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The Quincy Whig, 12/9/1875, p 8.
IN MEMORIAL.
Unexpected Death of Chief Engineer J. H. Ayers.
He Expires Suddenly at His Residence This Morning.
Hemorrhage of the Lungs the Cause—The Loss to the City and the Fire Department.
[From Saturday's Daily Whig.] John H Ayers, chief engineer of the Quincy Fire Department, died suddenly at his residence at an early hour this morning. Although he had been suffering from disease for nearly two years, his death was entirely unexpected, and the tolling of the fire bells during the forenoon therefore carried surprise and sorrow alike to even many of his most intimate friends.
Mr. Ayers was born in Rahway, N. J., in 1841. He came to Quincy when only 16 years of age , and learned the carpenter trade with James McDade. He ever afterwards made this city his home, but was in the Southern States for some time before the rebellion. He was a volunteer in the Union army during the latter period of the war, and served as second sergeant in the 151st Illinois infantry. During eight months of his military service ho was detailed as chief clerk of the Freedmen 's Bureau at Columbus, Ga. He first joined tho Quincy Fire Department at the time of the organization of the old No. 4 volunteer company, when Mr. Wm. Thayer was foreman and Mr. Samuel Seger his assistant , and he remained with that company for six years. He joined tho No. 1 after returning from the South, and retained his connection with it up to the time of his death. He was elected City Clerk in 1870 and was reelected in 1871, serving the two terms to the satisfaction of the people. He was made Chief Engineer of the Fire Department in 1874, and again the present year, when the public confidence in his ability was such that no nomination was made by his political opponents, and he was elected unanimously. He was also appointed building inspector for the two terms of his office of chief engineer.
"Jack," as he was familiarly called by his personal friends, and more particularly by the members of the Fire Department , with all of whom he held the most favorable relations, was an energetic, hard-working fireman , a genial companion, and a man than whom no other had the material interests of the city more at heart. Brave and persistent in the line of both active and executive duty, he labored earnestly to place the Department of which he was the head upon on efficient foundation, and how well he succeeded the vigilance and promptness of the firemen in responding to alarms will testify. It was characteristic of him that once resolved upon securing a needed improvement in the machinery for extinguishing fires, he pressed his claims pertinaciously until a satisfactory result was accomplished. This feature of his labors in behalf of the city is illustrated by an incident which occurred a few hours before his death. The Chief wanted to secure a Babcock four-wheel hose-cart, and in conversing with Assistant Engineer Steinback last night he cautioned him to urge the matter upon the Board of Fire Engineers, to meet within the hour, and not to take refusal of the request. So it has been in asking for other apparatus, steamers, hose, nozzles, horses , etc. He invariably wanted and always secured, by his stability of purpose, the best materials and the best men to make up an exceptionally good department. Not only by the citizens of Quincy, to whom he saved thousands of dollars during his official service, but also by the fire chiefs of the State, was he regarded as a No.1 officer and fireman. He recently attended the meeting of Chief Engineers of Fire Departments of Illinois at Bloomington , and was elected a vice president of the organization then formed. Notwithstanding his illness, he completed a full report of the proceedings of that body, finishing the work last night before retiring. These facts together demonstrate forcibly the character of the man. Quincy never had a more active municipal officer, or a more efficient chief engineer of its Fire Department, than John H. Ayers. The compliments bestowed upon him while in life are the more freely repeated since his death, now that the whole city regrets his loss.
The death of Mr. Ayers was, as we have said, very sudden. He had been partially confined to his room for more than a week, but was upon the street on Wednesday, and was sitting up and engaged upon public business until late last night. At about half past 1 o'clock he awoke his wife, saying he thought there was something the matter with him. She dressed herself hurriedly, and said she would go for a physician. "Be quick, darling," are the only words he uttered. He was then beyond medical aid, and expired in twenty minutes, of hemorrhage of the lungs. Ho leaves a wife, but no family. His relatives live in the East , he having two brothers in New Jersey, one of them, Mr. E. M. Ayers, being a prominent business man in Jersey City, N. J.
The deceased was a member of Bodley Lodge, No. 1, F. & A. M. [free masons], and also of Adams Grove, No. 21, U. A. O. D. The funeral will take place Monday afternoon. He will be buried with Masonic honors, the Druids and the entire Fire Department participating. The engine houses and steamers are draped in mourning, and the citizens of Quincy manifest the deepest sorrow at his death.
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The Quincy Whig, 12/9/1875, p 8.
IN MEMORIAL.
Unexpected Death of Chief Engineer J. H. Ayers.
He Expires Suddenly at His Residence This Morning.
Hemorrhage of the Lungs the Cause—The Loss to the City and the Fire Department.
[From Saturday's Daily Whig.] John H Ayers, chief engineer of the Quincy Fire Department, died suddenly at his residence at an early hour this morning. Although he had been suffering from disease for nearly two years, his death was entirely unexpected, and the tolling of the fire bells during the forenoon therefore carried surprise and sorrow alike to even many of his most intimate friends.
Mr. Ayers was born in Rahway, N. J., in 1841. He came to Quincy when only 16 years of age , and learned the carpenter trade with James McDade. He ever afterwards made this city his home, but was in the Southern States for some time before the rebellion. He was a volunteer in the Union army during the latter period of the war, and served as second sergeant in the 151st Illinois infantry. During eight months of his military service ho was detailed as chief clerk of the Freedmen 's Bureau at Columbus, Ga. He first joined tho Quincy Fire Department at the time of the organization of the old No. 4 volunteer company, when Mr. Wm. Thayer was foreman and Mr. Samuel Seger his assistant , and he remained with that company for six years. He joined tho No. 1 after returning from the South, and retained his connection with it up to the time of his death. He was elected City Clerk in 1870 and was reelected in 1871, serving the two terms to the satisfaction of the people. He was made Chief Engineer of the Fire Department in 1874, and again the present year, when the public confidence in his ability was such that no nomination was made by his political opponents, and he was elected unanimously. He was also appointed building inspector for the two terms of his office of chief engineer.
"Jack," as he was familiarly called by his personal friends, and more particularly by the members of the Fire Department , with all of whom he held the most favorable relations, was an energetic, hard-working fireman , a genial companion, and a man than whom no other had the material interests of the city more at heart. Brave and persistent in the line of both active and executive duty, he labored earnestly to place the Department of which he was the head upon on efficient foundation, and how well he succeeded the vigilance and promptness of the firemen in responding to alarms will testify. It was characteristic of him that once resolved upon securing a needed improvement in the machinery for extinguishing fires, he pressed his claims pertinaciously until a satisfactory result was accomplished. This feature of his labors in behalf of the city is illustrated by an incident which occurred a few hours before his death. The Chief wanted to secure a Babcock four-wheel hose-cart, and in conversing with Assistant Engineer Steinback last night he cautioned him to urge the matter upon the Board of Fire Engineers, to meet within the hour, and not to take refusal of the request. So it has been in asking for other apparatus, steamers, hose, nozzles, horses , etc. He invariably wanted and always secured, by his stability of purpose, the best materials and the best men to make up an exceptionally good department. Not only by the citizens of Quincy, to whom he saved thousands of dollars during his official service, but also by the fire chiefs of the State, was he regarded as a No.1 officer and fireman. He recently attended the meeting of Chief Engineers of Fire Departments of Illinois at Bloomington , and was elected a vice president of the organization then formed. Notwithstanding his illness, he completed a full report of the proceedings of that body, finishing the work last night before retiring. These facts together demonstrate forcibly the character of the man. Quincy never had a more active municipal officer, or a more efficient chief engineer of its Fire Department, than John H. Ayers. The compliments bestowed upon him while in life are the more freely repeated since his death, now that the whole city regrets his loss.
The death of Mr. Ayers was, as we have said, very sudden. He had been partially confined to his room for more than a week, but was upon the street on Wednesday, and was sitting up and engaged upon public business until late last night. At about half past 1 o'clock he awoke his wife, saying he thought there was something the matter with him. She dressed herself hurriedly, and said she would go for a physician. "Be quick, darling," are the only words he uttered. He was then beyond medical aid, and expired in twenty minutes, of hemorrhage of the lungs. Ho leaves a wife, but no family. His relatives live in the East , he having two brothers in New Jersey, one of them, Mr. E. M. Ayers, being a prominent business man in Jersey City, N. J.
The deceased was a member of Bodley Lodge, No. 1, F. & A. M. [free masons], and also of Adams Grove, No. 21, U. A. O. D. The funeral will take place Monday afternoon. He will be buried with Masonic honors, the Druids and the entire Fire Department participating. The engine houses and steamers are draped in mourning, and the citizens of Quincy manifest the deepest sorrow at his death.
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