----Source: COLBY PHONOGRAPH (Colby, Wis.) 02/06/1919

Ayer, Mary J. (16 FEB 1847 - 9 Feb 1919)

Again we are face to face with the great mystery that surrounds this world. With but another week lacking to complete a busy and useful life of seventy two years, Mrs. Cullen Ayer passed away Sunday evening, Feb. 9, 1919 of pneumonia, at the home of her daughter, Mrs. W. J. Cammers. She had passed on life's highway the stone that marks one of its higher points, and being weary for a moment lay down by the wayside and fell into that dreamless sleep that kisses down her eyelids still.

Mary J. Lampshire was born in Cornwall, England, Feb. 16, 1847. At the age of one year, with her parents, she came to America, settling at once at Mineral Point, Wis., where the family resided for many years. Here she grew to womanhood, and here she was united in marriage to Cullen Ayer, August 8, 1864. In 1870, with her husband, she came to Clark County, Wis., which was then a primeval forest, the home of the deer, with the remnant of an Indian tribe occasionally passing through in search of game. Her family then consisted of two children, and with her husband she located in the town of Unity and together they began a home in the wilderness. Here she experienced the hardships and trials incident to pioneer life. No traveler passing through the then thinly inhabited country, ever found other than a welcome at her door. This was her home for a period of forty-four years, until the death of her husband, which occurred in 1912. In 1911 she located in the village of Unity, where she resided at the time of her death.

Mrs. Ayer was a model mother, a good wife, a true friend and a generous neighbor. To her children, although all are grown, she was a wise counselor and a sage advisor. Those who have been privileged to cross her path must say that the world was better for her having lived in it, and were everyone to whom she did some loving service to bring a blossom to her grave, she would sleep beneath a wilderness of flowers.

She was a business woman of some ability, being interested in the Colby State Bank, the Unity State Bank and one of the leading banks of Loyal. For a woman of her age she was remarkable well read, being posted on all current events of importance.

Mrs. Ayer was the mother of twelve children, eleven of who are living. The places of residence of the family are: Edgar of Unity, Cullen of Willette, S. D., Jonas at Spencer, William at Granton, Leonard at Abbotsford, Owen at Rhinelander, Walter near Riplinger, Mrs. W. J. Cammers of the town of Unity, Mrs. T. F. Loney, until late of Buffalo Springs, N.D., Mrs. M. L. Schjonnemann of town of Brighton, and Mrs. A. C. Wisnosky, town of Unity. A son preceded his mother to the Great Beyond in 1881.

Besides her children, who mourn the loss of a loving mother, she leaves two sisters and two brothers, and other relatives in Colorado, Mineral Point, Wis., Galesville, Wis., LaCrosse, Wis. and Newell, Iowa. Her friends were number by her acquaintances, none knew her but to love her.

The funeral occurred Thursday p.m. at the m. E. Church at Unity, Rev. Chatterson of Rib Lake speaking from Psalms 90:10. Those from away who attended the funeral were; Mr. Henry Leuthe, LaCrosse; Mr. Richard Thomas and Mrs. Walter Brichard, Galesville, Wis., and Mr. David Brown of Mineral Point, Wis.

Mary Jane Ayer is buried in the Brighton Cemetery, Unity, Wis.