Return to Main Page

PETER E. AMBOS
Pages 589-590

(Portrait & Residence)

Peter Emil Ambos, son of Henry Ambos, was born September 29, 1814, in Zweibruken, Rheinbaiern, Germany, where he remained until nearly seventeen years of age, when. in 1830, he emigrated to America, and landed at Norfolk, Virginia.  He remained in Norfolk two years, and worked at making confectionery, which business he learned, and in 1832 removed to Columbus, where he ever after resided.  He opened a confectionery store on south High street, in a building situated on the ground no occupied by Comstock's opera house, his place of business being located about where Miss Wilkie's millinery establishment is now conducted.  There he remained about nine years, one year of which was in a partnership with George Egner, who came with him from Norfolk.  He came to this country poor in purse, but rich in the possession of good habits, and by strict attention to business, and stern habits of integrity, coupled with as indomitable perseverance, he laid the foundation of a successful life, and was enabled to amass a large property. Some nine years after engaging in business here he was enabled to purchase the ground whereon the present store of Stevenson, Ruhl & Company is located, where he continued the confectionery business.  This business he disposed of in 1854, when he became connected with the Columbus Manufacturing company of which he was treasurer during the presidency respectively of Samuel Galloway and John S. Hall.  The name of the company was afterwards changed to the Columbus Machine company, of which Mr. Ambos was made president in 1865, from which time, and during the remainder of his life he was president and treasurer.  He was one of the men who organized the First National bank of Columbus, in 1863, and was elected its first vice-president.  After the death of W. B. Hubbard, in 1866, he was made president of the old Capital Insurance company until it was merged into the Franklin Insurance company.  On the first day of August, 1841, he was united in marriage to Dorothea Jaeger, of this city, who survives him.  To them were born three children, Emelie, Emil, and Herman.  Mr. Ambos had not had good health for several of the later years of his life, and while at Kelley's Island, in the spring of 1866, he contracted a severe cold, which resulted in catarrh of the lungs, in consequence of which he went to the Hot Springs of Arkansas, whence he returned in May much improved in health.  He was a man of very regular habits, and was generous to a fault.  No charity scarcely appealed to him in vain.  He was a man of good business qualifications, and of sterling integrity.  All who knew him missed him, and none more so than those who were intimately associated with him in his business relations. He was at the First National bank up to the closing hours on Saturday, in about his usual health, from whence he repaired to his home on South High street. Shortly after his arrival at his home he was seized with a fainting spell, from which he revived, and soon after retired to rest. About eleven o'clock he was taken with severe vomiting, and after this called once for his wife.  Unconsciousness soon followed, which continued until his death, at half-past two o'clock Sunday morning, June 25, 1877.  The immediate cause of his death was pronounced apoplexy.  Besides his wife and their children, he had a sister in the city, Mrs. Louis Hoster, who mourn his death.  As a banker, Mr. Ambos was prompt and accurate in judgment, and faithful to all interests confided to his care.  Throughout his business career he was known as a man of unquestionable integrity and unblemished honor.  As a citizen he was enterprising and public-spirited, and assisted much in all public improvements, besides contributing largely to charitable undertakings.  As a neighbor and friend he was cheerful, intelligent, courteous, and kind, and at his death left no enemy in the community wherein he had lived nearly half a century.  Aportrait of Peter Emil Ambos, together with a representation of his beautiful home on south High street, Columbus, appears in connection with the sketch of his life.