U.S. Data Repository http://www.us-data.org/ -- USGenNet Inc. -- Please read the U.S. Data Repository Copyright Statement on the following page: ------------------------------------------------------------------- Ayers, Michael A. (1840-1912) ------------------------------------------------------------------- History of Ritchie County by Minnie Kendall Lowther Wheeling News Litho. Co., Wheeling W.Va., 1911 Pages 550-551 Michael A. Ayres is also a native of Maryland, he having first seen the light of day at Lonaconing, Allegheny county, on November 20, 1840. When he was but ten years of age his parents removed to the mouth of Tanner's fork in Gilmer county, where he grew to manhood. In 1861, on the twenty-first anniversary of his birth, he enlisted as a Federal soldier, in Company C, 11th Regiment, West Virginia Infantry, and served throughout the war, and rose from the rank of duty sergeant of the company, to that of major of the regiment; he having had command of the regiment, throughout all the active campaign during the spring of 1865 until hostility ceased; was in front of Petersburg, and Richmond; at Hackers' run; at the capture of Ft. Baldwin and Gregg; and witnessed the surrender at Appomattox. In 1865, he led Miss Mary Smith, daughter of Isaac, to the altar as his bride, and in 1867, came to Smithville, and shortly after, purchased the homestead of his father-in-law, where he has since resided. Since coming to this place, he has been pedagogue, farmer, post- master, assessor, justice of the peace, deputy census-taker, and hotel-keeper, and has long been a prominent figure in the Baptist church. He is the father of five children: Miss Alberta and C. W., who is in the employ of the South Penn Oil Company, are still at home; H. B. and Allen reside near by; and Gertrude the eldest daughter, is sleeping in the churchyard. ------------------------------------------------------------------- Register of Deaths, Ritchie County, WV FULL-NAME: Michael A. Ayers AGE-AT-DEATH: 71y-7m-5d DEATH-DATE: June 25, 1912 DEATH-PLACE: Smithville MARITAL-STATUS: Married OCCUPATION: Farmer & Hotel Prop. CAUSE-OF-DEATH: Hemorrhage of Stomach ------------------------------------------------------------------- If you've reached this file through a SEARCH, you can access other biographies for Ritchie County, WV by going to the following URL: http://www.us-data.org/wv/ritchie/bios.html -------------------------------------------------------------------