Guthrie Family Group 5 – Branch C
Martha Jane Guthrie 1841MS-1896LA and William Martin Ayres
of Mississippi and Louisiana, USA

THE FAMILY of MARTHA JANE GUTHRIE and WILLIAM MARTIN AYRES

MARTHA JANE GUTHRIE
Parents: Shadrick Guthry 1772SC-1850MS and Ruah Ann Roberts 1802GA-p1860MS
Birth: 19 August 1841
Location: Mississippi, USA
Marriage: William Martin Ayres in 1864 Oxford, Lafayette, Mississippi, USA
Ayres Children: 9
Death: 23 September 1896
Location: Chestnut, Natchitoches Parish, Louisiana, USA
Burial: Oak Grove Cemetery, Chestnut, Natchitoches Parish, Louisiana, USA

WILLIAM MARTIN AYRES
Parents: Russell Jacob Ayres 1820AL-1895LA and Sarah Jane Thomas 1829TN-1900LA
Birth: 30 June 1846
Location: Mississippi, USA
Occupation: Farmer
Military Service: Civil War – Company A 7th Bon TN Cavalry (Bennett’s) C.S.A
Death: 26 March 1919
Location: Ashland, Natchitoches Parish, Louisiana, USA
Burial: Oak Grove United Methodist Church Cemetery, Oak Grove, Natchitoches Parish, Louisiana, USA

NOTES:

Martha Jane Guthrie was born on 19 August 1841 in Mississippi. She married William Martin Ayres in 1864 at Oxford, Lafayette, Mississippi. He was a farmer. They removed to Louisiana. Martha died in Chestnut, Natchitoches, LA on 23 Sep 1896. Her husband outlived her. William died on 26 March 1919 in Ashland in the same parish.

Many of their children had multiple given names appearing in census records by their various names or initials.

1870: WM Ayres 22, MJ Ayres 28 with their children: Jake Ayres 5, J W Ayres 3, Mary Ayres 2, and Thomas Ayres 2/12.

1880: William M Ayres 34, Martha J Ayres 38, with their children: Ransom A J Ayres 14, James W C Ayres 12, Marietta A Ayres 11, Sarah L Ayres 10, John E. H Ayres 9, Martha N E Ayres 2, and Oren J Ayres 1. (Note that son Thomas is not with the family, presumably having died young.)

1900: W M Ayres 53, children: Amasa A Ayres 32 (May 1867), Orango Ayres 21 (Jan 1879), Mona Ayres 20 (Nov 1879). (Note: Amasa is probably transcription error for Ransom, Orango is probably a misspelling or variation of Arren, which was previously listed as Oren, and ‘Mona’ is probably a transcription error for Naoma.)

1910: William M Ayres 64, and daughter Martha A Ayres 27

GUTHRIE CHILDREN: 9
Y-DNA Project Participants: N/A – Female Guthrie
Autosomal DNA Participants: NONE

CHILD 1: RANSOM ALEXANDER JAKE AYRES
Born 1866 MS – 1930 LA
Spouse: Lou Ellen Reeves m. 15 July 1900 in Red River Parish, Louisiana, USA

Ransom Alexander Jake Ayres was born on 10 May 1886 in Lafayette County, Mississippi. He was listed with his parents and siblings in Oxford in 1870 and Lafayette Springs in 1880. Before 1900, the family moved to Louisiana. On 15 July 1900, Ransom married Mrs Lou Ellen (Reeves) Nail, a daughter of Bird Reeves and wife Sarah McGee. She was the widow of Samuel M Nail, with whom she had two young sons, Samuel and John. They appear to have continued to live with their Reeves grandparents.

Ransom’s occupation along with his brother’s in 1900 is listed as ‘share’ which I will guess means they are share croppers on their father’s farm. By 1910, Ransom is listed as a farmer, owner, and employer. This couple had six sons and two daughters and lived in Natchitoches and Bienville Parishes, Louisiana. Ransom died on 3 April 1930. Lou Ellen lived for another 31 years. Later in life, Lou married William L Wagner. She died 15 April 1961, both in Ashland, Natchitoches Parish, Louisiana. Ransom and Lou are interred there at Ramah Cemetery.

Ayres Children: 8
Y-DNA Project Participants: N/A – Descendant of a Female Guthrie
Autosomal DNA Participants: NONE

1.) Herbert William Ayres: 19 Aug 1901LA – Jun 1981LA (m.1918LA) Carrie Ruby Ward +children
2.) James ‘Ernest’ Ayres: 28 Feb 1903LA – 20 Dec 1959LA (m.abt.1922) Minnie Lee Reynolds +children
3.) Mirah May Ayres: 2 Feb 1904LA – Aug 1911LA – died at 7 years of age
4.) Mattie Lou Ayres: 6 Mar 1907LA – Oct 1990LA (m.abt.1924) James Frank Ward +children
5.) Harvey R Ayres: 22 Aug 1909LA – 9 Nov 1979LA (m.abt1928) Delia Mae Ward +children
6.) Daniel Thomas Ayres: 28 Jul 1914LA – 10 Jul 1990LA (m.abt.1933) Reba Lucille Young +children
7.) Webbie Ayres: 15 Mar 1917LA – 19 Mar 1990LA (m.abt 1942) Marie Lula Holley +children
8.) R A Ayres: 30 Sep 1919LA – 23 Nov 1943LA – Buried at Ramah Cemetery – No further details

CHILD 2: JAMES WILLIAM CARROLL AYRES
Born 1867 MS – Died 1922 LA
Spouse: Lula Ladora Bumgardner m. 15 Nov 1884 in Pontotoc, Mississippi, USA

James William Carroll Ayres was born in Lafayette County, Mississippi on 23 July 1867. His parents were still living in Lafayette County during the 1870 and 1880 censuses, and so most of his youth was spent there. At age 12, he attended school with most of his other siblings, but he and his older brother Ransom also worked on the home farm as laborers. He was 18 when he married Lula Ladora Bumgardner in MS. They settled in Natchitoches Parish, Louisiana where they owned their own home and farmed.

Their eldest son, Walter Rudolph’s Ayres, died at 3 years of age. Most of their children were born prior to the 1900 census and there were seven of them listed in the household at that time.
1900: JW Ayres 32, Lulu L 30, Mary L 12, Carrie F 8, Ola I 7, Jas E 6, Ada L 4, Buford 4, and Wilborn 1/12.
1910: James W Ayres 42, Lula 40, Carrie, 19, Elmer 16, Ada 14, Buford 12, Welbern 9, Jessie 6, Baby 0.
1920: Ja Ayres 53, Lula 50, Jessie 16, Edward 10.

James Ayres died at 54 years of age on 17 February 1922 in Ashland, Natchitoches, Louisiana. He is buried there at Ramah Cemetery. During the 1930 census, Lula (60) and her youngest daughter Jessie (22) were living with the Barnhill family in Natchitoches Parish. This was James and Lula’s daughter Ada’s family. In 1940, Lula (70) is found in Jonesboro, Jackson, Louisiana living with the family of her youngest son, Edward Ayres.

Lula (Bumgardner) Ayres died on 24 September 1942 in Cross Roads, Red River Parish, Louisiana. Her obituary in The Natchitoches Times on 2 Oct 1942:
Funeral services were held for Mrs. J. W. Ayres, age 73, of Jonesboro, Friday at Ashland church, with Rev. Ben Joyner of Saline officiating, assisted by Rev. Colvin Walker of Jamestown and Rev. C. C. Milton of Jonesboro. Interment was in Old Ramah Cemetery. Mrs. Ayres died at the home of her daughter, Mrs. Paul Hoenke of McDade. Surviving are seven children, 35 grandchildren and 23 great-grandchildren and a host of nieces and nephews.

Ayres Children: 10
Y-DNA Project Participants: N/A – Descendant of a Female Guthrie
Autosomal DNA Participants: NONE

1.) Walter Rudolphus Ayres: 20 May 1886LA – 25 Mar 1890LA – died at 3 years of age
2.) Mary Lelia Ayres: 17 Mar 1888LA – 11 Nov 1925 (m.abt 1908) Cleveland Elmo Robinette +children
3.) Carrie Frances Ayres: 6 Oct 1890LA – 7 May 1912LA (m.1911LA) Richard C Clifton – no children
4.) Ola Irene Ayres: 13 Jul 1892LA – 17 Jul 1972LA (m.abt.1906) Arthur Stephens Knotts +children
5.) James Elmer Ayres: 22 Feb 1894LA – 12 Jan 1952LA (m.1914LA) Lillie Jones +children
6.) Ada Luellen Ayres: 23 Mar 1896LA – 15 Feb 1985LA (m1.c1920LA) Raleigh Crump – no children; (m2.1929LA) Marshal H Barnhill – stepchildren
7.) William Buford Ayres: 24 Apr 1898LA – 11 Jul 1972LA (m.abt.1920) Dora Thelma Ouzts +children
8.) Harrison Welborn Ayres: 30 Apr 1900LA – 14 May 1985LA (m.1929) Edna Ewing +child
9.) Jessie Pauline Ayres: 4 Mar 1904LA – 22 Sep 1972LA (m.) Paul J Hoenke – no children
10.) Edward Harmon Ayres Sr.: 11 Jan 1910LA – 15 Jun 1971LA (m.) Maudie Mae Farley +children

CHILD 3: MARYETTE A AYRES
Born 1868 MS – Died aft. 1880
Marital Status: Unknown

This daughter was born about 1868 or 1869 in Lafayette County, Mississippi. The 1870 census lists her as “Mary” (2). The 1880 census lists her as an 11 year old under the name Maryette A Ayres. This is the last record found with her listed. There is no information found at the Oak Grove Cemetery in Louisiana where her parents are buried to indicate that she died there, nor any details uncovered in a general search at Find-a-Grave.

Children: Unknown – No Known Descendants
Y-DNA Project Participants: N/A – Descendant of a Female Guthrie
Autosomal DNA Participants: N/A – No Known Descendants

CHILD 4: SARAH LUZANA AYRES
Born 1869 MS – Died 1910 LA
Spouse: John William Sullivan m. about 1890 Louisiana, USA

Sarah Luzana Ayres was born in Lafayette County, Mississippi about November of 1869. Her parents moved the family to Louisiana. It was there that she married John William Sullivan about 1890. They had three sons and three daughters prior to Sallie’s death about 1910. John Remarried before 1921 to Carrie Elizabeth Outzs and had 4 more children: Ray, Dorothy Elizabeth, Eva, and Claude.

Sullivan Children: 6
Y-DNA Project Participants: N/A – Descendant of a Female Guthrie
Autosomal DNA Participants: NONE

1.) John Alfred Sullivan: 23 May 1892LA – 31 Oct 1957LA (m.) Ruby Ballew +children
2.) William Albert Sullivan: 20 Jan 1894LA – 21 Mar 1971LA (m.) Laura Warren +children
3.) Florence Edora Sullivan: 14 Dec 1895LA – 28Oct 1975LA (m.) William Stephen Warren +children
4.) Katie Elnora ‘Nora’ Sullivan: 28 Oct 1898LA – 22 Jan 1970LA (m.) James Isaac Warren +children
5.) Mary ‘Minnie’ L Sullivan: 16 Jul 1902LA – 23 Sep 1980LA (m.) Jackson Elias Warren +children
6.) Phillip Andrew Sullivan: 15 Jan 1906LA – 18 Dec 1956LA (m.) Jewell Thomson +child

CHILD 5: THOMAS AYRES
Born 1870 MS – Died bef. 1880 MS or LA
Died in Infancy or Childhood

Thomas Ayres was born in April of 1870. He was two months old at the time of the 1870 census in Oxford, Lafayette, Mississippi. His name is not recorded with the family in 1880, and so he is presumed to have died in his infancy or early childhood. Whether he died in Mississippi or Louisiana is unknown.

CHILD 6: JOHN EGBERT SHADRACK HARRISON AYRES
Born 1871 MS – Died 1941 LA
Spouse: Susan Luella Thomas m. 30 August 1893

The full extent of this son’s name is given to us as John Egbert Shadrack Harrison Ayres, which has not yet been found fully documented outside of family trees. He is listed as John E H Ayres on the 1880 census, and John Harrison Ayres on his death certificate. John was born on 25 January 1871 in Lafayette County, Mississippi and was listed as a 9-year old on that 1880 census. He married Susan Luella Thomas on 30 August 1893 when he was 22.

They settled in Ashland, Natchitoches, Louisiana where they farmed and raised their children. They had two sons and four daughters: Hattie Viola, John Belton, James H Jr, Fannie Lee, Ida, and Gladys.

The 1900 census for this family is very odd. They are found in Police Jury Ward 2, Natchitoches, Louisiana. They are listed next door to the households of W M and J W Ayres, John’s father and brother.
1900:
J H Ayres, head, white, male, born Jan 1871, 29, married, (the number of years is overwritten with a code and then crossed out), self, father, mother all born in MS.
Susan Ayres, wife, white female, born Jan 1876, 24, married (3 children, 3 living, with both overwritten with zeros), self, father, mother all born in MS.
Viola Ayres, daughter, white, female, Mch 1880, 20, single, born LA, father, mother born MS
John B Ayres, son, white, male, Aug 1883, 16, single, born LA, father, mother born MS
James H Jr Ayres, son, white, male, May, 1885, 14, single, born LA, father, mother born MS
Notes:
The birth years and ages are way off for the children. Their relationship is listed clearly, but a couple born in the 1870s, who married in 1893 obviously did not have children in 1880. Viola’s DOB was 28 Sep 1895 per the SSDI. Belton’s DOB per his WWI Draft Registration was 24 Jul 1899. Since James H Ayres Jr is labeled as being about 2 years younger than Belton, his actual DOB should be about 1901, but since this is the 1900 census and the family was enumerated on 20 June 1900, he was probably an infant born in 1900. This son is not found in the 1910 census, so is presumed to have died in infancy or early childhood.

John Ayres was 70 at his death on 30 March 1941, a Sunday morning at 11:30am following a heart attack. Funeral services were held at the Ashland Baptist Church with burial following at the New Ramah Cemetery. His wife died four years later on 9 November 1945.

Ayres Children: 5
Y-DNA Project Participants: N/A – Descendant of a Female Guthrie
Autosomal DNA Participants: NONE

1.) Hattie Viola Ayres: 28 Sep 1895LA – Aug 1972LA (m.) Sim O Freeman +children
2.) John ‘Belton’ Ayres: 24 Jul 1899LA – 27 Feb 1966LA – unmarried – piling cutter / farm worker
3.) James H Ayres Jr: born abt. 1900LA – died before 1910 – presumably died in early childhood
4.) Fannie Lee Ayres: 19 Jul 1901LA – 30 Nov 1972LA (m.) William J Browning +child
5.) Ida Ayres: 20 Jul 1904LA – 17 Apr 1975LA (m.) John William Madden Jr +children
6.) Gladys Ayres: 13 Jul 1910LA – 3 Dec 1996LA (m.) Robert Dale McWilliams -no children

CHILD 7: MARTHA NOAMA E AYRES
Born 1878 MS – Died 1949 LA
Marital Status: Single

This daughter first appears in the 1880 census as a 2-year old named Martha N E Ayres. Quite a few trees list her twice under the name Mona, but this appears to be a combination of a census transcription error and a difference in her listed age when she gets a little older. During the 1900 census, “Mona” (actually a scrawled Naoma) is listed as single and living at home. Her mother had died four years earlier and so Naoma was the only daughter in the household. Ten years later, she was the only one left at home with her aging father, being listed as Martha A Ayres, and only 27 at that time rather than being in her early 30s. The 1920 census lists a Martha Ayres, 42, living in Ashland, Natchitoches, LA, but she’s listed as a widow. Possibly an assumption that a woman living on her own had been previously married. Not found in the 1930 census, but in 1940 Martha Ayres, 63, aunt, is listed as single, and living the home of James and Nora Warren.

Ayres Children: None
Y-DNA Project Participants: N/A – Descendant of a Female Guthrie
Autosomal DNA Participants: NONE

CHILD 8: ARREN LANOH AYRES
Born 1879 MS – Died 1953 LA
Spouse: Eula McGee

Arren Lanoh Ayres was born on 24 Jan 1879 in Oxford, Lafayette, Mississippi. The name Arren might be a variation of Oren used in previous generations and during the 1880 census of Lafayette Springs. He was 1 year old and listed as “Oren L” that year. Some family trees list the middle name as “Loney”. A few give a third given name, Jethro, source unknown.

The lack of an 1890 census means he was already 21 and an adult at the time of the 1900 census. The family was living in Police Jury Ward 2 of Natchitoches Parish, Louisiana. Here, he is listed as “Orango Ayres”, age 21 and his occupation noted as “share” potentially indicating he was a share cropper on the family farm.

Arren appears to have married Eula McGee about that time as their eldest son was born in 1901. During the WWI Draft of 1917-1918, Arran L Ayres completed his draft registration listing his DOB of 24 Jan 1877 rather than 1879, and his age as 41. He was a white male, married, a farmer, his own employer, and living in Ashland, Bienville, Louisiana. His nearest relative was his wife “Leula”. The physical description lists Arren as tall, slender, with dark hair and blue eyes. He had a 6th grade elementary education typical of a farming community and owned his own farm. Arren and Eula were parents to 4 sons and 3 daughters born between 1901 and 1920.

Eula died on 23 Nov 1942 in Bienville Parish, LA at the age of 62. Arren remained a widower. The 1950 census lists him as 72 years of age and no longer able to work the farm. His son A L Ayres Jr was listed as the head of household at the time. Arren died when he was 74 years old on 15 May 1953 in Shreveport, Caddo, LA. He was buried in Castor, Bienville, LA at New Ebenezer Cemetery.

Ayres Children: 6
Y-DNA Project Participants: N/A – Descendant of a Female Guthrie
Autosomal DNA Participants: NONE

1.) Benjamin Frankin ‘Frank’ Ayres: 20 Dec 1901LA-17 Feb 1989 (m.) Ida Ruth Underwood +children
2.) Emmer Ayres: 6 Jul 1904LA – 4 Jan 1987LA (m.) Olan C Ward +children
3.) Bertha Ayres: 27 Jul 1907LA – 11 Nov 1996 (m.) James Floyd Kelly +children
4.) Andrew Jackson Ayres: 9 Sep 1914LA – 13 Nov 1943 – unmarried
5.) Archie Ayres: abt. 1916LA – 13 Nov 1943LA – unmarried?
6.) Arren Lanoh Ayres Jr: 24 Jun 1920LA – 19 Nov 1999LA (m.) Lucile Pate +children

CHILD 9: BASCOM LUTHER AYRES
Born 1880 MS – Died 1937 LA
Spouse: Altha Ann Sullivan m. 1 Oct 1899 in Red River Parish, Louisiana, USA

Born on 5 Nov 1880, Bascom Luther Ayres missed the 1880 census by several months. He was 18 at his marriage to Altha Ann Sullivan on 1 Oct 1899, and 19 during the census of 1900 when they were living in Bienville Parish, Louisiana as a young couple. They rented their home and Bascom worked as a farmer. By 1910, they had been married for a decade. Altha had given birth to 5 children, only 3 of whom survived. They had at least 4 other children between 1910-1920.

Bascom completed a WWI Draft Registration Card for 1917-1918. It lists him as a tall, stout man with brown hair and blue eyes. His wife is listed as Sarah Altha Ann Ayres. Bascom died on 30 July 1937 in Jonesboro, Jackson, LA at 56 years of age. He was buried at Ramah Cemetery in Ashland, Natchitoches Parish, LA. His wife died on 6 Dec 1945. She was 63.

Ayres Children: 9
Y-DNA Project Participants: N/A – Descendant of a Female Guthrie
Autosomal DNA Participants: NONE

1.) Rosie Ayres: 18 Oct 1900LA – 22Apr 1985LA (m.) Grover C Davis
2.) Unidentified Ayres – birth order, name, gender unknown – likely died in infancy or early childhood
3.) Edwin Emmett Ayres – 11 Jul 1904LA – 10 Nov 1958LA (m.) Abbie Calhoun +children
4.) Unidentified Ayres – birth order, name, gender unknown – likely died in infancy or early childhood
5.) Lee Roy Ayres: 27 Apr 1907LA – Mar 1980LA (m.) Allie Davis +children
6.) Ruby Evelyn Ayres: 23 Jul 1912LA – 30 Nov 1987LA (m.) Floyd Everett Toms +children
7.) Tommie Ayres: 27 Sep 1914LA – 7 Dec 1997LA (m.) Mary Alice Jones +children
8.) Sam Ayres: 19 May 1917LA – 10 Aug 1977LA (m.) Lucille Mary Thomas +children
9.) Myrtle Marie Ayres: 7 Feb 1920LA – 13 Mar 2006LA (m.) Raymond Lee Harper +children

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