Santa
Clara County
Biographies
CLARENCE
M. AYRES
Through his connection with the Pacific
Manufacturing Company of Santa Clara, with which he has been associated since
1896 as manager of the lumber department, Mr. Ayres is identified with the
leading concern of its kind in California, and its success his own
indefatigable labors have promoted from year to year. He is of eastern
parentage, being a son of V. M. and Eliza T. (Moore) Ayres, natives
respectively of New York and Vermont, (sic) His paternal grandfather, William,
removed west from New York in a very early day, settling among the pioneer
farmers of Illinois, where he improved a tract of raw land in Henry county and
served in addition as justice of the peace. (sic) At
an advanced age he died in Galva, that county. The maternal grandfather, Thomas
Moore, was a pioneer of Illinois and improved a farm in the vicinity of
Andover.
Following in the footsteps of his
father, V. M. Ayres took up farm pursuits in Henry county,
Ill., but his continuance in agriculture proved temporary. Elected sheriff of
Henry county, he removed to Cambridge, the county
seat, where he gave his attention to the discharge of official duties. Later he
engaged in milling at Andover and from there moved to Galva, Henry county. While Kansas was an undeveloped state he settled in
Arkansas City, where he engaged in the milling business. On disposing of his
plant he came to California and purchased land near Campbell, Santa Clara county, where he has since engaged in the fruit business. In
politics he is a stanch Republican and in religion holds membership with the
Baptist Church. Of his marriage to Miss Moore there were born seven children,
all but two of whom are now living, three in the east and two in California.
The fourth in order of birth among the children was Clarence M. Ayres, who was
born in Andover, Henry county, Ill., March 26, 1850,
and received a public school education at Galva. After leaving school he
learned the miller’s trade under his father, but not finding a suitable opening
in that occupation he turned his attention to the mercantile business at Galva,
where he remained a few years.
At the time of his arrival in
California, in 1876, Mr. Ayres settled in San Jose, where he still makes his
home. For thirteen years he was employed by the Independent Mill & Lumber
Company, first as bookkeeper and later as foreman of the lumber yard. On
resigning that position in 1889, he bought an interest in the Glenwood Lumber
Company, of which he was manager and vice-president. Since March of 1896 he has
been associated with the Pacific Manufacturing Company in Santa Clara, but
still makes San Jose his home, residing at No. 530 North Fourth street. While
living in Illinois he was made a Mason at Galva and now has membership in
Liberty Lodge No. 299, F. & A. M., at Santa Clara. In national politics he
supports Republican candidates, but in local matters gives his vote to the men
he deems best qualified to represent the people, irrespective of political
ties. In religion he is identified with the Methodist Episcopal Church. Miss
Sarah E. Todd, who became his wife at Galva, Ill., was born in Lafayette, Stark
county that state, and in 1872 came to California with
her father, V. B. Todd, who resided in San Jose until his death. Three children
comprise the family of Mr. and Mrs. Ayres, namely: Arthur J., who resides in
Santa Clara and holds the position of foreman of the yards of the Pacific
Manufacturing Company; Rae M., in San Francisco; and Clarence L., who resides
with his parents.
Transcribed By: Cecelia M. Setty.
Source: History of the State of California & Biographical Record of Coast
Counties, California by Prof. J. M. Guinn, A. M., Page 1402. The Chapman
Publishing Co., Chicago, 1904.
© 2017 Cecelia M. Setty.