Copyright USGenNet Inc., 2014
                           All Rights Reserved
                        USGenNet Data Repository

        Please read USGenNet Copyright Statement on this page:
                <http://www.us-data.org/fineprint.html>

Transcribed and submitted by Linda Talbott
for the USGenNet Data Repository http://www.us-data.org/
===========================================================================
Formatted by USGenNet Data Repository Chief Archivist, Linda Talbott
All of the above information must remain when copied or downloaded.
===========================================================================
Portrait and Biographical Album of
Huron County, Michigan
Pub. Chapman Brothers, Chicago, 1884

           [299-300]

           FREDERICK S. AYRES, of the firm of AYRES & Co., at Port Austin,
        has been one of the prominent business men of Huron County since
        1859, when he came here and entered vigorously into the work of
        developing the resources of the county. He was born Oct. 22, 1814,
        in New Canaan, Fairfield Co., Conn. His father was a native of the
        same county and was a leading tanner and manufacturer of boots and
        shoes in New Canaan, in which business he was engaged during the
        entire active period of his life. His wife, mother of MR. AYRES, of
        this sketch, was REBECCA (SEYMOUR) AYRES. The progenitors of F. S.
        AYRES in this country consist of three brothers, of English
        extraction, who emigrated to America before the Revolution. One
        brother settled in Maine, another in Connecticut, and the remaining
        brother in New Jersey.
           The subject of the present sketch is a descendant of the AYRES
        who located in the State of Connecticut. He became assistant mana-
        ger of his father's business when he was 17 years old, owing to the
        protracted ill-health and advanced age of the latter, and at 21
        entered into the manufacture of boots and shoes, which branch of
        business his father had relinquished. In 1840 he transferred his
        affairs to West Troy, where he was similarly interested, and
        conducted a wholesale and retail business until 1858, when he came
        West to recuperate his broken health.
           In 1859 MR. AYRES embarked in a lumbering and mercantile enter-
        prise, with CHARLES G. LEARNED and EBON WISWALL, at Port Austin,
        removing his family herein 1861. At that time the firm owned 10,000
        acres of land in Huron County, which a little later they doubled in
        extent. It was nearly all pine land, and they pushed the manufact-
        ure of lumber products of general varieties with vigorous energy.
        Their sawmill, which was purchased of SMITH, DWIGHT & Co., of
        Detroit, and constructed by them, was built in 1850, and at that
        time was one of the largest and best in the State of Michigan. They
        manufactured an aggregate of 75,000,000 feet of lumber, a large
        quantity of lath and shingles, and-afterward added the manufacture
        of staves and other material for barrels.
           In the winter of 1862-3, they sunk the first salt well outside
        of the Saginaw Valley, and at first evaporated by means of kettles,
        producing 100 barrels daily. They have since substituted a pan
        block, and by means of its improved facilities manufacture 160
        barrels a day. When their business was in its comparative incipi-
        ency they employed an average of 100 men, but their extending
        relations now require the assistance of a considerably larger
        number. Their average annual sales amounted to about $100,000.
           In 1871 the firm relations underwent several changes, MR. E.
        WISWALL selling his claim to MR. AYRES of this sketch, who admitted
        his son JAMES S. into the partnership, and MR. LEARNED transferred
        his claims to his son JONAS R. In 1874 the latter in turn sold to
        E. R. AYRES, son of the senior of the firm, which has since been
        known as "AYRES & Co." The business transactions of the partnership
        included the manufacture of salt, mercantile relations and traffic
        in real estate.  They own a farm in Port Austin, comprising 1,000
        acres, a large farm in Dwight Township, and 20 acres platted in the
        village.
           The residence of MR. AYRES at Port Austin is on Lake Street, and
        is situated in the midst of finely laid out and attractive grounds.
           His marriage to NANCY RAYMOND occurred in Lewisboro (then South
        Salem), N.Y. Four children were born to them, two at New. Canaan,
        Conn.: JAMES S. (see sketch); SARAH E., wife of CHARLES L. MATHER,
        manufacturer of lime and cement at West Troy, N.Y.; EBON R.,
        resident at Sandusky, Ohio; and CAROLINE M., wife of FREDERICK ST.
        JOHN LOCKWOOD, President of the Fairfield Co. (Conn.) Bank. The two
        last named were born in West Troy, N.Y.
           A fine lithographic likeness of MR. AYRES is given in this Album
        just preceding the above biographical outline.

===========================================================================
If you've reached this file through a SEARCH, you can access more
of our growing collection of FREE online information by going to
the following URL: http://www.us-data.org/
===========================================================================