Cumberland County, Maine - Daniel C. Ayer
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Biography
Daniel C. Ayer
Biographical Review
Cumberland County, Maine
Boston
Biographical Review Publishing Company
1896
Page 658-659


Daniel C. Ayer, a popular Grand Army man, who has a fine farm of about one
hundred acres in the town of Naples, Cumberland County, Me., was born in
Brownfield, Oxford County, Me., April 10, 1847, son of the Rev. Aaron and Mary
O. (Cleaves) Ayer.

Aaron Ayer was born in Buxton, York County, Me., April 3, 1812. A clergyman of
the Free Baptist church, he filled pulpits in Maine and New Hampshire, and was
widely known and beloved. He died October 8, 1876. His wife, who was a native of
York County, daughter of Joseph and Hannah (Hanson) Cleaves, died November 3,
1894. They reared three sons: George W., who, enlisting as a private in Company
I, Fourth Massachusetts Cavalry, died in Virginia City in the summer of 1864,
the year of his enlistment; Aaron W.; and Daniel C., the subject of this sketch.

Daniel C. Ayer received a common-school education, leaving his books when but
fifteen years of age to join the New England troops that were gathering to go
South. He was at Deerfield, N. H., when the war broke out; and he enlisted as a
private in Company C, Ninth New Hampshire Volunteer Infantry, being mustered in
at Concord, August 19, 1862. His regiment was called into immediate action, and
the boy participated in some of the most awful conflicts of the Civil War. He
faced fire first at South Mountain, Md., and was afterward, in the battle of
Antietam (September 17, 1862), on whose bloody field many a brave New England
youth gave up his life; at Fredericksburg, December 13, 1862; at the siege of
Vicksburg, whose "unconditional surrender " was so dearly bought; at Jackson,
July 16, 1863 ; at the dreadful holocaust of Spottsylvania, beginning May 12,
1864, where the federal loss was nearly twenty thousand men; at North Anna, May
16, 1864; at Totopotomie Creek, May 31, 1864; at Cold Harbor, the two
engagements at Petersburg, and the battle of Poplar Spring Creek, all in 1864.
In the last-named engagement, which took place September 30, Mr. Ayer was taken
prisoner; and he was nearly five months in durance. After being under guard at
Petersburg a few days, he was taken to Pemberton Prison, was shortly transferred
to Libby Prison, across the street from Pemberton, and was afterward taken to
Salisbury, N. C. Released February 28, 1865, he came North on a furlough, and
was at home at the time of Lee's surrender. He received his final discharge from
the United States service June 10, 1865; and after that he was engaged in
lumbering in Naples until 1867. The two years following he was employed as a
lumberman in Prescott, Wis., where he lived two years. He then came back to
Maine, and purchased the farm on which he now resides, where he has since been
successfully engaged in general farming.

December 6, 1865, Mr. Ayer was married to Miss Lucinda A. Willard, daughter of
Evat and Mehitable Willard, of Cumberland County. Five children complete their
home circle, namely: Lizzie A., wife of Llewellyn Batchelder, of Naples, Me.;
and Edward D., Andrew H., George A., and Nettie L., all with their parents.

Mr. Ayer is a stanch Republican, and takes an active part in political matters.
He is often called upon to act as ballot clerk on election day, and has served
efficiently as moderator. He is Selectman at present, and is Secretary of the
Town Committee. He is an influential member of the C. S. Hickmore Post, Grand
Army of the Republic, No. 115, Department of Maine, at Edes Falls, of which he
has been Commander, and Aide-de-camp on the Department Commander's staff; and he
has served for three years as chaplain of the post.