Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1885-08-05
hon. RUFUS A. AYRES.
THE CANDIDATE FOR ATToRNEY-eENERAL.

THE CANDIDATE FOR ATToRNEY-GENERAL.
Rufus A. Ayres, of Scott, was born in
Bedford county, in this State, May 90,
1S4S. When five years Of age his father
removed to Goodson, Washington county,
and three years thereafter died, leaving a
widow and six children with very limited
means. Though very young, the subject
of this sketch contributed by his labor to
the support of the family until after the
war commenced He entered the military
service at fifteen years OF over. After the
war he commenced farming and afterwards
engaged in merchandising. He married
Miss V. L. Morrison, daughter of Colonel
Henry A. Morrison, of Scott county, in the
year 1870.
Mr.. Ayres studied law in the office of
Judge H. s. K Morrison, with Fl. s. Kane,
one of the most distinguished lawyers in
that section, as preceptor, and came 10 the
bar in 1872, and has been in active prac-
tice ever since. He was elected attorney
for the Commonwealth for Scott county in
1875, and prosecuted some of the most
important criminal cases ever tried in Vir-
ginia-notably that of Dean, for murder,
where he had to rely solely upon circum-
stantial evidence.
In civil as well as criminal practice he
portant cases in his courts, and is now the
attorney for the Virginia Coal and LION
Company, Attemus, Benson & Co., and the
South Atlantic and Ohio Railroad Com
pany, having in his charge interests aggre-
eating more than million of dollars.
MIR. Ayres has always been Democrat,
his first active participation in politics
dating back to 1869, in the Walker Wells
canvass.
He was appointed reading clerk of tbs
House of Delegates in 1875, and was APP
pointed by President Hayes supervisor of
census for the Fifth District of Virginia,
he and DR.. r. G.. Cabell, Richmond, being
the two Democratic appointees under the
requirements of the act of Congress.
Mr.. Ayres was not prominent in politics
during the period of REIMBURSEMENT, but
always supported the regular Democratic
ticket. In 1888 he was elected a member
of the State Committee for the Ninth Con-
gressional district, and at once aided in the
complete reorganization of the district,
himself taking charge of the Second Sena-
torial district, reversing majority of over
1000 and electing G. F, Flanary to succeed
Clint Wood, the Republican nominee for
Lieutenant-Governor, and Flanary now
holds over as ga long-term" Senator.
/. Mr.. Ayres was appointed a delegate to
the National Convention at Chicago in
1884, and was by his delegation unani-
mously elected iee-President for Virginia.
He was prominent candidate before the
Congressional Convention for the Ninth
district last year and came very near re-
ceiving the nomination. He then took an
active part in the canvass as chairman of
the Ninth District Committee, and the re-
suit evidenced his splendid work.
In personal appearance Mr.. Ayres very
strikingly resembles the Hon. John Goode,
but is not so tall or so stout. He is one of
the most popular public men in Southwest
ern Virginia. He is good, sound, practi-
cal lawyer, and, aided by his experience In
the halls of legislation, will make one of
the most able, upright, and effective attor-
neys the State has ever had. He enters
the canvass in robust health; he knows the
people of his section, and they know and
love and trust him; he is good talker be-
fore popular assemblages, IS frank and
courageous in the expression of his views,
and is fully equipped with information con-
the State debt and other issues of
the canvass. He was ut.forward by the
young Democracy; he was nominated as a
young Democrat, and will be elected as a
of that large body in our
party. In him the party will have good
candidate. In him the State will have a
good Attorney General.