John Wesley Ambrose (1834-1923)

AMBROSE, ELLICOTT, FAHRNEY, ELWELL, NEASHAM, ADAMS

Posted By: Dorian Myhre (email)
Date: 5/2/2014 at 23:54:32

From unknown newspaper 1923

J. W. Ambrose, 89, pioneer merchant and land owner of the county, died at his home on Eighth street Sunday morning at 8:30, after being confined to his but a couple of days. Mr. Ambrose had been down town Wednesday and had started down Thursday but his strength failed him.

Funeral services will be held from the Methodist church Thursday afternoon at 2:30, his pastor Rev. Jackson Giddens preaching the sermon. Interment will be in the Nevada cemetery.

Although approaching his nintieth year Mr. Ambrose had retained his spirit and strength to a remarkable degree and until the last few days had made his regular trips down town, met and greeted his friends and maintained interest in his affairs.

Mr. Ambrose was one of the pioneer business men of the county, having come out here from Illinois in 1873 and engaged in the general mercantile business at Colo, and in 1886 came to Nevada where he and his son, H. G., engaged in the dry goods, clothing and shoe business, later adding other lines. As the other sons, William O. and B. F. reached their years of maturity they in turn were taken into the business and for thirty years the sons have been in the active management. During the later years the father had devoted the most of his time superintending and looking after his many acres of land, the most of which is located over in Sherman township. The Ambrose stores, established by the son for Mr. Ambrose as a double front building now occupy the first floor of four buildings and the second floor of three of them.

John Wesley Ambrose was a son of William Ambrose and Mary Weller, both natives of Virginia. The father was born in 1810 and the mother in 1812. They were married in Virginia and cem out to Ogle county, Illinois in 1840.

The son John Wesley, the subject of the sketch was born in West Virginia, March 16, 1834, being a lad of twelve when his parent came west. There were two brothers and two sisters. The other brother George Ambrose died at Polo, Ill., in 1912 at the age of 77, while the two sisters are living and will be here for the services. They are Mrs. F. P. Ellicott of Zearing, and Mrs. H. B. Fahrney at Dresden, Ill.

Of the six children born to Mr. and Mrs. Ambrose, but one, the eldest daughter is dead. Mary, who became the wife of J. K. Elwell, then of Boche but now of Des Moines, died in 1904 at the age of 59 years. The sons are Harry G., William O., and B. Frank all of Nevada, while the daughters are Mrs. Alice Ambrose-Neasham of Nevada and Mrs. Eva Ambrose-Adams of Boise City, Idaho.