E.W.AYERS DIES SATURDAY AFTER SHORT ILLNESS
Former Merchant Had Been Confined To His Bed since November First
OUTSTANDING CITIZEN
Lived Life Of Usefulness For 83 Years. Name Ever Connected With Worthwhile
Things.
After living a life of unusual usefulness for the past 83
years, a life filled with faith, love and charity. E.W. Ayers, one of
Washington's best known and most highly esteemed citizens died at one o'clock
today at his residence on North Market Street, after an illness of six days
duration.
In each community there are certain individuals who have so
lived that their names are ever associated with all worth while things, and
the name of E. W. Ayers will ever be remembered here in connection, with the
First Methodist church of which he was a faithful member; the love for his wife and children and his
fellow man. His religion to him was a principle to be adhered to in each and
every daily undertaking. It can truly, be said that a 'grand old man has passed
unto his reward.
He was conscious
during his entire illness and even the pastors of the city churches, who have ministered
to him during the past week, holding periods of prayer each day, agree that his
faith will ever be a benediction to them.
The deceased was born near Plymouth, N. C. in February,
1849, the son of the late David T. and Ada Evertt Ayers, the site of the old
home place being used by Generals Hoke and Ran-om as their headquarters during
the battle of Plymouth occurring during the Civil war.
He was active in the community life while a resident of
Plymouth, becoming one of the leading citizens of that entire section serving
as Sheriff of Washington county; chief of police and mayor of the town of Plymouth;
and maintained there one of the leading mercantile establishments of the day
which was established in 1869.
In 1870 he was married to Miss Everett, of near Washington, N. C., who died within the
year following Later, in August, of the year 1876 he was united in marriage to
Jennette Baker Keith, of Plymouth, who father was a renowned surgeon actively
taking part in the Civil a war. She too, preceded him in death, in the year 1897. To this union were born all
the children who survive him today.
Stopping- over in this city overnight in January, 1884, en
route to Greensboro, N. C., to open a mercantile business there, Mr. Ayers was
so favorably impressed with Washington that he decided to locate here, opening
his first place of business in a small wooden structure located on the lot
where the Harris Hardware Company's building stands today.
In the year 1890 the
property just across the street was purchased and on it he erected the present
brick building now standing, which was occupied by E. W. Ayers and Son1 from 1890
until the beginning of this year at which time the business was sold, and Mr.
Ayers then retired from active business life, having been associated with the
commercial interests of this town for the past 47 years. The store erected in
1890 was one of the first brick structures ever to be constructed here.
On November 15th, 1899, the deceased was married to Miss
Louisa Ritch, of this city, and the devotion, manifested by this much loved couple for the past 32 years has been an
inspiration to all those who knew them. For the past eleven months, since Mr.
Ayers retired from active business life, this happy couple have spent their
entire time together interested in the things about their home.
No other local
citizen has been more closely associated with the civic and commercial life of
this community than Mr. Ayers. He served
as chairman of the County' Board of Education for 22 years; served 40 years as
a steward of the First Methodist church, and at the time of his death was one
of the church trustees. He was a Mason
and also a member of the local order of Odd Fellows, and the last living original
director of the Bank of Washington, having been notified of his appointment to
fill this place in the year 1893, when the bank was established, being then in
Jerusalem where he had gone for the purpose of making a tour of the Holy lands.
Surviving are the widow, Mrs. Louisa Ritch Ayers; three
daughters: Mrs. John Arthur, Miss Will Clark, and Mrs. James Hackney; two sons. Fred Ayer and E. W. Ayers, Jr., of Raleigh. One
sister, Mrs. Elizabeth Bell of Oklahoma and 14 grandchildren. Funeral services will
be held Sunday afternoon at three o'clock from the Methodist Church.
The Rev. H. I. Glass. of the First Methodist church, assisted by the Rev. J. H. McCracken
will-officiate.
A complete list of
the pallbearers were not arranged at press time but a partial list is as
follows:
Active:—William Rumley. Millaws McKeel, Jr., Sam Mallison., J. T. Lew is, Frank Buckman and J. K. Hoyt.
Honorary—Entire Board
of Stewards of First Methodist church, directors of the Bank of Washington. Dr. D. T. Tayloe Sr., Dr. P. A. Nicholson, Dr. J. L. Nicholson, Dr.
Claude McGowan, of Plymouth, A. M. Dumpy, Jesse B. Ross, George Leach, Hoyt Moore, F. C. Kugler. W. B. Rodman, Jr., Howard
Winfield, W. A. Blount, Sr., George
Olds, F. B. Justus, W. B. Harding, W. Z.
Lackland, Wm. Bragaw, W. L. Vaughan, William Baugham, Henry Oden, J.
M. Harrington.
