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Washington County >> 1909 Index History of Washington County, Iowa from the First White Settlements to
1908 A J. J. Ayers submitted by Dick Barton Among
the venerable citizens of this county is numbered J. J. Ayers, who has now
reached the age of eighty-five years. His has been an honorable and useful life
and one which has gained for him the well merited regard and confidence of those
with whom he has come in contact. He was born in Baltimore county, Maryland,
February 8, 1824, and was the third in order of birth in a family of seven
children whose parents were John and Rachel (Dunek) Ayers, both of whom were
natives of Maryland, where they resided until 1831, when they left that state
and removed to Ohio. After a residence of twenty years there they came to
Washington county, Iowa, in 1851, settling in Lime Creek township, where they
remained until called to their final rest, both passing away in 1875. In their
family were seven children, as follows: Elizabeth and John T., both of whom are
deceased; J. J., of this review; Rachel A. and Benjamin, who have also passed
away; Ruth, the wife of Reuben Rickey, who is mentioned on another page of this
work; and Darcus S., a resident of Oklahoma. J.
J. Ayers spent his youthful days in his father's home, accompanying his parents
on their removal to Ohio when a lad of seven years. He also came with them to
Iowa fifty-eight years ago and continued to assist his father in the operation
of the home farm in Lime Creek township until thirty-four years of age, when he
was married and began farming on his own account. He wedded Miss Louisa Baker,
who was born in Pickaway county, Ohio, in 1838 and was a daughter of Jacob and
Anna (Davis) Baker. The father was born in Delaware and the mother was a native
of Maryland. The former died in Ohio in 1860, while the mother passed away in
1868 while visiting at the home of her daughter, Mrs. Ayers. In the family of
that worthy couple were nine children: Minerva, Treasie, Catharine, James D.,
Louisa, Warren, Harriet, Tricilla and one who died in infancy. Following
their marriage Mr. and Mrs. Ayers began their domestic life on the farm where
they now reside, Mr. Ayers owning here a tract of land of eighty acres in Lime
Creek township. His time and energies are given to its continuous cultivation
and development and his industry and enterprise are manifest in the well
improved appearance of the place. He is reliable in all of his business
dealings, active and energetic, and his well directed labors have brought him
his success. The
home of Mr. and Mrs. Ayers has been blessed with three children: Dora, who was
born December 23, 1858, and died on the 6th of August, 1881; Perry L., living in
English River township; and Eva E., who is the wife of J. C. Rowe. The parents
are well known in this part of the county, where they have an extensive circle
of warm friends. Mr. Ayers votes with the democracy and is I sympathy with its
purposes but does not seek nor desire office. He is not remiss in the duties of
citizenship, however, but in a quiet way supports whatever measure or movement
he deems will prove of benefit to the community.
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