1887 History of Story County, Iowa by W. G. Allen

I will here name an instance of female energy that occurred some twenty-two or twenty-three years ago, in Washington Township. Here it is: Mrs. C. O. Duff, living near where Ames was afterwards located, by an understanding between herself and the Railroad Company, bought 320 acres of land for the Company, some of which was used, (40 acres) for the town site of Ames, which was laid off in lots and blocks late in 1864. The Company or John I. BLAIR and others made some fruitless efforts to get some land for a station where Ontario now is. This was prior to Mrs. Duff's purchase at Ames. It is therefore presumed they desired to try the next purchase by an agent for the Railroad Companysupposing land could be had at much lower figures by some one not known as being interested in the company. Mrs. Duff was therefore selected as the agent, and she made the purchase. Some of the early history of this and of Ames will be found elsewhere. Mrs. Duff boarded the hands while they were building the depot in 1865. Had the first efforts of the company succeeded in getting the land where Ontario now is, the town would have been there. She was an active and untiring worker in trying to get up a church organization at Ames for the Congregationalists. The church was built as you will learn, and Mrs. Duff was the untiring worker. For the dedication of the church Mrs. Pierce, (mother of Mrs. J. A. Fitchpatrick,) composed the dedicatory hymn. So it is said.

CHICAGO & NORTHWESTERN RAILWAY TIME CARD
AT AMES-September 23, 1886.

GOING EAST.

GOING WEST.