FREDERICK AMETER, deceased, for forty-four years made his home in Richland
County, devoting his energy to the cultivation of his farm of one hundred and
sixty acres on section 6, Olney Township. This place is pleasantly and
conveniently located three miles west of the city of Olney. In the midst of the
well-tilled fields are a good frame residence, barns and other outbuildings.
There is also an orchard, together with all the other modern improvements and
conveniences of a first-class farm.
Mr. Ameter was born on May 5, 1822,
in the canton of Berne, Switzerland, and was the youngest in a family numbering
three sons and three daughters, whose parents were William and Susan (Shafer)
Ameter. The father was a farmer by occupation, and followed that business
throughout his entire life. He died in his native land in 1826, when our subject
was only four years of age. Frederick remained at home in the land of his
nativity until about twenty-seven years of age, and worked as a cattle-herder
for $5 per month. Hoping to better his financial condition, he at length bade
adieu to friends and native land and in 1849 took passage on a Westward-bound
sailing-vessel, accompanied by his mother and brother Christian. The latter,
however, died two months later. The mother purchased a small farm of eighty
acres on Grand Prairie, in Preston Township, Richland County, Ill., and there
lived with her son until her death, which occurred in 1853. She was laid to rest
in the German Reformed Cemetery.
On the 1st of January, 1851, Mr. Ameter
was united in marriage with Miss Lucinda Balmer, who was also a native of
Switzerland and attended the same school as her husband during her girlhood.
Seven children were born of this union, and in order of birth they were as
follows: Frederick, who aids in the operation of the home farm; Jacob, who is a
resident of Colorado; Elizabeth, wife of Jacob Betebenner, a prosperous farmer
of Richland County; Caroline, deceased; Josephine, wife of John F. Glathart, a
well-known and successful farmer of this county; John, who went to Alaska, where
his death occurred when twenty-five years of age; and Clara, who is still under
the parental roof.
The parents of this family were both members of the
German Reformed Church and highly respected people, whose many excellencies of
character gained them warm regard. In his political affiliations Mr. Ameter was
a Republican. He served as School Director in his district, and held the office
of Road Commissioner for the long period of twenty years, a fact which indicated
his faithfulness and fidelity to duty. His fellow-townsmen and those who knew
him speak of him as an honorable, upright man, straightforward in all his
dealings. His life was well spent, and his example might be followed to
advantage by many. He came to this country without capital, but had no occasion
to regret his determination to try his fortune in the New World, for he here met
with prosperity and gained a comfortable home and many friends. Mr. Ameter died
at his home on the 24th of May, 1893, and his remains lie in the cemetery at
Olney.
Extracted 11 Apr 2020 by Norma Hass from 1893 Portrait and Biographical Record of Effingham, Jasper and Richland Counties, Illinois, pages 219-220.
| Jasper | Crawford | |
| Clay |
 |
Lawrence |
| Wayne | Edwards | Wabash |
