Nicholas County, West Virginia Biography of Thomas W. AYRES ************************************************************************** USGENWEB NOTICE: Material may be freely used by non-commercial entities, as long as this message remains on all copied material, AND permission is obtained from the contributor of the file. These pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or presentation by other organizations. Persons or organizations desiring to use this material for non-commercial purposes, MUST obtain the written consent of the contributor. Submitted by Pat Johns, , March 2000 ************************************************************************** The History of West Virginia, Old and New Published 1923, The American Historical Society, Inc., Chicago and New York, Volume II Pg.471-472 THOMAS W. AYRES. The thriving little City of Richwood, Nicholas County, claims Mr. Ayres as one of its leading attorneys and counsellors at law, and the scope and importance of his practice indicates the popular estimate placed upon his professional ability and his sterling personal characteristics. Mr. Ayres was born on a farm near Williamsburg, Greenbrier County, this state, October 7, 1884, and is a son of William D. and Margaret (McMillion) Ayres, the former of whom was born in Buckingham County, Virginia, May 10, 1834, and the latter of whom was born near Williamsburg, in what is now West Virginia. William D. Ayres became a resident of Nicholas County prior to the Civil war, and was one of the pioneer teachers in the schools of this county, he having continued his successful service as a teacher for many years and having also been a progressive exponent of farm industry, his wife having been a teacher in a private school prior to their marriage. Now venerable in years, this gracious and honored pioneer couple still reside on their fine old homestead farm near Williamsburg, he being a member of the Baptist and she of the Methodist Episcopal Church. For forty years William D. Ayres served as a member of the Board of Teachers' Examiners for Greenbrier County, and he held also the office of deputy county assessor, the while he was active in the local councils of the democratic party. Of the three children, Thomas W., of this review, is the youngest; Kate is the wife of Remus McMillion; and John M. is auditor for the White Springs Company, the corporation which has control of the historic old health, and pleasure resort at White Sulphur Springs, West Virginia. The childhood and early youth of Thomas W. Ayres were compassed by the activities and influences of the old home farm, and that he profited fully by the advantages of the public schools of his native county is assured in the statement that for ten years he was a successful teacher in the public schools, in the meantime advancing his own education along higher academic lines. In consonance with his ambition and well formulated plans he finally entered the law department of Cumberland University, in which he was graduated with the degree of Bachelor of Laws. He was admitted to the bar in Nicholas County, and for ten years thereafter was engaged in successful practice at Summersville, the county seat. He then removed to the important little industrial city of Richwood, this county, where he is now a member of the representative law firm of Wolverton & Ayres, which has specially high standing at the bar of Nicholas County. Mr. Ayres is a stanch advocate of the principles of the democratic party, he and his wife hold membership in the Methodist Episcopal Church, and in the Masonic fraternity he is a past member of Summersville Lodge No. 76, A. F. and A. M.; and affiliated with Richwood Chapter No. 27, R. A. M.; Sutton Commandery No. 16, Knights Templar; and with Beni-Kedem Temple of the Mystic Shrine in the City of Charleston. He is also a past chancellor of the Knights of Pythias. December 24, 1918, recorded the marriage of Mr. Ayres and Miss Maude S. Ryder, who graduated from the West Virginia Wesleyan College at Buckhannon, and who was a popular teacher in that institution prior to her marriage. Mr. and Mrs. Ayres have one child, Mary M., born May 31, 1921.