Dickinson Co., KS AHGP-Portrait and
Biographical Album of Dickinson, Saline, McPherson and
Marion Counties-Dr. Thomas C. Ayres
Portrait and Biographical
Album of Dickinson, Saline, McPherson and Marion
Counties
Chapman Brothers, Chicago, 1893
DR. THOMAS C. AYRES, who resides on
section 22, Cheever Township, Dickinson
County, is a representative farmer of the
community. He was born in Carroll
County, Ohio, on the 12th of December, 1822, and
is a son of William Ayres, a native of Northumberland
County, Pa., and a grandson of James
Ayres, who was born in the Keystone State and
died in Wayne County, Ohio. The father died in
Putnam County, Ohio. He married Elizabeth
Simonton, a native of Venango County, Pa., and
a daughter of Thomas Simonton, who was born in
Ireland and spent his last days in Stark County,
Ohio. The mother of our subject died in Cheever
Township. The Ayres family numbered seven
children who grew to mature years, and two died
in infancy.
The early boyhood days of our subject were
spent in the village of Harrisburg, Ohio, and when
he was a lad of thirteen his parents removed to
Stark County, locating on a farm. He remained
under the parental roof until he had attained his
majority, and acquired his primary education in
the common schools. At the age of sixteen, he
began teaching school, following that profession
through the winter season, while in the summer
months he worked at farm labor. At length he
determined to enter the medical profession, and
in 1842 began studying in Osnaburg, Ohio, under
the direction of Dr. Samuel Wolf, with whom he
remained three years. During that lime he attended
a course of medical lectures in the Cleveland Medical
College, and in the spring of 1847 located in
West Lebanon, Wayne County, Ohio, where he embarked
in practice. He spent one year in that place
and in the spring of 1848 removed to Strasburgh,
Tuscarawas County, where he continued to successfully
engage in practice for twenty-four years,
with the exception of the time spent in the army.
In 1861, the Doctor enlisted in Company O,
Fifty-first Ohio Infantry, and was made First
Sergeant, serving in that capacity until New Year's
Day of 1863, when he was commissioned Second
Lieutenant for good conduct and meritorious
service at the battle of Stone River. In June,
1864, he was made First Lieutenant of Company
I. In December of the same year he was transferred
to Company D, of the same regiment, with
which he remained until the 23d of January. 1865,
when he was forced to resign on account of ill
health. He had been numbered among the boys in
blue for more than three years, and his promotion
from a private to the rank of First Lieutenant is
evidence of his faithfulness and valiant conduct.
He participated in twenty-two engagements, including
the battles of Stone River, Chickamauga,
Lookout Mountain, Mission Ridge and the Atlanta
campaign.
Dr. Ayres returned to Strasburgh, Ohio, with
greatly impaired health and for two years was unable
to do any business. He then engaged in
farming for about two years, and in the spring of
1872 he sold his property in the Buckeye State
and came to Dickinson County, Kan., residing in
Abilene for a few months. He then located
upon his present farm and has since erected
his pleasant and commodious home. His barns
and outbuildings are models of convenience and
he has made many other useful, ornamental and
valuable improvements. He owns two hundred
and forty acres of tine land, which yields him
a golden tribute in return for his care and cultivation.
In Stark County, Ohio, on the 4th of July,
1847, Dr. Ayres was united in marriage with Miss
Eliza Black, who was born in Columbiana County,
that State, on the 15th of May, 1826. They are
parents of six children, the eldest of whom is Mary
E.; Robert E. married Lydia C. Jones; Winfield S.
wedded Fanny Moore; Millard F. married Ella
Henry; Cynthia is the wife of Thomas Ross; and
Thomas C. completes the family. Mrs. Ayres is
a daughter of Michael Black, who was born in
Frederick County, Md., and died in Huntington
County, Ind. He married Mary Bauman, who was
born in York, Pa., and also spent her last days in
Huntington County. They had a family of twelve
children, of whom Mrs. Ayres was the ninth in
order of birth.
While residing in Ohio the Doctor filled the office
of Justice of the Peace, and for several years
was Postmaster of Strasburgh. Since coming to
Dickinson County, he has been honored with
the position of Township Trustee and that of
Township Treasurer. He was also Postmaster of
Cheever for thirteen years and when he resigned
the position the office was discontinued. In his
political affiliations he is a Republican and a stanch
advocate of the party principles. He belongs to the
Masonic and Independent Order of Odd Fellow
fraternities, and in his religious views is liberal.
The Doctor is a well-informed man. He keeps
posted on all the questions of the day, both political
and otherwise. He is recognized as a prominent
and influential citizen of this community, and
his name is connected with its best interests and
the promotion of those enterprises which are calculated
to advance the general welfare. When he
located in Cheever Township in 1872, he again
took up the practice of his profession, which he
continued for seven years, when he was again
forced by ill health to relinquish that work. He
has since devoted his entire time and attention to
agricultural pursuits. He was a skillful physician
and his ability always won him a liberal patronage.
In his retirement the profession lost one of its
valuable members, but the ranks of agriculturists
gained thereby. The Doctor is a popular man and
has won many friends in his adopted county.
(c) 2009 Sheryl McClure for
Dickinson County KS AHGP