Marcus Ames

A member of the Ames family, Marcus Ames was the son of Azel Ames and Mercy Ames (née Hatch).^[1][2][3] He was educated at Phillips Andover Academy, where he graduated as valedictorian, before studying medicine at Harvard Medical School.^[4][5][6]

He was ordained to the clergy in 1854, becoming a "brilliant, fervent, and impressive" Congregational preacher who ministered throughout Massachusetts.^[6][7] Though Ames was educated to undertake missionary work in West Africa, the poor state of health of his wife ultimately precluded him from traveling abroad.^[6]

Ames was a firm believer in criminal rehabilitation and, in 1862, was made superintendent and chaplain of the Lancaster Industrial School for Girls.^[7] Two years later he expressed, in writing, his concerns for what he saw as a growing problem with a lack of skilled education, and prevalence of idleness, among working class girls, and opined that without education many would be destined for unemployment and homelessness.^[8] In 1874, after plans were announced to install workshops at the school, Ames – concerned that the new direction towards prison industry was transforming it into a jail – resigned in protest.^[8][9][10] His resignation was joined by most of the school's matrons.^[8][9] After leaving the Lancaster School, he was appointed chaplain of state institutions of the State of Rhode Island, which included the state's insane asylum, prison, almshouse, and workhouse.^[11]

With his wife, Jane Ames (née Vandenburg), Ames had two sons, Marcus and Herman, and a daughter, Ella.^[3][6][12]