Frederick Lothrop Ames Jr. (July 23, 1876 – June 19, 1921) was a

Massachusetts Massachusetts (Massachusett language, Massachusett: ''Muhsachuweesut assachusett writing systems, məhswatʃəwiːsət'' English: , ), officially the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, is the most populous U.S. state, state in the New England ...

financier and socialite. He was the great-grandson of Oliver Ames, who established the Ames Shovel Company, grandson of Oliver Ames Jr., and son of Frederick Lothrop Ames.

Early life and education

Frederick Lothrop Ames Jr. was born July 23, 1876, in North

Easton, Massachusetts Easton is a town in Bristol County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 25,058 at the 2020 census. It is part of the Greater Boston area. Easton is governed by an elected Select Board. Open Town Meeting acts as the legislative branc ...

. He was the second son of Frederick Lothrop Ames Sr. and Rebecca Caroline (Blair) Ames, and went by the name "Lothrop." The Ames' were fairly prominent in 19th century

New England New England is a region comprising six states in the Northeastern United States: Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, and Vermont. It is bordered by the state of New York to the west and by the Canadian province ...

society, and had a major presence in small North Easton. Lothrop's father Frederick Sr. was considered by many to be the wealthiest man in Massachusetts. Frederick Sr. died at age 58 in 1893, leaving young Lothrop fatherless and extremely wealthy at age seventeen. Lothrop received an A.B. degree from

Harvard College Harvard College is the undergraduate college of Harvard University, an Ivy League research university in Cambridge, Massachusetts. Founded in 1636, Harvard College is the original school of Harvard University, the oldest institution of higher ...

in 1898. In 1902, he purchased the yacht Vigilant, which had won the

America's Cup The America's Cup, informally known as the Auld Mug, is a trophy awarded in the sport of sailing. It is the oldest international competition still operating in any sport. America's Cup match races are held between two sailing yachts: one ...

back in 1893.

Career

Lothrop had interests in the family shovel business and served on the boards of directors of many companies, including banks, mining companies, railroads, power companies, hospitals, dredging companies, and others. He was involved with the breeding of

Guernsey cattle The Guernsey is a breed of dairy cattle from the island of Guernsey in the Channel Islands. It is fawn or red and white in colour, and is hardy and docile. Its milk is rich in flavour, high in fat and protein, and has a golden-yellow tinge ...

and was a prominent member of the Massachusetts Guernsey Breeders Association. Lothrop kept an office in the family-owned Ames Building in

Boston Boston (), officially the City of Boston, is the capital city, state capital and List of municipalities in Massachusetts, most populous city of the Commonwealth (U.S. state), Commonwealth of Massachusetts, as well as the cultural and financ ...

Stone House Hill House

In 1904, shortly after his marriage to Edith, Lothrop commissioned architects Douglas H. Thomas and J. Harleston Parker, later of the firm Parker, Thomas and Rice) to design a mansion on the Easton-Brockton town line. The 50-room “Stone House Hill House” contained a gymnasium with glass-roofed indoor clay tennis court, marble swimming pool, squash court, garage, conservatory, barns and maintenance buildings. The building was completed in 1905. By 1935, Ames was deceased and Edith remarried; she sold the entire Stone House Hill House and property to the Catholic

Congregation of Holy Cross , image = Congregation of Holy Cross.svg , image_size = 150px , abbreviation = CSC , formation = , founder = Blessed Fr. Basile-Antoine Marie Moreau, C.S.C. , founding_location = ...

. Between 1935 and 1948, the congregation used the place as a

seminary A seminary, school of theology, theological seminary, or divinity school is an educational institution for educating students (sometimes called ''seminarians'') in scripture, theology, generally to prepare them for ordination to serve as clergy ...

to educate candidates for the priesthood. In 1948 the Congregation of Holy Cross established

Stonehill College Stonehill College is a private Roman Catholic liberal arts college in Easton, Massachusetts. It was founded in 1948 by the Congregation of Holy Cross and is located on the original estate of Frederick Lothrop Ames Jr., with 29 buildings that co ...

on the property.

Personal life

He married Edith Callender Cryder, daughter of Duncan Cryder of

New York City New York, often called New York City or NYC, is the most populous city in the United States. With a 2020 population of 8,804,190 distributed over , New York City is also the most densely populated major city in the U ...

, on May 31, 1904, at Trinity Church in New York City. They had two children, Frederick and Mary.

Death

Lothrop took ill on May 1, 1921, had surgery on May 6, appeared to recover on June 11, but died on June 19 at his home in North Easton. His funeral was held June 22 at the Unity Church of North Easton, which his family had attended for many years. He was buried at the Village Cemetery behind the church.

References

External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Ames, Frederick Lothrop Jr. 1876 births 1921 deaths American manufacturing businesspeople Harvard College alumni Blue Water Medal recipients Butler–Ames family People from Easton, Massachusetts