Winfield S. Ayers Biography


	This biography appears on page 1144 in "History of Dakota 
	Territory" by George W. Kingsbury, Vol. V (1915) and was 
	scanned, OCRed and edited by Maurice Krueger, mkrueger@iw.net.

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				WINFIELD S. AYERS.  

	Winfield S. Ayers, cashier of the Dallas State Bank, was born in 
Dickinson county, lowa, June 27, 1871, his parents being C. H. and M. 
J. (Scott) Ayers. The father devoted his attention to the implement 
business and to farming and his life's labors were ended in death in 
1886, but the mother survives.  

	Having pursued his early education in the public schools while 
spending his youthful days in his parents' home, Winfield S. Ayers 
afterward attended college and thus equipped for life's practical and 
responsible duties, he started out to make his own way in the world. 
Turning his attention to the printing business, he spent thirteen years 
in one office in Sheldon, Iowa, constantly advancing in that 
connection, his promotions winning him added trust and responsibility. 
He afterwards engaged in the clothing business for six years and at the 
end of a twenty years' residence in Sheldon he went to Dallas, South 
Dakota, and accepted the cashiership of the Dallas State Bank, April 4, 
1910. The institution is now splendidly housed, the bank being equipped 
according to the most modern methods. W. S. Ayers is not only the 
cashier but is also a stockholder and director of the institution and 
has been an active factor in advancing its growth. He has made 
investment in farm lands in the state and is a believer in South 
Dakota's future.  

	On the 15th of April, 1896, Mr. Ayers was married to Miss Nelle 
Hellenbeck, a daughter of Henry C. Hellenbeck, and to them is extended 
the hospitality of the best homes of Dallas and the surrounding 
country.  

	Mr. Ayers was elected school treasurer in June, 1915, and is 
deeply interested in the cause of education. He belongs to the Masonic 
fraternity, in which he has taken the degrees of the York Rite and of 
the Eastern Star. He is also a Knight of Pythias and a United 
Commercial Traveler. He is finding in the expanding opportunities of 
the west the chance which he sought in a business way and his study of 
conditions here has led him to the belief that the western section of 
the state is bound to become a thickly populous district. Already in 
its town building it has utilized every modern improvement and the 
spirit of enterprise and progress as manifested by the citizens is 
bringing about radical and commendable changes.