosecutor when he was unwilling to attack Ames. Clarke paid private detectives, both locally known men and others

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Ames was not as successful with his attempts at higher office. During this era Minnesota was heavily dominated by the Republican party and thus Ames faced difficult odds for most state offices. In 1877 he ran unsuccessfully as lieutenant governor. In 1886, he ran for governor but narrowly lost to

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party. He served on the Minneapolis City Council in 1875–1876 and was named the city's health officer in 1878. He was elected the city's mayor three times in 1876, 1882 and 1886. His first term was described as "an indifferent success" but his second and third terms generated accusations of

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After a year in office, Ames' organization began to swirl out of control. Ames was drinking heavily and the various police and politicians under him began to fight among themselves, withholding money from Ames or developing their own extortion schemes without his approval. Attempts by the

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Ames was instrumental in the creation of a veteran's home in Minneapolis. He initially promoted the idea at the state's Democratic convention in 1886. Despite losing the election, the Republican administration accepted his suggestions and authorized the construction of the

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and various "fines" from the city's illegal businesses. The money collected was turned over to Ames and only small fees were given to his associates. Minneapolis was promoted as an "open city" to criminals across the country and criminals were released from the city's

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Ames took over his father's medical practice in Minneapolis and developed a reputation as a kind and sympathetic figure. He was well known for treating the poor at no charge and for answering calls at any time of the day. He also served as a firefighter.

566:(one of the first newspapers in Minneapolis). After graduating from high school in 1858, Ames pursued a career in medicine. Though he received much of his experience and training by observing and working with his father, he attended some classes at 726:

After Ames' comments resulted in a firestorm of outraged denunciations by Irish-Americans who had formerly supported him, the Genial Doctor claimed to have received five death threats in letters which promised Ames the same treatment given to Dr.

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and provide information on others in the organization. By June 1902, indictments has been made against Fred Ames, Gardner and others. Before he too was convicted, Ames fled the city after announcing he has been hired to run a hotel in

982:, for which Minneapolis became infamous nationwide. Karlen further argues, however, that the pervasive criminality during Mayor Ames' last term demonstrates that the city of Minneapolis was even more corrupt when Scandinavians and 688:. The narrow margin of victory sparked controversy over who was the actual winner, and the election was contested until Ames decided the effort was not worth the time. He also ran unsuccessfully for a seat in the 751:

After losing an independent campaign for mayor in 1898, Ames devised a new strategy. In the 1900 primary election for mayor, he exploited a newly adopted rule which changed the city's primary elections to an

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Following the war, Ames briefly returned to Minnesota to work in the medical field with his father. His popularity among Civil War veterans was such that he was elected to serve in the

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population and made Ames multiple lifelong enemies. When asked for his, "views about Ireland", Ames replied, "Well, they have changed. When I left I was prejudiced in favor of

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Ames then served in several battles in the western theater of the Civil War. In July 1864, Ames replaced Lucius B. Smith as surgeon of the 7th Regiment, after the latter was

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responded by reprinting editorials from Ames' many critics among the Minnesota press, who argued that the letters were almost certainly manufactured, "by Ames & Co."

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After the end of the final trial, Ames returned to Minneapolis to practice medicine. He died quite suddenly during the night on November 16, 1911. His obituary in the

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to Minnesota and put on trial for receiving a bribe of six hundred dollars from a prostitute. Based on the testimony of his co-conspirators, including his

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the charges were dropped. Erik Rivenes, however, has called the downfall of Mayor Ames, "one of the greatest political scandals in Minnesota history."

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sheriff to crack down on the widespread criminal activities were quashed, but even average citizens were aware of the city's descent into corruption.

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More than a century after his death, the crimes committed by Dr. Ames during his last term as Mayor remain a well-known chapter in the history of

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After graduating with his M.D., Ames returned to Minneapolis intending to start his career as a doctor. After the outbreak of the

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After being defeated in an election for park board in 1888, Ames took a long trip to Europe. Upon returning home, Ames gave an

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stores to run a legitimate business to children and workers out front, but providing the services of prostitutes in the back.

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As his former allies were tried and indicted, Ames remained on the run. In February 1903, he was arrested at the house of

853:. He attempted to stay in power from Indiana, but finally announced his resignation as mayor effective September 6, 1902. 844:

from out of town, to investigate. After obtaining enough evidence to indict two of Ames' henchmen, they were convinced to

693: 773:. Norman W. King, a gambler and underworld figure, became the city's chief of detectives. Medical student and confidant 1695: 1620: 1215: 637: 488:(January 18, 1842 – November 16, 1911) was an American physician and politician who held four non-consecutive terms as 196: 1372: 1354: 551: 554:

which were partially run by the federal government. While attending high school in 1857, Ames became employed as a "

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In April 1862, Ames married Sarah Strout, the daughter of Captain Richard Strout, who had helped to raise the

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History of Hennepin County and The City of Minneapolis. North Star Publishing. Archived at the

1364: 701: 971: 861: 664: 628:. He was promoted to the rank of surgeon major before mustering out of service in August 1865. 648:. Ames remained in California until 1874 when he was summoned home due to his father's death. 1531: 877: 515: 437: 935:. He left his widow a sum of $ 1,410.94 and a sum of $ 1 to each of his surviving children. 1600: 1595: 1579: 1420: 728: 660: 567: 493: 47: 8: 1465: 1455: 1413: 850: 753: 738: 547: 175: 152: 105: 1490: 1440: 1107: 924: 857: 731:. The letters came, Ames alleged, from Roger Vail, the editor of the Minneapolis-based 685: 610: 590: 575: 555: 539: 465: 461: 409: 370: 355: 140: 70: 816:

blossomed, many in the Gateway district. It was speculated that women were setting up

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Ames was found guilty of corruption, but after a successful appeal and multiple

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organization. In response, the Doctor made a lifelong enemy out of Vail, whose

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and promoted to assistant surgeon. He served with the 7th Minnesota during the

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Irwin A. Gardner, Ames was found guilty and sentenced to six years in the

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and, at one time, had been under consideration as a candidate for the

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in 1866 on a "soldiers' ticket." In 1868, he decided to move west to

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and was present at the execution by hanging of 38 Dakota warriors at

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Minneapolis Madams: A History of Prostitution on the Riverfront

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concedes that the power temporarily wielded in Minneapolis by

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in August 1862. Two weeks later, Ames was transferred to the

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Mayor Ames and the Minneapolis police began operating as an

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and Martha A. Ames. In 1852, Ames' family relocated to near

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Dirty Doc Ames and the Scandal That Shook Minneapolis

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