Sedgwick County KSGenWeb

Portrait And Biographical Album of Sedgwick County, Kan.

Chapman Brothers 1888

Pages 514 - 515 

WILLIAM W. AYRES, a gentleman who is now living on section 12, of Eagle Township, is recognized as one of the most intelligent men and skillful farmers of Sedgwick County, who, in connection with the raising of grain, has also given considerable attention to stockbreeding. He is pursuing the even tenor of his way as an honest man and a good citizen, furthering the good of his community as he has opportunity and enjoying the respect of his neighbors. His early home was near Georgetown, Ind., where his birth took place Nov. 22, 1838.

            The parents of our subject, Dr. William N. and Hannah E. (Hanger) Ayres, were natives respectively of New York State and Virginia, and of New England and German ancestry. They settled in Indiana about 1830, among the pioneers of Floyd County, where Dr. Ayres at once commenced the practice of his profession and continued there until 1848. He then removed to Elizabethtown, Ill., and administered to the physical ills of the people of that section for a period of thirty-three years. In 1881, when quite an aged man, he crossed the Mississippi and located in Valley Center, this county, where, with his estimable wife, he is now resting from the labors of a long and useful life. Dr. Ayres was born in 1811, and his wife, Hannah E., two years later, in 1813. Their family consisted of two sons and eight daughters, of whom William W. was the second born, and with his sister Augusta is the only survivor. The latter is the wife of Dr. James Rose, a practicing physician of Saline County, Ill.; they have three daughters—Alice, Tessie and Olive.

            Mr. Ayres remained with his parents in his native State until reaching his majority, and attended the district school until sixteen years of age. He then entered up m a course of study at Hartsville (Ind.) University, from which he received a first-grade certificate, and then returning to Illinois engaged as a teacher in Hardin County for about twelve years. When but twenty-two years old he was elected County Superintendent of Schools there, which office he held for a period of eight years. At the expiration of this time he was elected Sheriff of the county, holding this office two years.

            Mr. Ayres now determined upon a change of location, and Southern Kansas at that time being the object of much attention by enterprising men, he crossed the Father of Waters and, coming into Valley Center Township, purchased eighty acres of good land on section 26, upon which he located. Upon this there had been but little attempt at improvement, and the neat fences, the dwelling, barn and outhouses, were the result of his own industry. Here, as on the other side of the Mississippi, his value as a citizen and business man received ready recognition, and at the organization of School District No. 148 he was elected Director. In 1886 he was elected as one of the Township Trustees. He takes a lively interest in the affairs of his community and votes the straight Democratic ticket. He and his excellent wife are members in good standing of the Missionary Baptist Church, to the support of which they have contributed liberally and cheerfully since becoming identified with it.

            Mr. Ayres has been twice married, his first wife having been Miss Catherine Drumm, a native of Hamburg, Germany, and who became the mother of two sons—George N. and William A. The former, a young man of great promise, died in Valley Center Township, Nov. 27, 1886; William A. is pursuing his studies in the Garfield University at Wichita, which he entered in September, 1887 Mrs. Catherine Ayres died at her home in Elizabethtown, III., March 18, 1869.

            The present wife of our subject, to whom lie was married in 1872, was formerly Miss Catherine M., daughter of John P. and Minerva (Mott) Baldwin, natives of New Jersey. The father carried on farming in Hardin County, Ill., and died about 1853; the mother subsequently married Mr. Thomas A. McAmis, who is engaged in mercantile pursuits in Hurricane, Crittenden Co., Ky.

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