Copyright USGenNet Inc., 2025 All Rights Reserved USGenNet Data Repository Please read USGenNet Copyright Statement on this page: 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. =========================================================================== History of Buffalo & Pepin Counties, Wisconsin - Vol. 2 pub. H. C. Cooper, Jr. & Co., Winona, MN - 1919 [page 603-604] BERT W. AYRES, proprietor of Meadow Brook Farm, a well developed and profitable farm in sections 26 and 27, Gilmanton township, Buffalo county, is a native of this section of Wiscon- sin, having been born in Albany township, Pepin county, June 20, 1880, son of WARREN and FRANCES (LOCKE) AYRES. The father, WARREN, was born in Illinois, son of JAMES L. and SARAH AYRES, with whom he came to Pepin county, Wisconsin, when 18 years old. He was brought up to agricultural pursuits and at the age of 22 began farming in Lima township, Pepin county, remaining in that county until 1902, except for two years that he spent in Gilmanton town- ship, Buffalo county. In 1902 he removed to Eau Claire county, where he followed farming until his death in September, 1917. On his removal to Eau Claire county he changed his politics from Democratic to Republican. He was a founder of the United Brethren church in Lima township, of which he was an earnest member, serving it also as deacon. His wife died Nov. 19, 1914, and was buried in Peru township, Dunn county, Wisconsin. Their children were JAMES, WILLIAM, MARION, IDA, CLARA, BERT W., HERBERT, CYRUS and HARRY, of whom MARION and IDA are now deceased. The surviving sons are all farmers. BERT W. AYRES was educated in Albany township, Pepin county, attending district school during the winters only from the age of 11 to that of 16. He remained at home with his father until 1902, in which year he began farming operations for himself, buying 160 acres of wild land in Dramman township, Eau Claire county, on which he built a log shanty and barn. There he remained until 1904, when he sold the farm and purchased another farm in Eau Claire county. This one, however, he never resided on. In 1904 he came to Gilmanton township, Buffalo county, and for one year thereafter worked on the farm of E. A. LOOMIS. In 1905 he worked for CONRAD FARNER and in the fall of 1906 became an employee on LOUIS HAUNSCHILD'S farm. In the fall of the following year he ceased working for others and with his brother WILLIAM bought 320 acres of improved land in sections 26 and 27, Gilmanton township, on which they began operations. At the end of a year BERT bought out his brother's interest in the property and has since been the sole proprietor. His improvements on the place have been numerous and valuable. The principal buildings on the place when he took possession of it were a frame house consisting of an up- right of one and a half stories, 24 by 36 feet, with a wing 12 by 24 feet, and a frame barn 40 by 66 feet. In 1910 MR. AYRES enlarged the barn to 40 by 98 by 16 feet, putting in a full basement with cement floors and modern equipment, including "James" stalls, milking mach- ine and other conveniences. In the same year he built a silo 38 by 16 feet, and in 1915 a second silo 14 by 32 feet. Other buildings he has erected on the place are a modern poultry house 12 by 40 feet, a gran- ary 16 by 28 by 18 feet, a corncrib 9 by 28, connected on both sides with the granary, and a hog house, full cement, erected in 1917 and measuring 24 by 56 by 16. In December, 1916, MR. AYRES bought an im- proved farm of 240 acres in section 34, Gilmanton township, on which there was a frame house and log stable. On this farm in 1917 he built a frame barn 30 by 72 by 12 feet, with an eight-foot full basement for cattle and horses, also a silo 14 by 32 feet, and has 95 acres of it under the plow, the balance being in pasture and timber. In sec- tions 26 and 27 he has under the plow 255 acres, the soil being a black loam and clay and the farm being one of the best producing farms in Buffalo county. He carries on general agriculture, including dairy- ing, and has at present a herd of purebred and high-grade Holstein cows, raising from 20 to 27 young cattle annually. He also has a pen of from 50 to 75 Duroc-Jersey hogs. His other business interests include those of a stockholder in the Gilmanton & Dover Telephone Co. His fraternal affiliations are with the Beavers and Modern Woodmen of America at Gilmanton. On June 30, 1908, MR. AYRES married ELISA, daughter of JOHN and LOUISA (GANZ) FARNER. MR. AYRES was reared in the faith of the United Brethren church. An active and enterprising farmer, he has had a successful career and is highly esteemed as a citizen.