Eli B. Ames

Eli B. Ames (August 3, 1820 – February 12, 1898) was a lawyer, postmaster, judge, and Democratic politician who served as the fourth mayor of Minneapolis, Minnesota.

Early life Eli B. Ames was born on August 3, 1820, in Colchester, Vermont. His brother was Alfred Elisha Ames. After his term in the Illinois General Assembly, he worked as an aide to Joel Aldrich Matteson. In 1855, he was appointed to the American consulate in Hamburg, Germany as consul. While serving as consul, he negotiated a postal treaty with Germany.

In 1857, he arrived in Minneapolis, Minnesota where he started an insurance business. From 1861 to 1864, he served as the secretary of the Minnesota Senate. Later, he served two, one-year terms as the mayor of Minneapolis from 1870 to 1872, defeating his brother Alfred in the second election. In 1873, Ames lost his bid for a third term as mayor. He unsuccessfully ran for the Minneapolis School Board in 1875.

Personal life Ames married Delia A. Payne on May 31, 1854, in St. Louis. He had a daughter, Mrs. Hasey.

Electoral history Minneapolis Mayoral Election, 1870 Eli B. Ames 1,005 Paris Gibson 782 Henry G. Sidle 1 Write-Ins and Scattering 7 Minneapolis Mayoral Election, 1871 Eli B. Ames 1,083 Alfred Elisha Ames 557 Minneapolis Mayoral Election, 1873 George A. Brackett 2,188 Eli B. Ames 1,362