Samuel AYRES (AYERS), son of Asa AYRES (AYERS), Sr. and Mary WAIT, born 04 February 1803, Chester, Hampshire Co., MA**; died age 84 on 17 February 1887, Farlinville, Linn Co., KS; buried 20 February 1887, Wesley Chapel Cemetery, Mound City, Linn Co., KS.

Notes:

The location for Samuel's birth only allows it to show as "Chester, Hampden County, Massachsetts." In reality, Chester was a part of Hampshire County, MA until Feb. 1812 when changes in boundaries were enacted.

He is also known as Rev. and Dr. Samuel Ayers, per his obituary and other records.

1829.

"Samuel Ayres [Ayers], the writer's Grandfather, was one of these five sons, and was born as indicated in Hadley [error; should be 'Chester'], Mass. Feb. 4th, 1803. He was married to Ruth Nash Mar. 10th, 1829 in Erie, Penn. Ruth Nash was born in New York State Jan. 18, 1807. After living in Erie some years they moved to Ohio, stopping for a time in a town in the eastern part of the state. Thence they came to Defiance, Ohio where Grandfather was postmaster. They remained here until 1857 when they came to the territory of Kansas and settled in what became Linn County. He preempted a homestead in the #6 section and here passed through the rigors of the border warfare.

He enlisted from this state in the Civil War and served as Chaplain in the 7th Kansas Volunteers, Cavalry. After two years, owing to broken health, he returned from Mississippi, and later was made Post Surgeon at Fort Levenworth and Lawrence Kansas, serving in this capacity until the close of the war. He also served in the Methodist Ministry at intervals throughout his life. He was forced by throat trouble at times to take up other work. He practiced medicine many years and rode far and wide in Eastern Kansas in that pioneer day. He also served one charge as regular pastor after coming to Kansas."

NOTES BY GJOT:

The vital records of 'Chester, MA' identify Samuel's birth, rather than Hadley, MA.

Erie is in Erie Co., PA.

SOURCE: From the compiled records of Rollin Hamlin AYRES.

10 March 1829-MARRIED.

Samuel AYRES and Ruth NASH were married 10 March 1829, in Erie, Erie Co., PA.

Samuel was 26 years old and Ruth was age 22 when they married.

From the compiled records of Rollin H. AYRES comes the names and dates of birth for this couple's children.

It would seem that Samuel and Ruth started their life together March 10th, 1829 in Erie, Erie Co., Pennsylvania. Samuel was 26 years old and Ruth was age 22 when they married. 'After living in Erie some years they moved to Ohio, stopping for a time in a town in the eastern part of the state. (RHA)' They returned to Ohio again by about 1849 [estimated birth year of Percival in 1850 census] and are found in Defiance Co., OH for the 1850 census. 'Thence they came to Defiance, Ohio where Grandfather was postmaster. They remained here until 1857 when they came to the territory of Kansas and settled in what became Linn County. (RHA)'

Samuel and Ruth had nine (9) known children:

1-Lucinda Maria Ayers (b 1830)

2-Mary Sophia Ayers (b 1832)

3-Orville Mark Ayers (b 1834)

4-Samuel Nelson Ayers (b 1836)

5-Justin Nash Ayers (b 1838)

6-John Westley Ayers (b1841)

7-Augusta Louisa Ayers (b1843)

8-William Henry Ayers (b 1845)

9-Percival Hamlin Ayers (b 1848) (FAG Memorial #101237701)

MILITARY SERVICE

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[GJOT 11/25/2012]

WESLEY CHAPEL CEMETERY

Ayers, Samuel d. 17 Feb 1887. 84y13d. GAR Marker.

Civil War Service Records

Name: Samuel Ayers

Company: F

Unit: 7 Kansas Cavalry.

Rank - Induction: Chaplain

Rank - Discharge: Chaplain

Allegiance: Union

Source Citation: Box: 542; Extraction: 1; Record: 835

Source Information: United States National Archives. Civil War Service Records [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: The Generations Network, Inc., 1999.

1833.

"[Rollin] While visiting with my father, W. H. [William Henry] Ayres, April 30, 1925, he related to me the fact that his father Samuel Ayres had performed the marriage ceremony for John Brown and his first wife, in Penn [## See NOTE]. He later conducted the funeral service for this first Mrs. Brown in Kansas [## probably the second Mrs. Brown]. John Brown and Samuel Ayres were old friends in Pa. and later were frequently associated in the border warfare in Kansas. When John Brown started for Harper's Ferry to emancipate the slaves, he came by the home of my Father and Grandfather, bringing 18 men with him. They stayed overnight. They were fed and lodged and sent on their way. Nelson Ayres would have joined the party but for the intercession of his wife to whom he had so recently been married. The 18 men together with John Brown were executed following the proclamation of freedom to the slaves from Harper's Ferry.

There are many incidents of interest connected with the early days in Kansas.

Rollin H. Ayres, 6510 Palm Ave. Riverside, Calif."

[##] NOTE ON John Brown by GJOT:

This is probably John BROWN's second marriage to Mary Ann DAY that Samuel AYRES [AYERS] performed, based on the BROWN family's arrival in Pennsylvania.

In addition, the 'first' Mrs. Brown (Dianthe LUSK) died in Pennsylvania in 1831, so it was probably the 'second' Mrs Brown (Mary Anne DAY) who later died in Kansas.

SOURCE: From the notes of Rollin Hamlin AYRES.

21 July 1833.

Samuel AYRES [AYERS].

Certificate of Ordination as Elder, issued by Bishop R. R. Roberts at Meadville, Pa. July 21, 1833, signed and sealed with wax.

SOURCE: From the notes of Rollin Hamlin AYRES.

1847.

Regarding Samuel AYRES.

'On occasion of his voice failure, after more than twenty years of preaching, William Swayze in 1847 issued a note 'requesting the Fathers and Mothers in Christ to comfort and nurse Samuel Ayres and not ask him to preach or sing until his health is regained.'

SOURCE: From the notes of Rollin Hamlin AYRES.

1861.

Samuel sent a letter dated April 3d, 1861 to his brother Buenos [AYRES KS20] while living in Centerville [so stated the letter], Linn Co., KS. Apparently Kansas was under some kind of weather related disaster that was causing Linn Co. and other parts of Kansas extreme hardship. Samuel had gone out to other locations, including staying with Buenos for a time in 1860, to solicit aid; several sentences from his three-page letter (spelling is same as in letter):

"Through the goodness of God I am at home once more. I arived March 25th and found my family in the enjoyment of usual health. I met Nelson, Justin & William eight or nine miles this sid of Atchison [KS] on their way for loads for this township....The corn, flower and wheat you sent us has been recieved... I am fully persuaded that the number neading aid in Kansas is not less than what I stated when at your house (viz) 50,000 people... Never whilst reason retains her throne, shall I forget the many instances of kindness I have experienced the past winter whilst engaged in the performances of my mission of soliciting aid for my suffering fellow citizens, who must have suffered extremely and many of them must have died had that aid been with held. [signed] Samuel Ayres."

17 February 1887.

Obituary of Samuel AYRES/AYERS

Sources: "La Cygne Journal," La Cygne, Kansas · Saturday, February 26, 1887, Page 2. Newspapers.com accessed by GJOT of PA/GA 09 April 2024.

Surname in obituary: AYERS

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"Rev. Dr. Samuel Ayers.

It is with pain that we announce the death of one of Linn county's most honored and trustworthy men, Rev. Dr. Samuel Ayers. He was born in Massachusetts, February 4, 1803, and died at the home of his son, W. H. Ayers, of paralysis, February 17th, 1887, at the age of 84 years. The deceased came to Kansas in the year 1857, and was one of the pioneers who did much in developing Linn county. He took great interest in public affairs, was admired and beloved by all who knew him, and I can truthfully say that no man in Linn county had fewer enemies. He was the father of nine children, four of whom are living, W. H. and P. H., of this place, Mrs. Blangy, of No. 9, and N. J. of Ottawa, Kansas, and an aged companion, aged 80 years. In 1860 he went East as one of the solicitors for aid; in '61 he enlisted in the service and was chaplain of the Seventh Kansas. In '63 and '64 was a member of the Legislature. In '65 he was appointed assistant surgeon at Leavenworth and Lawrence. For the last fifteen years he has been a great sufferer, but with a Christian spirit endured his affliction without a murmur, and when the Master called he was ready. He was heard many times to say that all was well. He was in the ministry 62 years, that of the M. E. Church. He was a true believer in the principles of the church to which he belonged.

The funeral sermon was preached by the Rev. T. Stephenson, Friday, of last week, at Wesley Chapel, at 2 o'clock, and he was buried at that cemetery.

A FRIEND"

NOTES ON SAMUEL'S OBITUARY BY CONTRIBUTOR GJOT:

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Ruth & Samuel are identified with having nine children, with only four names partially identified as still living in Feb. 1887 -

W. H. [William Henry; died Oct. 1929],

P. H. [Percival Hamlin; died Nov. 1894],

Mrs. Blangy [Lucinda Maria; died Apr. 1908],

N. J. [should be 'S. N.' or Samuel Nelson; died March 1908].

This family seemed to use the spelling 'AYERS' for their family surname, while others of the same branch and related family used 'AYRES'.

It is interesting to note that Samuel's wife Ruth was still living in Feb. 1887 at his death, but only 'an aged companion, aged 80 years' is mentioned in the obituary. Ruth would have been age 80 in 1887 and is identified on her tombstone to have died four years later in March 1891; so it's interesting the term 'wife' was not used by the one who wrote the article for Samuel's obituary; unless other unmentioned circumstances have not been included here.

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*Contributor: GJOT of Lancaster Co., PA