Born: c. 1836
Died: March 1, 1912
Married: William J.Ayers
Children: Watson Jay Ayers, Mrs. D. Fincke
Frances Merrill Ayers was a daughter of John R. Merrill of Merrillsville. She was said to be the the first female white child born in the town of Franklin,
Malone Farmer, March 6, 1912,
DEATH OF MRS. WM. J. AYERS.
Passed Away in Malone, Aged 76 Years.
Death has removed another of the venerable old ladies of Malone, Mrs. William J. Ayers, who died Monday at her home on Fort Covington St., at the advanced age of 76 years. For the last few years her daughter-in-law, Mrs. Watson Ayers, has resided with her there and has lavished upon her all the care and tenderness which she so justly deserved. She was a woman of fine character, and will be missed by many, for her kindly disposition had numbered every acquaintance among her friends. She leaves surviving but one sister, Mrs. Anna Marshall, of California, and a grandson, William Jay Ayers. The cause of her death was old age.
Deceased was the daughter of John Merrill, one of the early settlers of the town of Franklin. After her marriage to William J. Ayers they conducted a farm in Duane and later took charge of a hotel in Merrillsville. After a time they built a hotel in Duane which they conducted until it was destroyed by fire. Finally they purchased a large tract of land and built the fine hotel on Lake Duane, known as Hotel Ayers, which they conducted with success for several years. “Bill” Ayers, as he was familiarly known, built up an extensive business with city guests and the genial ways of Mrs. Ayers and her painstaking care bestowed upon the patrons of the hotel were in a large measure responsible for the success of the business. The hotel was conducted by them until the death of Mr. Ayers.
The funeral will occur from the home on Wednesday at 2 P. M., conducted by Rev. R. C. Penney, assisted by Rev. M. D. Sill. Interment in Morningside cemetery.
From Lem Merrill (Surveyor - Conservationist) by Marjorie Lansing Porter, 1944
...John R.'s inn, now owned by Miss Ina Merrill, was operated by the Littlejohns, the Lymans and the Ayers (married Frances Merrill, daughter of John Rufus) families. The stage stopped there twice a week, going and coming from Port Kent. Settlers came to the inn for their mail and enjoyed a social time, meanwhile patronizing the bar...
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