John Ammon 1827-1906

AMMON, TRENT, HUGHES

Posted By: Merllene Andre Bendixen (email)
Date: 7/2/2010 at 20:24:37

John Ammon Dead
This Grand Old Man Passed Away Thursday, March 8th
Funeral Held Saturday
Burial was Conducted with Masonic Ceremonies and Was Made in Oak Hill Cemetery

The grim reaper, death, has taken from us another of the old pioneers of Estherville and one of the very well known and sterling characters of Emmet county in the person of John Ammon whose death occurred on Thursday last at nine o’clock, a.m. after a very brief illness from stomach trouble. For a few weeks Mr. Ammon had not been feeling well though he thought nothing about it more than a little touch of grip. Sunday the 4th last he began to feel quite ill but still insisted on being up and about the house, even then no serious turn was feared in this illness and not until Wednesday evening was he considered seriously ill. The change for the worse which then appeared was a very severe one for within twelve hours from then the spirit had taken its flight.

The funeral was held from the home on Saturday at three o’clock, the service was conducted by Rev. W. H. Knowlton, of St. James, Minn., assisted by Rev. Richard Ellerby of this city. Mrs. L. R. Woods and Miss Ward and Messrs. Salibury and Weston assisting in the musical part of the service. The burial was conducted with Masonic ceremonies and was made in Oak Hill. The pall bearers were John Montgomery, M. K. Whelan, C. M. Brown and Fred Lyman. There was a large attendance of friends and many of them from among the old settlers.

John Ammon was born in Fredonia, Crawford county, Indiana, Nov. 3, 1827, and was therefore in his 79th year of life. In his boyhood years he moved to Quincy, Ill., where he made his home until 1850 when with so many others he was taken with the California gold fever and set out for that land of promises going via the isthmus of Panama which he crossed on foot, and on horseback, when he could catch a chance ride and during his stay in that country and during the journeys to and fro he experienced not a little of the discomforts of that phase of pioneer life. He returned to Quincy about a year later where in 1851 he was united in marriage with Mary J. Trent and the following spring they moved to Allamakee county, Iowa, where he took up a claim near what is the town of Waukon. In 1853 he moved to Decorah where he began the establishing of the business of Ammon, Scott & Co., manufacturers of wagons and kindred products and of this he remained for years the leading spirit and the active manager of it. In the spring of 1880 with his family he moved to Estherville and for a few years after coming here he was engaged in the flouring mill business. For about fifteen years he had been totally retired from active business. To Mr. and Mr. Ammon was born a family of sons and daughters of whom survive their parents. Junius L. of California; Chauncey R. and Miss Minnie Ammon of this city. During the earlier days of Emmet county he took quite an active interest in its political affairs and was for a time a member of the board of supervisors and at the period when the county seat was located in Swan Lake. In politics he was a republican though possessed of quite an independent train of thought especially in local affairs. No one who knew John Ammon but what had a feeling of admiration for him because of his manly outspoken principles, his love of truth and the great virtues of honesty and sobriety. Though strong in purpose and a fearless fighter for what he believed to be true and just there was beneath this ruggedness of the old school as fine a sensibility of delicacy and honor as most men can lay claim to.

The grand old age he had attained and the vigor of mind and body which remained to the very close, speaks loudest commendation for his righteous life. It was a long round of industry honestly applied, and when we know that he was purely a self made man, had during his active years met disastrous business reverses and through no fault of his, met it manfully, and which left no stain on his integrity and that from this he merged to subsequent success, we may better understand his strength of character. Out on the hillside reposed the old worn out casement but the spirit which for so many years illuminated it has gone to enjoy that which has been promised to all who do their duty well.

Source: Estherville Democrat, Estherville, Iowa; March 14, 1906.

Death of John Ammon
Decorah Republican: Intelligence came by wire last Thursday, just after the Republican had gone to press, that John Ammon had died at his home in Estherville after an illness of only a few days. Pneumonia was the cause. We do not know his place of birth; the date was Nov. 3rd, 1828. He came to Northwestern Iowa soon after attaining his majority and halted for a time in Allamakee county. In June, 1854, he located in Decorah, and opened a shop for making and repairing plows. For this latter business there was a big opportunity in those days, and for a worker as lusty and industrious as was John Ammon there was plenty to do. Often in the long days of May, June and July the clang of his hammers began three and four hours before the storekeepers and others desired. His firm underwent several changes until at last it was incorporated as Ammon, Scott & Co. At that time milling had been added to manufacturing. Then came the gradual decadence in wheat growing. First there was a loss in the “hard” quality of the wheat; the quantity as well as “flouring” value of the softer wheats that were brought in to take the place of that which had been raised. The effects were poorer grades of flour, losses of markets, and finally when the “burn up” of the crops of 1876 and 1878 almost financially ruined the country, the failure of Ammon, Scott, & Co. resulted. As manufacturers the company had always made money; that is, so long as they could collect their accounts. The failure was a bad one. In 1870 or 1880 Mr. Ammon secured a homestead adjoining the village of Estherville, in Emmet county, where he has since resided. He also got possession of a small mill on the Upper Des Moines river, which was operated for a number of years by a small water power, and later on by a gasoline engine. A part of the time he was also engaged as manager of the working department of the Mandt Wagon Works at Stoughton, Wis., which he put on its feet by his skill as a mechanic and executive capacity. With his later years we have little acquaintance, and in a general way only know that while he acquired no wealth he had a comfortable home where he enjoyed living in the full sense of the word. Last year death broke in upon this enjoyment and took from his side a wife that for long, long years had been a comfort to him. To them had been born two sons and daughter. The elder son is a resident of Nebraska and the younger has been with him all the time since the family moved to Estherville. Mrs. Chauncey Ammon (who was Miss Ada Hughes) had just come to Decorah with her mother, Mrs. D. H. Hughes, when the intelligence of illness arrived by letter and was followed by wire only a day or so later.

Mr. Ammon was a man of the highest integrity; his word was as good as his bond. On every question to which he had given thought his opinion was out-spoken and positive. It needs not to be said he was respected, yea, honored by all who knew him.

Source: The Vindicator and Republican, Estherville, Iowa; March 21, 1906.