29 charges. There were 18,656 tickes sold.
Ames was incorporated in 1869, but the absence of early records makes very accurate detailed information impossible. The most complet list of mayors obtainable is as follows: William West, the first; W. D. Lucas, in 1870; William Clark, 1870; C. E. Turner, 1871; Walter Evans, 1872; I. L. Smith, 1873; William Clark, 1874-76; G. A. Underwood, 1877- 78; E. R. Chamberlain, 1879; G.G. Tilden, 1880; Henry Wilson, Jr., 1881-82; John Watts, 1883; Parley Sheldon, 1884-85; M. C. Jones, 1886-87; W. M. Greeley, 1888-89; and Parley Sheldon, 1890. Little but routine business was done by the council until about 1883, when the Douglass Street drainage system was perfected, and the gutter and other improvements of Onondaga Street were made. About 1884 the public park was purchased, and some two years later a $2,000 city hall was erected. Aside from these, the council has two projects under arrangement, namely, an opera house on the corner of Onondaga and Kellogg Streets, and an electric motor line of two miles from the town to the college, the plant of which is expected to furnish electric lights for both town and college.
The social life of Ames affords what is called the Ames Club, organized in 1889, by about fifty gentlemen of the town and college. They have a suite of four rooms, all joined by double doors, and well furnished, lighted and heated, with newspapers and periodicals open to the casual visitor who may drop in a any time in the day. The rooms are in the Stephens Block. On Thursdays ladies are in charge, and on occasions the club listens to lectures, papers, etc.
The fraternities are also represented. The first was Arcadia Lodge No. 249, F, & A. M., which was formed under dispensation, October 15, 1868, and chartered the subsequent June, with the following members: M. J. Bundy, W. M.; W..D. Lucas, and L. Q. Hoggatt, P. L. Porter, I. P. Miller, E. I. Carr, D. A. Bigelow, John Hancock, W. G. Wright, A. J. Graves, S. L. Lucas, A. McFarland, S. J. Starr, B. B. Selby, Barr Scott, O. Eddy, D. W. Gage, E. Kendall, S. B. Farwell. Their worshipful masters have been M. J. Bundy, 1869; W. D. Lucas, 1871; S. L. Lucas, 1872; W. D. Lucas, 1873; A. H. Duckworth, 1874-80; G. A. Underwood, 1881; E. D. French, 1882; A. H. Duckworth, 1883-84:; M. C. Jones, 1885, to death, on May 28, 1887; L. M. Bosworth, 1887-88; M. J. Smith, 1889; and C. E. Hunt, 1890. They have a large membership of ninety persons, and a fine hall in the Tilden Block.
Some ten years later was organized Ames Lodge No. 166, A. O. U. W., on May 9, 1878, by a Mr. Ellsworth. The first officers were: H. H. Robinson, P. M. W.; J. M. King, M. W.; G. W. Lamberston, G. F.; J. W. Durgee, O.; F. W. Booth, Rec.; G. H. Maxwell, Fin.; C. B. Russ, Receiver; C. M. Soper, G.; M. E. McMichall, I. W.; G.B. Robinson, O. W., with a charter membership of eighteen persons. The lodge is prosperous, but is not increased in membership at present. The hall above the post-office is the only one used. A list of master workmen seems not obtainable. Only three years later, on February 16, 1881, Ellsworth Post No. 30, G. A. R., was formed, and named in honor of the famous zouave colonel who tore down the rebel flag of the Jackson House, at Alexandria, Va. There were eighteen charter members and the following officers: D. A. Bigelow, C.; D. S. Bosworth, S. V. C.; W. M. Greeley, J. V. C.; A. H. Thayer, Q. M.; E. B. Cramblit, S.; Charles Barston, Chaplain; W. D. Lucas, O. D.; M. Hemstreet, O. G.; Henry Wilson, Jr., Adj. (acting); S. P. O'Brien, Q. M. S., and Benjamin Brenneman, S.M. They began in the Masonic, then used Cook's, and finally located in Odd Fellows'