Ames, Charles W. (Charles Wilberforce), 1855-1921.

Charles Wilberforce Ames was born in Minneapolis, June 30, 1855, the son of Charles Gordon Ames and Sarah Daniels Ames. He was educated at Albany Academy (Albany, New York) and public schools in California. He graduated from Cornell University in 1878. After working in San Jose, California as an apprentice printer, he returned to Minnesota where he worked as a railroad surveyor. He later assisted his father in editing and publishing the Christian Register in Boston. In 1880 he became associated with the George H. Ellis Publishing Company in Boston. In 1882 he returned to St. Paul and purchased an interest in the West Publishing Company, a publisher of law books. This association continued until his death in 1921. Under his guidance the company grew to be one of the largest publishers of law books in the U.S.

Ames became very active in the educational, civic, religious, and cultural life of St. Paul and Minnesota. Among his many projects were the founding of the St. Paul Institute, Loomis School, St. Paul Academy, and the Informal Club.

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