Ames, Edwin Gardner, 1856-1935

Lumber company executive, banker and political activist of Seattle, Washington, Edwin Ames (1856-1935), was manager of the Pope & Talbot interests in the Puget Sound region and a leading figure in the Seattle business community of the early twentieth century. Born in Maine, he was a cousin of Captain William Talbot, co-owner of the Pope & Talbot companies; and he went to work for Pope & Talbot's subsidiary, the Puget Mill Company at Port Gamble, Washington in 1881. He married Maud Walker, who was the niece of Edwin's superior, Cyrus Walker, and a Pope & Talbot stockholder. When Maud's mother died in 1919, the couple inherited a fortune, which was administered as the Walker-Ames Company with Edwin as president. In the 1890s, Ames led the drive to modernize the mills to reduce waste and to meet the demand for specialied sizes of high-quality lumber. He was active in the Pacific Coast Lumber Manufacturer's Association and it successor, West Coast Lumbermen's Association. A political conservative, Ames supported reforms that benefitted the timber industry. In 1911, he successfully led the effort to pass a workers' compensation program. Although Ames shunned political office himself, he was a key financial backer of conservative Republicans in state and local politics. In addition, Ames served on the board of directors of three large Seattle banks. When his wife died, Ames moved and donated his Seattle house to the University of Washington to become the official residence of its president. He left his personal papers and his collection of over 3,000 volumes to the school. His will created the Walker-Ames Foundation, a fund which still finances numerous programs.

From the description of Edwin G. Ames scrapbooks, 1898-1928. (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 263996598

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