Alonzo R. Weed, a small, friendly drifter known in Amesville as Lon or Lonnie, was elected mayor of the village in April 1903 after his name was placed on the ballot, apparently as a joke or as part of a scheme involving his wealthy uncle Daniel Fleming. Likely born on the west coast around 1850, Weed had moved to Amesville in 1902 and became known for his unusual appearance, standing about 4 feet 1 inch tall and wearing oversized hobo clothing. The mayoral election ended in a 21-21 tie between Weed and Edward Clark, and Weed won the office by drawing a jack of diamonds after Clark drew a nine of spades. Newspapers across the United States seized on the story, calling him "the smallest mayor in America," while Amesville residents grew embarrassed and alarmed by having an illiterate alcoholic drifter in office. Opponents petitioned Gov. George Nash to remove him under a new Ohio law, arguing that Weed was mentally incapable of serving and citing his prior public drunkenness conviction, and Nash suspended him while reviewing the case. Nash then reinstated Weed, ruling that the law applied to misconduct committed as mayor and that the accusations against him all predated his election. Soon afterward Weed left Amesville, reportedly headed toward Parkersburg, and returned to a life of travel and drinking, later saying he had enjoyed prison more than serving as mayor and wanted no more of Amesville or politics.