Dexter Newton Ames, son of Absalom and Margaret Ames, was a native of Morgan County, Ohio, the date of his birth being August 17, 1842. He died at the home of his eldest son in North La Crosse, on Tuesday, May 11, 1920, aged 77 years, 8 months, and 24 days.

Deceased came to Wisconsin with his parents when young, his family being among the earliest settlers of Crawford County, settling originally in the upper Sugar Creek neighborhood. Here Mr. Ames grew to manhood and in the
fall of 1863 married a neighbor girl, Miss Diana Copper, who survives him. The union was blessed with nine children, of whom five are living, four dead, two of the latter having passed away in infancy.

The surviving children are: Marcus N. Ames of La Crosse; Mrs. Mary DeLacy of Escalon, California; Mrs. Lucinda Hutson of Blake, Wis.; Joseph R. of Ferryville, Wis.; Franklin P. of DeSoto, Wis.; Charles Emmett died in the spring of 1902, and John Marion in January, 1903.

In January, 1864, the deceased enlisted in the service of his country as a member of the 31st Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry, with which he served until the end of the war. He was a loyal and gallant soldier. At the close of the Civil War Mr. Ames returned home and from that time onward during the prime years of his life he engaged in the
business of farming in the Retreat neighborhood.

In 1901 he disposed of his farm here and removed to the village of Ferryville, which continued to be his home until his death, coming as the climax of influenza, followed by pneumonia, pleurisy and other complications,
embracing an illness lasting more than three months. Deceased was a man of kindly nature, of good self control and even temper. Funeral services were held at the Retreat Church May 14, conducted by Pastor J. Harry Bullock, Viroqua.
links:Vernon County Censor June 2, 1920 p. 3