My Genealogy Hound

CHARLES D. AYRES, one of Kearney’s successful and enterprising citizens, had his birth in the Buckeye State in Medina county, Ohio, thirty miles from the city of Cleveland, on the twenty-second of October, 1852. His father, Nathan W., a native of New York State, moved to Ohio with his parents at an early age; subsequently removed to Henry county, Iowa, in the year 1867, and shortly thereafter to Van Buren county, Iowa, where he spent his remaining years till his death in 1878. His father — the grandfather of the subject of our present sketch — was a physician and a native of Connecticut, but spent his last days with his son in Medina county, Ohio, dying there at the age of sixty-nine. The father of Charles D. Ayres followed the business of farming all his life. Mr. Ayres’ mother, Mary J. (Quilhot) Ayres, is a native of Johnstown, N. Y., where she was born in 1823, is still alive and resides in Kearney.

The subject of our present sketch moved to Kearney from Iowa in the year 1874, and is consequently one of the pioneers of this section of the country, and could doubtless relate many interesting occurrences to which the present generation of new-comers are utter strangers. Mr. Ayres is the second of four children, of whom three — Edward J., William K. and himself — are still living, all in Kearney. One, Gertrude, is dead.

Mr. Ayres was educated in the common schools, and when he was of sufficient age to begin the active duties of life he engaged in farming. In 1880, however, he embarked in the coal business, to which he has continued since to devote his time, handling also farm machinery. Mr. Ayres is a republican in politics, but has never given it very much attention, being content to discharge the duties of an enterprising and progressive citizen and devoting his energies to business pursuits, which are more to his taste.

Mr. Ayres is a man of quiet and modest demeanor, but of very social disposition. He has passed all the chairs in the I. O. O. F., and encampment, and last year his brethren recognized his worth and ability by making him grand patriarch of the State of Nebraska. For the past six years he has been a member of the committee on appeals and grievances of the grand lodge of this state. He is also a member of the Rebecca lodge and of Canton Excelsior, No. 3, Patriarchs Militant. Mr. Ayres has also allied himself with the order of Knights of Pythias, both subordinate and uniform rank, and for the past year has been captain of the division. He is one of the substantial citizens of Kearney and is taking an active part in the development of this thriving young city.