AMBROSE OSTRANDER
Ambrose Ostrander engaged in the general merchandise trade, in Wiota in February, 1878, and still is one of the leading merchants in this line in the town.
Ambrose Ostrander, general merchant, engaged in business in February, 1878. His place of business is located south of the railroad, and his residence on the north. He was born in Columbia County, New York, in 1841. He was reared in his native county, and received his education at the Spencertown academy. At the age of twenty he engaged in teaching, which occupation he followed a portion of the time, for a number of years, thus securing means for completing his education. He studied with the view of entering the ministry of the M. E. church, but did not carry out his purpose until recently. He went to Michigan in 1870 and taught there one year, thence to LaPlata, Macon county, Missouri, where he engaged in the same business. He continued there two and one-half years, when, on account of failing health, he was compelled to abandon teaching. He then engaged in mercantile trade. In 1875 he removed to Bloomfield, Davis county, Iowa, where he continued the same business, thence to Atlantic in 1878. He came to this town in 1879. Mr. Ostrander is at present, a local minister of the M. E. church. His wife was formerly Lizzie Knight, a daughter of D. B. Knight of Jefferson county, Iowa.
Contributed by Lisa Varnes-Rex from "History of Cass County, Iowa. Together With Sketches of its Towns, Villages and Townships, Educational, Civil, Military and Political History: Portraits of Prominent Persons, and Biographies of Old Settlers and Representative Citizens." Springfield, Ill.: Continental Historical Company, 1884, pg. 803.
