OLIVER H. AMES

Oliver H. Ames, Judge of the County Court in Clark County for 62 years, died at a Watertown hospital Saturday, June 8, 1974. He had been confined to the hospital for a week. He was 98 years, six months and 17 days of age at the time of his death.

Services were held Tuesday at the United Methodist Church with the Rev. John De Vries officiating. Organist was Mrs. Marvin Logan and soloist was Ralph Maynard. Internment was in Rosehill Cemetery.

Oliver H. Ames was born November 21, 1875 at St. Paul, Minnesota, the eldest son of Oliver and Emma Ames. He attended school and grew to manhood in St. Paul. Mr. Ames graduated from the University of Minnesota College of Law in June of 1898 and was admitted to the practice of law in that state.

Following six years of practice with a prominent law firm of that city, he came to Clark County in March of 1904, joining the firm of S.A. Keenan. Other lawyers in the community at that time were Carl Sherwood, S.H. Elrod, Wm. McGann, F.E. Strawder, Frank G. Bohri, Logan Barrie, S.J. Conklin and Ralph Dunham, Sr.

He was elected to the office of County Judge and took office January 1, 1907 - a position he held for the next 62 years. Upon retiring at age 93 years, he was the oldest judge in South Dakota and had served as judge for longer than any man in the state. In 1956 the SD Bar Association honored him with a gold pin signifying 50 years as a judge.

"Doc," as he was known to his many friends, was appointed in 1909 by Gov. Vessey as a member of the commission to organize Perkins County. He also served ten years as Clark City Treasurer, and was on the draft board during the first world war.

Judge Ames was Clark County Republican Chairman for 36 years - from 1914 to 1950. He was a 32nd Degree Mason, a Shriner, member of the Odd Fellows, Woodmen and Rebekah Lodges, and he was a member of the United Methodist Church of Clark.

He was united in marriage to Bessie Virginia Lambert at Clark on June 21, 1932.

Survivors are his wife, Bessie, of Clark; his daughter Wanelda Clemens, of Worthington, Minn.; a sister, Mrs. Eleanor Lincoln of Boston, Mass.; a granddaughter, Mrs. Stephan (Virginia) Cisewski of Rapid City; two nephews and a niece.

He was preceded in death by his parents and two brothers.

Serving as honorary pallbearers were Gus Seefeldt, Marvin Graham, John Rassmusson, Elwin Geise, Kenneth Asher and Guy Mann. The active pallbearers were Ordin Lien, Melvin Hamre, D.G. Syvertson, Melvin Reinschmidt, Earl Eckerson and Gene Mack.