Theodore Ayers

NJGenWeb ~ Morris County, New Jersey

Theodore Ayers

Source: History Morris County New Jersey, Volume II, Lewis Publishing Co., 1914

One of the conspicuous men who have figured in the real estate business in Morristown, Theodore AYERS, was born in that town, July 8, 1855. His father, also named Theodore AYERS, was born at Basking Ridge, Somerset county, New Jersey, June 22, 1824, but came to Morristown when a very young man and entered into business there, opening a general merchandise store in connection with his brother, Eugene, in the year 1845 or 46; he had however; been engaged in business with Joseph W. Lovell for a short time. This partnership continued until the outbreak of the Civil War when Theodore AYERS was appointed to the post of revenue collector. At the close of that period he went into the real estate business of which the present is the outgrowth. He was a man of prominence, ability, and influence, interested in all public matters and served the town as mayor from 1876 to 1880; also served as member of board of freeholders; largely interested in educational matters and was a trustee and one of the founders of the Morris Female Institute. He died January 26, 1905, at the age of eighty-one years. The father of the first Theodore AYERS, was David AYERS, born at Basking Ridge, New Jersey, 1792, died 1850. He was a surveyor and died on the old homestead at Basking Ridge which had been in the possession of the AYERS family for four generations. The mother of Theodore AYERS Jr. is Ann Elizabeth (BONSALL) AYERS, born in New York City, March 4, 1833, and now living in Morristown. His parents had three sons, but one,

John Bonsall AYERS, born July 30, 1858, died September 5, 1910.

He was for thirty years head of the insurance department of the Morristown Real Estate and Insurance Agency; secretary of Morristown Safe Deposit Company, also served as city clerk and city collector and was prominent in social and fraternal organizations.

Theodore AYERS is the older of the two remaining sons, the other,
Horace Frederick, born October 27, 1862, lived retired from business in Morristown for some years, but died April 25, 1913.

John Bache AYERS, son of John Bonsall AYERS, deceased, was born January 24, 1891, and was educated at the Morris Academy. He is now associated in the real estate business with his uncle, Theodore AYERS. On the maternal side the grandfather of Theodore AYERS was John BONSALL, born in 1804, in New York City, where he lived until 1846; when he came to Morristown, and retired from business. He died in 1852. He married Eliza ENNIS.

Theodore AYERS was sent for his early school training to the Morris Academy and to other private schools. After he had been prepared in them he matriculated at Princeton College and was graduated with the class of 1879. He then entered business, choosing the field of real estate and remaining in this until the last few years. He is a Republican in his political convictions, and was mayor of the town 1909-10. He is a trustee of the Morristown Green, and is an attendant of the South Street Presbyterian Church.

Transcribed by John Cresseveur (1949-2003).