Early Memories of Saugatuck, Michigan : 1830-1930
Author: Heath, May Francis
Publisher: William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company; Grand Rapids, Mich: 1930

CAPTAIN RICHARD AMES

Richard Ames was born in York state in 1837 and followed the life of a sailor for many years. He sailed many schooners out of Saugatuck harbor among which were the Island City, Hattie Earl, Sea Bird. In 1860 at Saugatuck he was married to Miss Mary Davis who came from a long line of pioneer stock. Have often heard Mrs. Ames tell of a trip she took with Mr. Ames when he was Master of the schooner, Pride, and Charlie Shriver was cook, and the lake was so calm it took three days to sail to Chicago, (enough sailing for her).

Mr. Ames bought the home on the hill from S. A. Morrison in 1857, so it is one of the older houses in the village and has been in the Ames family seventy-three years.

During his sailing activities he bought 80 acres of land in Laketown (now the Leonard Estate) and after four of Mr. Ames' brothers were drowned, Richard, the remaining brother, gave up sailing and the family moved to the farm where they lived the remainder of their days.

They were fine, generous and helpful all through their lives; and were the parents of five children, Levane, Roy, Rena, Alice and Richard of whom Levane and Alice survive.