James A. Ayers, secretary of the Rafter Farm Mortgage Company, is a well known business man of Jackson county. He is a native of Indiana, born in LaPorte county, January 8, 1866, and is a son of John and Tresa (O'Brien) Ayers, natives of England. In 1870 the Ayers family left the State of Indiana, and came to Kansas, settling on a farm about a mile from Holton, and here the father engaged in farming and stockraising, and met with success. James A. Ayres received his early educational discipline in the public schools of Jackson county, and later entered Campbell University at Holton, graduating in the class of 1886. He then taught school in various schools in Jackson county, during the winter, while in the summer time he was engaged in farming. He had taken an active interest in politics from boyhood, having been identified with the Republican party, and in 1904 was elected register of deeds of Jackson county, and in 1906 was reelected to that office, serving two terms. While he held that office, he had also continued his farming operations, by proxy, and after the expiration of his term in office, devoted himself to farming one year. October 1, 1909 he became connected with the Rafter Farm Mortgage Company, and in June 1912 was elected secretary of the company and now holds that responsible position. Mr. Ayers was united in marriage, May 23, 1888 with Miss Jennie Walker. She is a native Kansan, born in Doniphan county, and a daughter of Joseph and Harriet L. (Smith) Walker, natives of New York State. They were very early settlers in Doniphan county, coming to this State in 1860, and locating at Troy, where they lived until 1880, when they removed to Jackson county. To Mr. and Mrs. Ayers have been born four children: Edna, a graduate of Campbell University, now a Jackson county teacher; Hattie, a graduate of the Holton High School; Wesley and Aletha. Mr. and Mrs. Ayers are members of the United Brethren church, and his fraternal affiliations are with the Ancient Free and Accepted Masons and Modern Woodmen of America.