This life sketch is the third in a series of brief biographies previously published on the Amesdale Cemetery Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/amesdalecemetery
Annie was born October 13, 1873 in Atwood,
Perth County, Ontario. She was the
daughter of Joseph Able Priest whose parents had emigrated to Canada West from
the United States, and Annie MacDonald whose family had emigrated from
Scotland. Notably, she was a descendent
of Degory Priest, the twenty-ninth signer of the Mayflower Compact.
In 1893 Annie moved to Manitoba with her
parents and eleven siblings. Upon
arrival in Manitoba, the family was met at the railway station by her childhood
playmate, Samuel George Ames who greeted her with a kiss and proposed marriage.
The couple was married on May 30, 1894.
The story of the Sam and Annie Ames is a
happy one. They were to have a large and
very close family; consisting of ten children, five girls and five boys, all born
while they lived in Killarney and later in Gilbert Plains, Manitoba. Their children always had great love and
respect for their parents, whom they always referred to as “Mama and
Papa”. Annie was especially loved and
respected by all who became acquainted with her. Her loving and understanding nature gave
great strength to her husband and family, as well as the communities in which
she lived.
Annie’s first love and concern was for her
family but, when she felt they were taken care of, she was willing to dedicate
herself totally to the service of others.
Her desire to serve was splendidly demonstrated by her years of service
as a midwife. Annie showed great dedication
in a calling which required patience, understanding, competence, and especially
love. She was called to leave her family
and assist others on a moment’s notice and at all hours, but she did it without
a thought for herself and with a pure love of the people she served.
When someone was sick Annie Ames was always
there to help. During the influenza
epidemic of 1918-1919 which ravaged homes throughout Europe and the Americas,
Annie was caring for her neighbours.
When called upon to aid her neighbours during the epidemic she went without
a though for her own well-being, having faith that the Lord would protect her
and her family if she was helping others.
Often have been heard the words, “Not enough good can be ever said about
Mrs. Ames.” Much credit must also be given
to her husband who understood Annie enough to let her serve as she wished
without protest on his part. While Sam
provided for the physical needs of the family, Annie spread love through her
family and the community by her unfailing service to others.
In October of 1925 the Ames family moved to
Freda, Ontario and took up residence in a small log house that was quite a
change from their spacious home in Manitoba.
At the time, Freda, later to be named Amesdale, was an isolated
community with no roads, schools, churches, or stores. Annie, being a Christian woman, quickly decided
that religious services of some sort must be started in the settlement. An industrious woman, she quickly ordered the
government correspondence courses to provide for her children’s education. She
also supported her husband in his numerous business endeavors, including a
store and post office, pulp wood and railroad tie contracting ventures, the Amesdale
Lath and Supply Company, farming, and blueberry and rice businesses.
Annie was noted for her wonderful
recitations and charades at the annual Amesdale Christmas Concert. She was an active member of the Women’s
Institute of Amesdale.
Annie had a stroke on January 2, 1944, and was paralyzed
on her right side. The story of how the
children cared for their parents when they could not care for themselves is a
wonderful example of the closeness of this family. Annie passed away on
February 9, 1949.
This history was compiled by
Brian Ames with the help of Beatrice Radford Ames, Margaret Ames Fradsham, and most
particularly Katherine Ames Carlson.
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