Smyrna times., 1886-07-14
Presiding Elder Ayres.

THE LATE REV. A. W. DiIBY's SUCCESSOR.
Bishop Mallalieu, on Friday, ap-
pointed the Rev. Thomas Oliver Ayres
of Denton, Md, presiding elder of the
Dover district of the Wilmington NJ.
r. Conference, TO succeed the Rev.
Arthur w. Milby, who died recently.
The appointment was made while the
bishop was in Boston, and took effect
Monday. Mr.. Ayres was nominated
by the Preachers Association of the
Dover district by a vote of II to s, but
subsequently his nomination was made
unanimous. The Reys. L. E. Martindale
of Dover Il. ii. Haynes of Frederica
and Barrett's Chapel, J. B. Quigg Of
Smyrna, and H. S. Thompson Of Eas-
ton, aspired to fill the vacancy of re-
commendatiOn to the bishop.
Presiding Elder Ayres was born in
Queen Anne's county, Md, and was IS
years old May 9th last He was the
eighth child of q family of nine. His
parents were James and Nancy (lIar-
wood Ayres. His father was of
English descent and his mother, on her
fathers side, of Irish extraction. She
was married in her 18th year and died
1912, in his 42d year, when Thomas
was only four years old. Thomas had
few adqantges Of education. He COM
menced attending school at years of
age, but went only ut intervals. After
the death of his mother he was employ
ed on a farm. When II years Of age
he went to Smyrna and served three
years as an apprentice at harness max
ing. He became a good workman and
was employed for year after his ap-
premiership expired. At the end of
this year he bought out his employer,
Jas. Ruth, and began business in his
own name, at which he continued un-
til 1861. During all these years he en-
| ployed all his leisure time in study.
When the civil war broke out he be-
came an earnest patriot and Republi-
can and, October 25th, 1862, entered as
private the Sixth Regiment. He af-
| terWards served as a lieutenant in the
! seventh and ninth Delaware Regiments.
In 1859 he became member of the
NJ. Z. Church at Smyrna. During the
/ next nine years he was successiVelv a
! class-laader. cXhOrter and local preach
er, and while giving all needful atten-
| ton to business, was still earnestly ap-
plying himself to preparing for the
ministry of the gospel. He first served
the church occasionally on Smyrna cir
cult and was received into the rank as
a travelling preacher in 1870. lie was
appointed to MillsborO and served as
pastor of that charge for three years
and in 1876, was appointed to the
! PocOmOke City NJ. =. Church for two
years then became pastor of Asbury
NJ. +. church, Crisfeld, for two years.
! In 1882 he was made pastor Of the II.
/ E. church at East New Market. Dur
ing the past Is months he has been
/ pastor of the NJ +. church mt Denton.
He is an original thinker and, us a
speaker, is forcible and popular. He
has been very successful as a linancier
in church matters and largely engaged
in building up churches and church
property. He has been very active in
the temperance cause and been bold
and fearless worker in behalf Of local
option. In 1868 he joined the Good
Templars and a year later was made
Grand Worthy Chief Templar of the
State Of Delaware for one year. As an
Odd Fellow he has been delegate to
the Grand Lodge of the State. In 1861
he married Rebecca T., daughter of
Joseph and Phoebe a. Disch of Smyrna.
They have had nine children. only
three Of whom survive -Ecery Ereaing.