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BIOGRAPHIES
Source:
20th century history of
Delaware County, Ohio
and
representative citizens
Publ:
Chicago, Ill. :: Biographical Pub. Co., by James R. Lytle
1908
<BACK TO
BIOGRAPHICAL INDEX 1908>
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BIOGRAPHICAL INDEX 1880>
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BIOGRAPHICAL INDEX 1895>
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J. I. ADAMSON, of
the firm of Schoppert & Adamson, lumber merchants, at Ostrander, was
born in Randolph County, Indiana, April 16, 1867, and is a son of
Ira and Nancy (Willmore) Adamson.
The Adamson family is of English extraction.
The grandfather of J. I. Adamson was Abraham
Adamson, who was a pioneer in Indiana, where he became prominent
in public affairs. The maternal grandfather was a native of
Virginia. He married Eliza Love, whose mother was a
Harrison, belonging to the old Virginia family from which came
two presidents of the United States.
Ira Adamson, father of J. I., is a highly
respected retired citizen of Winchester, Indiana. He served as
a soldier in the Union army during the Civil War and is a member of
the Grand Army Post at Winchester. He was a successful farmer
for many years and for 15 years prior to retiring from active life,
he was engaged in the bee business. He is a Republican in his
political views and has frequently held township offices. He
married a daughter of William C. Willmore, of Winchester, who
still survives. For 14 years Mr. Willmore was a county
recorder. Mr. and Mrs. Adamson had 10 children, namely:
Willis A., residing at Saratoga, Indiana; Mary E.; Sarah;
Jesse W., residing on the home farm; Alice A.; John W.,
deceased; J. I.; George W., residing at Everett,
Washington, was clerk of the court there for eight years; and
Hannah and Edith. The parents of this family are
members of the Baptist Church, in which the father has been very
active for many years, frequently occupying the pulpit. He is
now in his 77th hear.
J. I. Adamson was reared in Indiana and was educated
in the Randolph High School and the National Normal University at
Lebanon, Ohio, remaining in the latter institution for two years,
after which he returned to Winchester and taught in the public
schools for the next five years. Failing health compelled him
to abandon teaching and for the seven following years he engaged in
farming in Scioto Township. In 1891 he came to Ostrander and
entered into partnership with J. A. Hayes, in the hardware
line under the firm name of Hayes & Adamson, which continued
two years, when Mr. Adamson closed out his interest.
For some four or five years he then conducted a restaurant. In
the fall of 1905, he bought a farm of Albert Huntley, but
returned to Ostrander in a few months and entered into partnership
with his present associate. The firm operates a portable
sawmill, to Dayton, Ohio. Mr. Anderson was one of the
organizers of the Ostrander Banking Company, at Ostrander, and with
the exception of one year, has been one of its directors ever since
its beginning.
Mr. Adamson married Minnie Manville, who
was born in Scioto Township, Delaware County, Ohio, and they have
one daughter, Lois Ellen. In politics, Mr. Adamson
is a stanch Republican. He is a member of Ostrander Lodge, F.
& A. M., and of Edinburg Lodge, Odd Fellows, of which he is past
grand, and has also held the office of district deputy grand master.
He is one of Ostrander's representative men.
Source:
20th century history of Delaware County, Ohio
and representative citizens - Chicago, Ill. :: Biographical Pub.
Co., 1908 by James R. Lytle |
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WERTER
B. ALBRIGHT was the son of Jacob S. Albright and Nancy
Albright. The father was a minister of the Methodist
Episcopal Church, and the mother a faithful helpmate in her
husband's calling. The subject of this sketch was born on the
twelfth day of October, 1858. He was educated in the public
schools of Delaware and at the Ohio Wesleyan University.
Mr. Albright studied law and was admitted to the Bar in the year
1885. He soon thereafter opened an office in Delaware, and
began the practice of his chosen profession. Mr. Albright
gave special attention to the law of real estate and he became an
expert in that particular branch of his profession. He was an
untiring student and prepared an abstract of title to all the lands
of Delaware County at a cost of hundreds of dollars and several
years of labor to himself and employes. This work had just
been completed a short time before his death, which occurred on the
eighth day of January, 1893.
Source:
20th century history of Delaware
County, Ohio and representative citizens -
Chicago, Ill. :: Biographical Pub. Co., 1908 by James R. Lytle |
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DR. R. C. ALEXANDER
bought out Dr. Keifer, and remained in Lewis Centre for two
years, when he removed to Catawba, Ohio. He is a graduate of
Starling Medical College.
Source:
20th century history of Delaware
County, Ohio and representative citizens -
Chicago, Ill. :: Biographical Pub. Co., 1908 by James R. Lytle -
Page 367 |
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EMANUEL ALKIRE,* one
of the founders of the leading families of Genoa Township and for
many years an honored citizen and successful farmer of Delaware
County, was born in Franklin County, Ohio, Feb. 23, 1847, and died
Aug. 20, 1902. His parents were William and Mary (Riser)
Alkire.
The Alkire family is of German extraction.
William Alkire was born in Lewis County, West Virginia, and
accompanied his parents to Franklin County in 1827, settling on what
was called Big Run near the Scioto River. His father, John
Alkire, had served in the War of the Revolution. From
Franklin County William Alkire came to Delaware and bought a
farm of 120 acres on which he lived until his death. He was a
life-long Republican in his political views. For many years he
was a leading member of the Methodist Episcopal Church.
Emanuel Alkire was reared in Franklin County and
was married Aug. 20, 1873, to Sarah J. Rammelsburg, who is
the daughter of the late William Rammelsburg, who was born in
Hanover, Germany. He came to America and he was left an
orphan, his parents dying of cholera at Columbus. Near that
city William Rammelsburg married Henrietta Clauson,
also of German descent, and they had two sons and four daughters..
He bought a farm of 120 acres in Genoa Township which he improved
and lived on until his death. In politics he was a Democrat;
in religious faith, a Universalist.
After marriage Emanuel Alkire moved on
the place still occupied by his widow, having fallen heir to 30
acres of valuable land, to which he added 10 acres, putting the
whole under fine cultivation, and making also all the substantial
improvements. Mr. and Mrs. Alkire had the following
children born to them: Mary, William, Florence, Emma
and Jackson, the only survivor being the youngest son.
Mr. Alkire always took an intelligent interest in public
matters and was ever ready to promote progress and good feeling in
his own community. He was a Republican in politics.
In 1906 the Alkire family, a numerous one in
this section of Ohio, held a notable family reunion and
representatives were present from many other States. This
widely known family has always been noted for its many sterling
characteristics, and those who hear the name at present are walking
worthily in the footsteps of their forebears.
Source:
20th century history of Delaware County, Ohio
and representative citizens - Chicago, Ill. :: Biographical Pub.
Co., 1908 by James R. Lytle -Page 893 |
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DR. FRANK ANDREWS
located in Cheshire after the death of his uncle, who was an able
practitioner. He graduated in 1883 at the Starling Medical
College, and came direct to Cheshire. He sold to Dr. H. C.
Kious in 1885, of Columbus, and moved to Westerville, where he
is now located.
Source:
20th century history of Delaware
County, Ohio and representative citizens -
Chicago, Ill. :: Biographical Pub. Co., 1908 by James R. Lytle |
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JOSEPH H. ANDREWS,
a well-known resident of Delaware Township, Delaware County, Ohio, who
owns and operates a fine farm of 50 acres, was born July 27, 1869, in
Concord Township, Delaware County, and is a son of Dr. Hugh B.
and Mary E. (Dall)) Andrews, grandfather of J. H., was
born in 1781, in Dauphin County, Pennsylvania, and came to Ohio when
12 years old. He served in the War of 1812, being with Hull when
he surrendered, and after the war settled in Fairfield County, Ohio,
where he followed the trade of tailor and later took up farming, which
he continued until his death.
His son, Dr. Hugh B. Andrews, was born Oct. 6,
1819, in Fairfield County, and in the spring of 1852 came to Delaware
County, where for many years he practiced medicine, but subsequently
settled on a farm in Concord Township consisting of 85 acres, where he
has sine carried on general farming and stock raising.
Originally a Whig, Mr. Andrews is now a Republican. He is a
member of the United Brethren Church. Mr. Andrews was married to
Mary E. Dall, who was the daughter of James Dall, and
five children were born to this union: John and James H.,
who are deceased: Nettie E., who is the wife of
David Bailey of Concord Township; Maggie, who married
Adron Cook of Concord Township; and J. H.
J. H. Andrews received a common school education in
his native township, and spent one year at Lebanon, Ohio, and two
years at what is now Ada University. He taught several terms
before entering the last named institution. He left school to
make his campaign for the office of county recorder, to which he was
elected in 1899, and in which he served until September, 1906.
On April 1, 1907, he purchased his present farm of fifty acres in
Delaware Township, where he gives special attention to the raising of
corn and hay, selling most of the latter, while the former is fed to
his fine Chester White hogs.
Mr. Andrews was married to Jessie C. Cutler,
who is the daughter of Orange D. Cutler, formerly of Jerome,
but now of Delaware, Ohio. One daughter, Mary Stiles, has
been born to this union. Mr. Andrews and his wife belong
to the Methodist Episcopal Church. Fraternally he is connected
with Delaware Lodge No. 76 of the Elks, of which he is esteemed loyal
knight, and the Odd Fellows at Jerome, Ohio, of which he is past grand
and of which he was district deputy grand master for four years; and
at one time was a member of Delaware Encampment No. 52, of the Odd
Fellows.
Source:
20th century history of Delaware
County, Ohio and representative citizens -
Chicago, Ill. :: Biographical Pub. Co., 1908 by James R. Lytle |
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GEORGE ARMSTRONG,
who was born at Sunbury, Ohio, May 26, 1843, died at Ellsworth,
Kansas, Jan. 29, 1886.
The late George Armstrong was educated in the
Sunbury schools and Delaware University. On Apr. 16, 1861, he
enlisted for service in the Civil War, entering Company C, Fourth
Regiment, Ohio Volunteer Infantry. This regiment was connected
with the Army of the Cumberland, and Mr. Armstrong served as a
faithful soldier being promoted from the ranks too be corporal of his
company, until he was honorably discharged, in August, 1865.
After the organization of the Grand Army of the Republic, he became
identified with it. He was a member of the Baptist Church and
served on its Board of Deacons. In politics he was a Republican.
He belonged to the Masonic fraternity.
The parents of the late George Armstrong were
CHARLES and Elizabeth (Slocum) Armstrong. They were
born in Pennsylvania and came to Delaware County, Ohio, and Charles
Armstrong bought a farm near Sunbury, on which he died in 1870.
His wife died in 1897, at the home of her granddaughter, Mrs.
Kimball Sedgwick, in Sunbury. For two terms he served as
treasurer of Delaware County. Of his 11 children, his son
George was the fourth in order of birth.
George Armstrong was married (first) April 3,
1867 to Emily Kimball, who died Apr. 27, 1875. Two
children of that marriage survive - Burt D., residing at
Delaware, Ohio; and Mabel, who married V. E. Brevoort. Mr.
Brevoort is engaged in business at Columbus. Mr.
Armstrong was married (secondly) May 24, 1876, to Mrs. Irene
(Kimball) Sedgwick. A son, Charles O. Armstrong, is
assistant cashier of the Sunbury Farmer's Bank. Mrs.
Armstrong was born in Marion County, Ohio, Sept. 21, 1843, and is
a daughter of Elias and Irene A. (Ticknor) Kimball,
natives of Lebanon, New Hampshire, who came to Marion County, Ohio, in
1839. Elias Kimball was a merchant, and in 1844 he
engaged in a general mercantile business at Sunbury, which he
continued until 1864. At that time he practically retired, but
resumed business activity in 1872, when he became one of the
organizers of the Sunbury Bank, of which he was the first president,
remaining such until his death, Dec. 23, 1872.
Source:
20th century history of Delaware
County, Ohio and representative citizens -
Chicago, Ill. :: Biographical Pub. Co., 1908 by James R. Lytle |
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LEE ATHERTON
Source:
20th century history of Delaware
County, Ohio and representative citizens -
Chicago, Ill. :: Biographical Pub. Co., 1908 by James R. Lytle |
 |
LEE ATHERTON,
general farmer, residing on his finely-improved farm of eighty-six
acres, in Thompson Township, was born near Newark, Ohio, Mar. 9,
1848, and is a son of Augustine Washington and Cynthia (Taft)
Atherton.
Thomas Atherton, the great grandfather of Lee,
came from Shippensburg, Pennsylvania, to Newark, Ohio, when the
latter was a mere hamlet of log cabins on the frontier. His
son, John Atherton, was probably the first manufacturer at
Newark, his industry being the making of chairs. John
Atherton was born at Shippensburg and he became a man of
consequence in the new country where he and his father were
pioneers. He gave up his manufacturing business while still
young and bought a farm two miles north of Newark, which he operated
during the remainder of his life. He married Achsa Ackley,
whose father was a pioneer of Licking County, and a veteran of the
War of 1812. John Atherton and wife had three children,
namely: Augustine Washington; Walgrave, who resides near
Madison, Wisconsin, and who married a Miss Fleek in Licking
County, Ohio; and Gibson, who is now deceased. The latter was
a very prominent member of the bar at Newark, was twice elected to
Congress, and subsequently served on the Supreme Bench of Ohio.
Augustine Washington Atherton was born on his
father's farm near Newark, Feb. 10, 1824, and died June 15, 1889.
He married Cynthia Taft, who was born Aug. 26, 1825, and who
still survives, being in the enjoyment of health, and the center of
a very devoted family circle. There were seven children born
of the above marriage, namely: One son, Herbert, is
serving his third term as mayor of Newark, Ohio; Lee, who is
the direct subject of this article; Alice, now deceased, who
was the wife of Felix Blizzard, of Newark; Wallace,
who was killed on the railroad, at Bement, Illinois; Gibson,
who died at Magnetic Springs; Warren, who is a blacksmith in
Newark; John, who left whom and has not been heard of for
many years. Augustine W. Atherton served as lieutenant
of a home company during the Civil War, but never enlisted.
Otherwise, he spent his life in the section in which he was born.
He was a member of a Masonic Lodge north of Newark and always took
an interest in the fraternity. In politics he was a Democrat
but he never consented to hold office. He was one of the
founders of the Christian Union Church.
Lee Atherton remained on the home farm until he
was twenty-one years of age. He then went on the road as a
commercial traveler, First handling notions, but later glassware,
and covering a territory that reached into Ohio, Indiana, Michigan,
Pennsylvania, Virginia and Kentucky. In 1877 he settled down
to farming, in Licking County, Ohio, and in 1880 he purchased his
present farm in Thompson Township. He has made all the
improvements here and owns one of the most attractive properties in
this section.
In 1876 Mr. Atherton was married to Ella
Pound, who is a daughter of Isaac Pound, of Orange
County, New York, and they have two sons - Bert, residing on
the home place, and Edson, who is a resident of Scioto
Township.
In politics, Mr. Atherton is a Democrat and has
been township trustee for a number of years. At the time of
his last election he received every Democratic and Republican vote
polled except one. He is a member of Prospect Lodge, No. 444,
F. & A. M., and of Magnetic Springs Lodge, No. 380, Knights of
Pythias, of which he is past chancellor, and he has been sent as a
representative of the Grand Lodge.
Source: 20th century history of Delaware
County, Ohio and representative citizens - Chicago, Ill.
:: Biographical Pub. Co., 1908 by James R. Lytle - Page 717 |
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PROF. CYRUS B. AUSTIN, D. D.,
Dean of Women of the Ohio Wesleyan University, and professor of
Mathematics and astronomy on the faculty of that institution, was a
substantial farmer and a man of large influence in civic and
religious matters. He was a local preacher in the Methodist
Church. His death occurred in 1886. His wife, the
Professor's mother, is still living in Wilmington, Ohio. They
reared a family of eight children.
Cyrus B. Austin acquired his elementary
education in the schools of his native county, and subsequently
entered the Ohio Wesleyan University, where he was graduated in
1879. Immediately following his graduation he was elected
Tutor of Mathematics in the university. A few years later he
was made a professor in the department of which he is now the head.
In 1883 he was placed in charge of Monnett Hall, the home for the
young women of the university, which position he still holds with
the official title of Dean of Women. Since 1883 Monnett Hall
has been greatly improved and its size more than doubled.
Twelve teachers and 260 pupils reside in the building. Monnett
Hall was formerly the Ohio Wesleyan Female College, and was founded
in 1854; additional facts in regard to it may be found in another
part of this volume.
Dr. Austin was married in 1884 to Mary McVay,
who is a daughter of Jason McVay, formerly of Columbus, Ohio.
They have three sons - Jason McVay, Raymond Brooks and
Cyrus Bashford, of whom the two elder are students at the
Ohio Wesleyan University, while Cyrus is attending the public
schools. Dr. Austin is a member of the Central Ohio
Conference of the Methodist Episcopal Church, of which church the
family are all members. Politically he is a Republican.
His fraternal affiliations are with the Delta Tau Delta Fraternity
and the Free Masons.
Source:
20th century history of Delaware
County, Ohio and representative citizens -
Chicago, Ill. :: Biographical Pub. Co., 1908 by James R. Lytle -
Page 681 |
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DR. J. W. AVERY was born in Delaware, Ohio, in 1859. He is a
grandson of the late Judge Avery, one of the early pioneers
of the county. His mother was a daughter of Dr. James Hill,
the sketch of whose life is in this article. It will be seen
that he descended from two of the oldest and most prominent families
of the county. After passing through the city schools he
entered the office of Dr. W. T. Constant, and took his M. D.
degree in 1884, from the Miami Medical College at Cincinnati, Ohio.
The same year he began practice in his native town. The next
year, 1885, he was tendered, and accepted the assistant physician's
position at the Dayton Hospital for the Insane, where he remained
until 1888. He then left for western Pennsylvania to enter the
general practice of medicine. A few years ago his health
caused him to withdraw for a time from practice. He is now in
Delaware, waiting until he is restored in health that he may again
resume his professional work.
Source:
20th century history of Delaware
County, Ohio and representative citizens -
Chicago, Ill. :: Biographical Pub. Co., 1908 by James R. Lytle |
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R. M. AVERY, until
recently cashier of the Deposit Banking Company, at Delaware, which
position he resigned Apr. 1, 1908, belongs to one of the old pioneer
families of Delaware County. He was born at Delaware County.
He was born at Delaware, Delaware County, Ohio, in 1871, and is a
son of the late Jasper Avery. Judge Frederick Avery,
the grandfather of R. M. Avery, the grandfather of R. M.
Avery, was one of the earliest settlers of Delaware County,
where he became a man of great prominence. He served as judge
on the Common Pleas bench and was one of the political factors of
his day. For many years he was an active promoter of the
"underground railway," making his home a secret station for fugitive
slaves. Jasper Avery, father of the subject of this
sketch, was engaged in farming through his earlier life, but for a
long period preceding his death was associated with the V. T.
Hills Company.
R. M. Avery was graduated from the Delaware High
School in 1888, and in the fall of the same year he entered the
employ of the Deposit Banking Company, as a messenger. His
fidelity and efficiency were rewarded by consecutive promotions
until in 1898 he was elected cashier. His recent resignation
from this position has been mentioned above. He is a member of
the Board of Directors and a stockholder in the institution.
In 1899, R. M. Avery was married to Daisy Seegar, who
is a daughter of Dr. Seegar, of Logan County, Ohio.
They have one child, Florence. Mr. and Mrs. Avery are
members of the William Street Methodist Episcopal Church.
Mr. Avery being church treasurer. Fraternally, he is
connected with the Knights of Pythias and the Elks.
Source:
20th century history of Delaware
County, Ohio and representative citizens -
Chicago, Ill. :: Biographical Pub. Co., 1908 by James R. Lytle -
Page 835 |
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ISAAC AYRES - See Col.
Jacob Ayres
Source:
20th century history of Delaware
County, Ohio and representative citizens -
Chicago, Ill. :: Biographical Pub. Co., 1908 by James R. Lytle |
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COL. JACOB AYRES, now
living retired on his farm of 58 acres, a valuable tract of land
which is situated in Scioto Township, has many valid claims to the
respect of his fellow-citizens. Colonel Ayres was born
in Pickaway County, Ohio, Mar. 12, 1841, and is a son of Isaac
and Catherine (Freeze) Ayres.
ISAAC AYRES was
born in 1810, at Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, and died in Delaware
County, Ohio, in 1872. He learned the blacksmith's trade in
York County, Pennsylvania, which he followed more or less throughout
the entire period of his industrial life. When he reached the
age of twenty-one years he started on foot and crossed the mountains
into Ohio, settling first in Pickaway County, where he married.
He remained there until after the birth of five children, when he
came to Delaware County, locating near Bellpoint, where he acquired
a small farm, the operating of which was largely left to his sons.
He was a man of sterling character and frequently was invited to
accept political office but consistently refused. He was
married shortly after coming to Ohio, to Catherine Freese,
who was born in 1814, and died in 1848. She was a daughter of
Rev. Isaac Freese, a minister of the German United Brethren
faith. He was born and married in Germany and after coming to
America settled first in Pickaway County, but subsequently moved to
Bellpoint, where he conducted religious services in both the German
and English languages. The children born to Isaac Ayres
and his wife were: John, who died in the service of his
country, following the battle of Perryville, Kentucky, as a member
of Company C, One Hundred Twenty-first Regiment, Ohio
Volunteer Infantry; Ellen L., now deceased, who married
Royal Edwards; Andrew, who died in early manhood; Martha,
who is deceased; Catherine, deceased, who married David
Hamilton, Sarah, also deceased, who married Frank Speese;
Jacob, subject of this article; Abraham, who resides in
Concord Township; Hester Flora, who married John Fuller,
and resides at Roann, Indiana; Isaac, and one child
unnamed that died in infancy. Both parents were very active
church workers.
Jacob Ayres lived at home
until his mother's death, and attended what was called the Haney
School at Bellpoint. Until 1858 he resided with Green
Neff, at Berlin Station, and then, coming to Delaware, learned the
carpenter's trade with Henry Robinson and George Perry. He
continued to work as a carpenter until he enlisted in the Federal
Army, on Feb. 1, 1862. He became a member of Company I,
Eighty-second Regiment, Ohio Volunteer Infantry, which was sent to
Grafton, West Virginia, thence to Moorefield and later to McDowell,
Virginia, where the Union forces were defeated May 8, 1862, and
retreated to Moorefield. Here they were reinforced by
General Fremont and then crossed the mountains to Strassburg,
where they defeated General Jackson's forces and drove him up
the valley to Harrisburg. Company I then fell back to
Middletown, and from there went to Culpeper Court House to reinforce
General Banks, going thence to the banks of the Rapidan River
under General Sickles. At this point, the force with
which Colonel Ayres was connected, being notified of
General Lee's advance, began a retreat to Culpeper Court House.
They subsequently fought in the second battle of Bull Run, under
General Pope, and after the defeat fell back to Washington.
The corps was left at Arlington Heights to recruit, while the
remainder of the army went to take part in the battle of Antietam,
as a part of the forces under General McClellan.
After that battle the Eighty-second Regiment was
united with the Army of the Potomac and later took apart in the
battle of Chancellorville under General Hooker. After
his defeat they crossed the Rappahannock River and encamped in the
Stafford Hills until General Lee's invasion of Pennsylvania.
The regiment then broke camp and followed the Confederate forces
into Maryland, and thence to Gettysburg. There, under
Generals Reynolds and Howard, the Eighty-second took part
in the first day's engagement. In relating the subsequent
movements at Gettysburg, Colonel Ayres own vivid description
may be used to give a clear idea to the reader.
"At four o'clock in the afternoon we retreated to the
village of Gettysburg and our lines were re-established by
General Hancock and formed in line of battle around Cemetery
Hill. The right wing stationed upon Culp's Hill was known as
the Twelfth Corps and was under General Slocum, and the
Eleventh Corps, under General Howard, joined the left of the
Twelfth and extended around the horseshoe bend of Cemetery Hill.
The First Corps, under General Newton, joined the left of the
Eleventh Corps and extended around the foot of Cemetery Hill, to the
Second Corps under General Hancock and joined the left of the
First Corps and extended on down Cemetery Ridge and was joined on
the left of the Second Corps by General Sickles with
the Third Corps that extended down to Big and Little Round Top.
That position was held by each corps until the close of the
following engagement. The second day opened upon the extreme
left at three o'clock by General Longstreet of the
Confederates against Generals Sickles and Hancock, and
at eight o'clock Ewell's Corps of the Confederate army moved
in upon the Union right and took the first two lines of the Union
works, this closing the engagement of the second day. At the
council of the generals it was decided to open against Ewell's
corps as quick as they could discern an object in the morning,
Slocum being re-enforced. The attack opened early in the
morning upon Culp's Hill, and the Union position was
re-established, the battle closing at eleven o'clock in favor of the
Union forces. At 1:40 p.m. the artillery duel opened the
advance of Pickett's charge, which immediately followed, and
the Federal army was again victorious. The next day the scouts
advanced and found that Lee was making arrangements to
retire, having withdrawn Ewell's corps from the front of
Culp's Hill, and subsequently the Union army followed Lee
for one day, being then drawn back to Frederick City, and thence to
Funkstown, where they remained in line of battle until Lee
crossed the river. The Union army then marched across the
river again into Virginia and back to Bull Run battle-field, where
the Eleventh and Twelfth Corps were detached from the Army of the
Potomac and sent to re-enforce Rosecrans of the Army of the
Cumberland. On the 27th they started from Bridgeport, crossed
the Tennessee River, struck the Trenton Valley at the foot of
Lookout Mountain, and at three o'clock in the afternoon, being the
advance scout (having been detailed as a regular scout under
General O. O. Howard in May, 1863). I was wounded at the
junction of the railroad where it passes around the mountain to
Chattanooga and remained there until Jan. 23, when I was furloughed
from the hospital and went home. I returned from there was
discharged for a gun-shot wound in my right hip. In the limits
of the present biography it would be impossible to give any adequate
account of the dangers, adventures and thrilling escapes of
Colonel Ayres, for, as a scout, his was always the post of
danger, the one where hazard was the greatest, and for this
dangerous work only men of unflinching courage were selected.
Colonel Ayres has a war record that should be preserved
entire for it is one to which his descendants can refer with
feelings of pride in making his way cautiously to watch the
movements of the enemy in advance of the army, or in carrying a
message through unfriendly territory, Colonel Ayres had
several horses shot from under him, and on one occasion he ran a
horse to death in making his escape from his captors. On
another occasion he was taken prisoner in the Shenandoah Valley, and
as rain was falling as it does fall only in Virginia, and the roads
were such as only Virginia can produce after such a rain, the
officers of the capturing party decided that they would camp for the
night in an old log cabin in a lonely spot, picketing their horses
and taking their saddles and equipments within the cabin.
There were fifteen Confederates in the party guarding Colonel
Ayres, but that did not prevent the alert Union officer from
managing to get next to the door when the tired party lay down
around the room to sleep. All were worn out and all fell
asleep except the prisoner, who managed to slip out of the door
without arousing them, and catch the halter strap on one of the
picketed horses; and while lightning flashed and thunder rolled, a
Union officer was wildly galloping bare-backed in the direction of
liberty which was fifteen miles distant. Pursuit was continued
for almost the whole distance to the Union lines, the pursuers
sometimes being so close that bullets whistled by the colonel's
ears. Fortunately he knew the men on picket duty when he
reached the Union forces and with the cry, "A friend in trouble and
the enemy coming," he dashed by and fell exhausted in the arms of
his comrades. This thrilling experience was more than once
almost duplicated by him and its recital enables the reader in these
peaceful times to appreciate the nerve and valor of those who fought
in the great struggle of 1861-65.
Colonel Ayres was married to Mary P. Rhoades,
who was born June 30, 1846, a daughter of Valentine Rhoades
of Scioto Township, and who died Mar. 9, 1907, leaving behind a
sweet and gracious memory. She was a woman of many Christian
virtues, one who bore years of suffering with patience and
fortitude. There were four children born to this union,
namely: John J., who is an auctioneer and carpenter;
William A., who manages the home farm; Rosa Mary, who is
the wife of Oliver Owens, of Radnor; and George E.,
who resides in Thompson Township. Colonel Ayres has
fourteen grandchildren.
After his marriage Colonel Ayres settled in
School District No. 11, Scioto Township, in which he has lived ever
since, and where he has been a school director for eighteen years.
In 1870 he settled on his present farm and for twelve years followed
carpenter work. In1875 he began auctioneering, in which
occupation he continued for many years, being the oldest living
member of that craft in this section. Although reared in a
Democratic family, he is a stanch Republican. He has served
Scioto Township as a trustee on many occasions and has been elected
when the Democratic normal majority has been 100. He is a
member of Edinburg Lodge, No. 467, I. O. O. F., at Ostrander, being
past grand of the same, and belongs to Tanner Post, Grand Army of
the Republic, at Ostrander. For a considerable period he
lectured through Ohio, Indiana and Michigan on the subject of a
Union Scout's Personal Knowledge of the Battle of Gettysburg, and
everywhere his vivid story was listened to with interest and
benefit.
Source:
20th century history of Delaware
County, Ohio and representative citizens -
Chicago, Ill. :: Biographical Pub. Co., 1908 by James R. Lytle -
Page 562 |
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JOHN J. AYRES, one of
Scioto Township's leading citizens, an auctioneer, carpenter and
stonemason, was born in Scioto Township, Delaware County, Ohio, May
24, 1865. His parents were Col. Jacob and Mary P. (Rhoades)
Ayres.
The father of Mr. Ayres has long been a
prominent citizen of this section, having settled on his present
farm in Scioto Township in 1870. He was born in Pickaway
County, Ohio, Mar. 12,1841. During the greater part of the
Civil War he served as a Union scout and only retired from the
service after being severely wounded. For some years after the
close of the war he traveled through Ohio, Indiana and Michigan
giving lectures on the battle of Gettysburg, in which he took a
prominent part. He married Mary P. Rhoades, who died
Mar. 9, 1907.
John J. Ayres was educated in the public schools
of Scioto Township and at Delaware, after which he taught school for
three years. In the meanwhile he learned the carpenter's and
also the stonemason's trade and has worked at these more or less
ever since, now having a fine building and contracting trade through
Delaware and Union Counties. He has done a large amount of
work in this section and in 1887 he built his own commodious
residence, in 1904 remodeling it and making it still more attractive
and valuable. In 1882, Mr. Ayres began auctioneering in
partnership with his father and they continued together until 1907,
when Colonel Ayres retired.
In 1887 Mr. Ayres was married to Annie
McCombs, a daughter of Frank and Catherine McCombs, of Magnetic
Springs, Ohio, and they have had five children, the three survivors
being: Carl Abner, Goldie May and Myrtle Lucile.
Mrs. Ayres is a member of the United Brethren Church, which
Mr. Ayres attends and to which he gives a liberal support.
In politics, he is identified with the Republican party. He is
a member of Edinburg Lodge, Odd Fellows, at Ostrander, of which he
is past grand.
Source:
20th century history of Delaware
County, Ohio and representative citizens -
Chicago, Ill. :: Biographical Pub. Co., 1908 by James R. Lytle |
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