W. D. Ames Chaves County, New Mexico

W. D. Ames came to New Mexico, January 1, 1895, from Nebraska, and located on a place about one-eighth of a mile west of Hagerman, at which time he purchased from Mr. Hagerman ten acres of land and began improvements, planting an orchard and otherwise transforming the tract into one of fertility.

In 1898 he bought an adjoining ten acres from Mr. Hagerman and now has twenty acres, all in fruit, his orchards yielding an excellent return. He has a very fine place with about sixteen hundred apple trees, and he has water right from the Felix Irrigation Company. He is managing his orchards in a way that indicates the successful results which can follow effort along horticultural lines here.

Born in Indiana, in Vermilion County, in 1835, Mr. Ames went to the first gold excitement at Pike's Peak in 1859, and has always lived in the west since. He was lately offered for his twenty acres $10,000 in cash, which he refused. He says this suits him better than any place he ever lived, and as he is getting old he proposes to remain here.

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Source: History of New Mexico, Its Resources and People, Volume II, Pacific States Publishing Co., 1907.