James Tyler Ames was born on May 13, 1810 in Lowell, Massachusetts, United States. He was the son of Nathan Peabody and Phoebe (Tyler) Ames. He was endowed to a high degree with the mechanical skill possessed both by his father and his more famous brother, Nathan Peabody Ames Jr.
In his father's shop at Lowell and later in his brother's factory at Cabotville (now Chicopee) Ames received a thorough and practical training as a mechanic. In 1863 Amherst College granted him the honorary Master of Arts Degree.
Under the leadership of Nathan P. Ames Jr. , the Ames Manufacturing Company was organized in 1834 and new factories built down the river upon the site of the present Chicopee. Specializing in cutlery and tools, the Ames Company speedily branched into the manufacture of brass cannon, military accoutrements, and many other products, and gained reputation in operating the first sword factory in this country. James Tyler Ames so thoroughly demonstrated his ability and integrity that upon the untimely death of his brother in 1847 he became head of the Ames Company, the direction of which he maintained until 1874.
Under his control the Ames Company greatly extended its interests. It began in 1849 the manufacture of cotton-machinery, of lathes, planes, and turbine water-wheels. It not only participated in the growth of the great textile development of New England but took contracts for manufacturing the Eldredge Sewing Machine and the first Victor and Eagle bicycles. Just before the Civil War the concern became interested in bronze castings, and from its forges were turned out the "Crawford Doors" on the East Wing of the Capitol and many statues, including the equestrian statue of Washington in the Boston Public Gardens, the Minute Man at Concord, and the Lincoln Monument at Springfield, Illinois.
During the Civil War the Ames plant was one of the largest munition factories in the North, manufacturing sabers, Springfield rifles, and a thousand cannon for the Federal Government. The factory also executed large saber contracts for Turkey during the Russo-Turkish War and for France during the Franco-Prussian War.
Ames was one of the founders and the head of the Ames Manufacturing Company, a major provider of side arms, swords, light artillery, and heavy ordnance for the Union in the Civil War. They also cast a number of bronze statuary which can be found throughout New England. Among Ames' own inventions was a cannon-ball perfected with the aid of General James of Providence, from which grew the necessity of rifled cannon. Ames also invented the special machinery for the manufacture of these cannon.
Throughout his life Ames was an active and liberal supporter of the Third Congregational Church of Chicopee.
Ames was an enlightened employer, popular with his men. Although in later years he devoted his chief attention to the business aspect of his great factory, there were few men in his employ superior to him as a practical craftsman.
In 1838 Ames was married to Ellen Huse of Newburyport, by whom he had three children.
