Maurice L. Ayers
Maurice Lloyd Ayers, sometimes listed as M. S. Ayres, (December 4, 1819 – June 11, 1884[1]) was an American banker, farmer, hotelier, and politician from Burlington, Wisconsin, who served a single term as a Free Soil Party member of the Wisconsin State Assembly from Racine County.[2][3]
Maurice L. Ayers | |
|---|---|
| Member of the Wisconsin State Assembly from the Racine 3rd district | |
| In office January 1, 1849 – January 7, 1850 | |
| Preceded by | Samuel E. Chapman |
| Succeeded by | Caleb P. Barns |
| Personal details | |
| Born | December 4, 1819 Monroe County, New York, U.S. |
| Died | June 11, 1884 (aged 64) Racine County, Wisconsin, U.S. |
| Resting place | Honey Creek Cemetery, Rochester, Wisconsin |
| Political party |
|
| Spouse |
Luthera Cook Aiken
(m. 1847–1884) |
| Children | 7 |
| Occupation | Banker, farmer, hotelier, politician |
Background
Ayers was born on December 4, 1819, in Monroe County, New York. He attended the local public schools until the age of fourteen, when he went to work on a farm for $4 a month.
He went to the Midwest in 1845, landing in Chicago, Illinois, and moving to Rochester, Wisconsin, where he operated a hotel for two years before moving on to Burlington in the same county, where he purchased another hotel, which he operated until 1852.
On May 5, 1847, he married Luthera Aiken, a native of New York State and of Scottish ancestry. They eventually had seven children, two of whom died in infancy.[4]
Legislature
Ayers was elected for the 1849 session of the Assembly, the second session of that body since statehood,[5] representing the district consisting of the Racine County Towns of Burlington, Rochester, and Yorkville.[6] He succeeded Samuel E. Chapman, a Whig.
In the 1850 session, he was succeeded by Caleb P. Barns, a fellow Democrat also from Burlington.
Later life
In 1852, Ayers sold his hotel and purchased 160 acres (65 ha), in Rochester, which he farmed for about five years. He became a stockholder in the Fox River Valley Railroad and moved back to Burlington to help run it for about a year.
Ayers moved to a new farm in Rochester of 320 acres (130 ha), where he lived for the rest of his life. He continued to participate in politics, becoming a member of the Democratic Party and holding various local offices.
In 1872, he was part of a group of men, including J. I. Case, who founded the Bank of Burlington (which was eventually acquired by Marshall & Ilsley Bank). At the time of his death, he was vice president of the First National Bank of Burlington.
As of 1879, he was one of the owners of the malt house on the east bank of the Fox River in Burlington, which was converted in 1947 into the Malt House Theatre.[7] Ayers also owned a controlling interest in Burlington's flour mill and considerable real estate investments.
In March 1880, Ayers gave a lot at the corner of Pine and State streets to the local Episcopal congregation on the condition that a church be built on that lot, failing which the property would revert to the Ayers family. A cornerstone saying "St. John's" was laid in November 1880, but the church was never built, and ownership reverted to the Ayers family. After his death in June 1884, his family members inherited the land.[8]
Death
Ayers passed away on June 11, 1884.
References
- Historic places and people in the land of milk and honey: Wisconsin's treasure: a tribute to our past, a celebration of the present and our commitment to continue the good life Historic Hoyt House, 1998; p. 12
- "Members of the Wisconsin Legislature 1848–1999 State of Wisconsin Legislative Bureau. Information Bulletin 99-1, September 1999. p. 24 Archived December 9, 2006, at the Wayback Machine
- Gregory, John Goadby. Southeastern Wisconsin: a history of Old Milwaukee County, Volume 4 Chicago: S.J. Clarke, 1932; p 506
- Portrait and Biographical Album of Racine and Kenosha Counties, Wisconsin: Containing Biographical Sketches of Prominent and Representative Citizens ... Chicago: Lake City Publishing Company, 1892; pp. 560–61, 836.
- Turner, A. J., ed. The legislative manual of the state of Wisconsin: comprising the constitutions of the United States and of the state of Wisconsin, Jefferson's manual, forms and laws for the regulation of business; also, lists and tables for reference, etc. Thirteenth Annual Edition. Madison: Atwood and Culver, Printers and Stereotypers, 1874; p. 156
- Manual for the use of the assembly, of the state of Wisconsin, for the year 1853 Madison: Brown and Carpenter, Printers, 1853; p. 40
- The Burlington Historical Society, Dennis P. Tully, Donald J. Vande Sand. Burlington Charleston, South Caroline: Arcadia Publishing, 2005; p. 57
- ""Post Office Property Has Colorful History" Burlington Historical Society website". Archived from the original on September 13, 2014. Retrieved October 24, 2014.