Leonard Ayers was born in Owego, Tioga County, N.Y., May 15, 1831, and remained there until 1847, when he came to Delaware County, Ia., and in 1852 went to California, where he remained three years, then returned to Delaware County. He was married there on July 19, 1855, to Martha Frances Young, and the following month removed to Clayton County. Five children were born unto them, viz.: Lyman W., born May 29, 1856, died Jan. 11, 1868; John T., born Jan. 14, 1858; James M., Aug. 21, 1859, died Nov. 20, 1870; Ella Viola, born Jan. 24, 1861, and William Lincoln, Dec. 27, 1863. Mrs. Martha F. Ayers died Aug. 13, 1868, and on July 21, 1870, Mr. Ayers married Mary Rutherford, native of Cottage Hill, Ia., born July 4, 1850. They have four children-- Laura F., born Apr. 22, 1871; Della M., Sept. 19, 1873; Leonard Leroy, Sept. 3, 1876, and Flora G., May 26, 1878. Mr. Ayers owns a finely cultivated farm of 134 acres, on section 17, and is one of the representative farmers of Clayton County. Politically he favors the Republican party. source: History of Clayton
County, Iowa, 1882, p. 1010 |