Reminiscences from The Life of a Pioneer by Ira Ayer I
I was on a visit to Sister Martha's in Hamburg and who should come around but the prettiest girl I had ever seen. As soon as I had opportunity I enquired of Sister Martha what girl that was? (This enquiry was made in a whispering tone of course) She told me she was their school teacher. So much the better, I thought in my own mind, and finally it was established to myself at least that she should be my wife some day if my efforts could bring it about, for she was my prettiest girl. As it happened she went out the same after noon to pick currants for tea, as a chance thing I happened to come around where she was picking, and said a few words suited to the occasion, and finally one word led to another, until I ventured to say I would be happy to call to see her sometime if she pleased. My prettiest girl with a slight blush and with hesitancy said if you please; the time was agreed upon that I should call. I was true to meet the engagement, and I found the girl was as true to meet me, at the time and place agreed on. Time passed on, I made frequent calls on my prettiest girl, for a few months, until the time of Marriage was agreed upon. I think it was December 26th 1828 that Julia Mariah became the wife of Ira Ayer. Mrs. Ayer invited a Lady friend Suphronia Hard for a companion, home with her, that our family might be sufficiently large to form a ring, in order that our social hours might be improved to better advantage than otherwise they could. Time passed on pleasantly; yet we soon found that getting married was not all there was of life, though we both reguarded it, as a good beginning. The first thing to be considered was the building of a new house. The size was to be 24 by 36 feet. The out side finish was to be plaster with a heavy coat and gravel thrown in, as thick as the plaster would hold. This made a good finish, and was somewhat fashionable in those days. As soon as we could reasonably bring it around, we started to build the new house. The mason was already paid for doing the out side work. The first thing to be done was digging the cellar wall, and drawing stone from the lake for stoning it up. This was all going on at once, and in due time the cellar was was up, and a fine cellar it was too. It may be, by this time the house was ready to raise. If so, it wasn't long before it was up. Now the time for making arrangements for the rooms had come. Mrs. Ayer was at hand to do her part of this work. Of course it was a very important part. This Mrs. Ayer well considered finally in due time the house was finished enough to live in but it was a number of years before it was fully completed. During the latter part of the time mentioned I was engaged in building for my Neighbors; after some years I built a saw mill. This I found to be a good investment. It was profitable for ourselves as well as convenient for our Neighbors, so work increased on our hands; that is the more we done was an opening to more that wanted doing. In about 1842 or 3 there was a blessed Revival of Religion in Brant. I will call it blessed, because the Lord was there. I never shall forget the time nor the little school house about 14 by 16 feet. I felt truly the time had come for the Lord to give me what I had been asking for so many years. All were blessed all around more or less. The year following it, was concluded by the brethren and Sisters around the Center to build a Meeting House at the center. A meeting was called, but few attended. Yet the few, thought best to go forward notwithstanding. A vote was taken to build a Meeting house. Those that wasn't present at the meeting or at least a part of them made enquiry if they had a meeting. O yes was the answer. did they do anything? yes. what did they do? they voted to have a meeting house was the answer.
The stake was struck, and well driven, and no one dared to move it. Timber was hewed the coming winter; a part of it on our own farm. This gave dear Mrs. Ayer an opportunity to help some. She Love the boarding of the hands. White wood logs were drawn to mill for sawing, the same winter, for inside finishing. Two teams were engaged drawing stone from the lake for underpining; at the same time the framing was advancing, and before haying. The meeting house was raised. The following year it was dedicated to the Lord. Presiding Elder Gleson Filmore Presiding. I think this evening while writing that the Reformation in Brant a year or two before was a moving Element in building the House(13).
Dear Wife raised a family of seven children Ira, Low Bradley 1, Low Bradley 2, Lavinia, Sarah, Henrietta, Julia and Martha (the eldest). She died Aug 14, 1861 leaving an evidence that our loss would be her gain. It rejoices our hearts for the evidence we have that dear Wife and dear mother is in Heaven.
Miss Bessie Cronkhite and Myself were joined in marriage Oct 14, 1869. There is quite a comparative difference in our ages but this in our social relation is hardly ever mentioned or thought of, as I know she has ever manifested a great interest in all matters for the welfare of the family. When ever or where ever help was needed out doors or in, she is ready to give a helping hand. My family of children were her family of children as well. Receiving visits and going to see them with all the tenderness and love that she would if they were her own. Little Lolah(14)is our darling. Sometimes she behaves like every thing but we like her all the same. She loves devotion, always ready to bow her head in prayer.
Reader, How wonderful are the ways of Providence. We would do well to observe this more then what we do. I have told you that Pa started for Batavia to get an article of a farm in Springville and on his way he met Mr. Palmer, who advised him to look in Evans for a farm and I have told you also Reader how it was that Martha experienced Religion and come home with the story of the Cross upon her lips and as the fruit of her labor most of the family were converted to God and joined the Church and no doubt the influence of Martha's christian experience was wide spread. Now, if Pa hadn't met Mr. Palmer, Pa would have moved to Springville and as far as we know into a Neighborhood of sinners, where the family would have lived and died sinners.
(13) Ira describes it as a team effort but LeRoy S Oatman describes it differently. In his Memorial to Ira Ayer he said "Until 1844 the worshipers met in private houses and school houses. During that year Ira Ayer determined that a Church should be built. He began alone, cutting the trees and hewing the timbers, and though others came to his aid from time to time he labored almost daily until the house was completed. In his younger days he had worked some as a carpenter and soon after his marriage he had constructed a saw mill near his home on the Little Sister Creek. The trees were mostly, if not all cut on the Ayer farm and sawed at the Ayer mill and a large portion of the work was done by him or under his supervision until the Methodist Church at Evans Center, which was occupied until a few years ago, was completed. From his early manhood until his decease he was an official member of the Church and of his exemplary Christian life it is unnecessary to speak."
(14) Adopted daughter of Ira and Bessie.