AYERS:

Buenos Ayers, one time resident of Reedy, grew up on eastern head of Mill Creek, was born in Ritchie County, western Virginia, April 30, 1848, son of Jeremiah and Eleanor (Campbell) Ayers. Jeremiah Ayers was an old time schoolmaster, sagacious, a little impatient with old illiterates of those he met; by this lost much of his due as a citizen; for his son, Buenos, he hoped for high attainments in his ancestral profession and encouraged him in every way. Buenos attended Marshall Col-lege at Huntington, came forth to Roane County about the year 1873, and organized a "Subscription School," a kind popular at that time. Professor Nash, author of "Nash's School Grammar," was in Roane at the same time, taught at Walton and at Spencer. Buenos taught several such schools at Reedy Town, and two on Middle Fork; on Middle Fork for a reason that will appear presently; he was an enthusiast and did much to make popular the advantages of good education, even college education. June 18, 1874, at her home on Middle Fork, Buenos Ayers married Minerva Jane, daughter of Andrew B. and Mary (Stewart) Chancey; Andrew B. Chancey owned a big farm of some three hundred acres, in fine condition, well stocked, and his was a popular family; had been deputy sheriff and was an active citizen. On her marriage the father, Andrew B., gave and conveyed to his daughter Minerva Jane the upper end of his farm, with the usual "horse, saddle and bridle," a cow and calves; this land lay near the home of the author of this work, only one small farm between. On his wife's lands Buenos built the first prentenious frame house on the Middle Fork, rivaling that of his father-in-law. Soon was elected superintendent of schools of Roane County, which office he filled with ability and satisfaction years 1875-1877; many of what is now "Roane County's first crop of teachers" trace their in-spiration to the work of Buenos Ayers. While in this official school work he studied law at home under direction and tutelage of old lawyers at Spencer and was soon after admitted to practice, but did little of it; about the year 1880, he with his family removed from Reedy and became residents of Ripley, West Virginia, where he practiced law some, was a commissioner in chancery of the circuit court; was elected as a justice of the peace and served that office one or more terms of four years; died there as also-possibly-did Minerva Jane, his wife. Buenos had some brothers and sisters, the names of these we can give from recollection-long years-in order of their recollected ages, are, Jefferson, a Confederate soldier; Elizabeth ("Lizzie"), a school teacher, who became the wife of Robert E. Lee, and resided at Shirtsville, Wirt County, many years; Ballard, of whom we venture no recollection, and Gelia, the youngest, who united in marriage with Rex Roland Rohr, in Spencer, the 28th day of January, 1885; his age 28, her age 23; he was editor and proprietor of the Weekly Bulletin, the county's leading newspaper at that time. This couple resided in Oakland, California, the last we knew of them, to which State they went from Spencer many years ago.

Of the marriage of Buenos and Minerva Jane Ayers were born three children: Minnie L., December 10, 1876; Nora F., September 18, 1881; and A. J., July 14, 1875.


Source: History of Roane County, West Virginia, 1774-1927, William H. Bishop, Esq., p 437-438
Submitter: Sandy Spradling, October 1, 1999