Death of J.H. Ayer: J.H. Ayer, aged 67 years, died Saturday night after a short illness. The funeral was held Tuesday afternoon from the M. E. Church, Rev. J. I. Sainty presiding. The local I.O.O.F. conducted the services at the grave.

The deceased leaves a wife, one daughter Eleanor and one son Dewey, who is in France. The deceased was an old resident of this community.

An obituary will appear next week. Those from out of town attending the funeral were John Ayer, Sioux Falls, Mrs. Clarke, Dubuque, Miles and William Cottingham, Fennimore, James and Arthur Appleby, Muscoda, J. M. Cottingham and wife, Shullsburg, Mrs. Wm. Field, Ross Sheffer, Cuba, and Wm Crawhall, New Diggings.
above info from Contributor: D. Shannon (48090306)
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James Henry Ayer was born June 24, 1851, at Orion, Richland Co., Wis., and died at his home in Benton, Wis., Dec. 29, 1918, at the age of 67 years, 6 months and 5 days, from a complication of diseases.
When six weeks of age, he, with the other members of the family moved to a farm in New Diggings Township, where he resided until 1908 when he moved to Benton, Wis., April 18, 1894, he was united in marriage with Mary Elizabeth Cottingham, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. M.D. Cottingham, to which union two children, daughter Eleanor and son Dewey were born. For 45 years he was a member of the I.O.O.F. and a faithful attendant to the last.
He leaves to miss him in the home, a wife and daughter, and the son in the service of our country in France, besides two sisters, Mrs. George Sheffer of Benton and Mrs. Henry Hoffman of Leadmine, also two brothers, John of Sioux Falls, S.D. and Charles of New Diggings Township together with friends of many years standing.
Benton Advocate 10 Jan 1919
Contributor Audrey Quinn Porter Fag#47005894