Maj. Thomas Eli Ayres (1804-1890) and wife
Cornelia Hampton Walker Ayres (1822-1893) of Black Jack, Texas.
Pictured here with them:  Son, Charles Carroll Ayres (1856-1933 - by Eli's 1st wife, Caroline Wilson Ayres) & Daughters with Cornelia, Olivia Benson (Ollie - 1862-1955) & Nellie Mae (1865-1950)
Photo submitted by Betty Bradley Blackwell

Thomas Eli Ayres was born on November 21, 1803 in Lexington, Kentucky.  His parents were Moses Ayres, Jr. and Rachel McFadden Ayres.  He married Caroline Wilson on October 15, 1829 in Bolivar, Hardin County, Tennessee.  Eli and Caroline moved to Arkansas Territory where 4 of his children:  Amelia Evaline, Emma, Bert O. & Bertha (twins) were born.  The family then moved to Poplar Springs, Pontotoc County, Mississippi and established a Plantation on land purchased land from the Chickasaw Indians.  Six more children:  George Wilson, John Thomas, Zelone, Zadora, William Eli and Mary Alosa, were born while the family lived in Mississippi.

In approximately 1856, due to Indian Land issues, the family moved to Texas.  Going first to Seguin in Guadalupe County and then to Smith County.   Eli and Caroline's youngest Child, Charles Carroll was born in Texas.  Caroline Ayres died in September 1859 in Smith County, Texas.  The 1860 Smith County (Canton Beat) Census lists Eli and his 4 youngest children living together.  Several of his older children had moved to Texas also and are listed on the 1860 Smith County Census including his daughter, Evaline Ayres Johnson and her 5 children.  His son, Bert O. & wife; and son, John Thomas.  Eli, Evaline, Bert & J.T. appear on the 1860 Smith County Slave Schedule.  In 1860 or 1861 Eli and Family moved to Kaufman County and settled on land purchased in the Black Jack area.

Eli Ayres was a veteran of the Mexican-American War.

On 31 Jan 1861, Eli married Cornelia Hampton Walker in Pennington, Bradley County, Arkansas and a daughter, Nellie was born there.  Eli and Cornelia moved back to Kaufman County and another daughter, Olivia (Ollie) was born here.  The family appears on the 1870 Kaufman County Census, page 4, dated July 6, 1870.  Eli & Cornelia & family also appear on the 1880 Kaufman County Census.

Eli died on September 3, 1890 and is buried in the Black Jack Cemetery along with Cornelia who died in 1893, and other members of the Ayres family.  Caroline Wilson Ayres' grave location is unknown at this time.

Children of Thomas Eli and Caroline Wilson Ayres are:

1. Amelia Evaline Ayres  b. 1832  in Arkansas, d. November 22, 1922
   married James Johnson in Mississippi on October 25, 1849 (see Dr. George A. Johnson Family in Kith & Kin for more information on Johnson Family).
2. Emma Ayres  b. 1833, d. 1834 Arkansas
3. Bert Olinthus Ayres (twin)  b. December 12, 1834 Arkansas, d. 1917 Texas
4. Bertha Ayres (twin) b. December 12, 1834 Arkansas
5. George Wilson Ayres, b. 1837 Mississippi, d. 1858
6. John Thomas Ayres, b. June 20, 1839 Mississippi, d. 1910 Texas
7. Zelone Ayres, b. 1842 Mississippi, d. abt, 1863-1865
8. Isadora Ayres b. 1846 Mississippi
9. William Eli Ayres, b. March 27, 1847 Mississippi, d. February 25, 1930 Texas
10. Nancy Ayres, b. 1849
11. Mary Alosa Ayres, b. abt. 1850-1852 Mississippi, d. 1925 Texas
12. Charles Carroll Ayres, b. February 8, 1856 Texas, d. May 1, 1933 Texas
    married Mollie R. C. Fallis on 31 Dec 1882.

Children of Eli and Cornelia Ayres:

1. Nellie May Ayres, b. May 15, 1862 Arkansas, d. September 21, 1950
   married Lucian Dony Bartlett on 19 Feb 1879
2. Olivia Benson "Ollie" Ayres, b. 1865 Texas, d. 1955 Texas
   married William E Jackson on December 9, 1884

Eli and Cornelia Ayres in later years.

W. E. and Olivia Ayres Jackson.  Daughter of Eli and Cornelia Ayres.

In 1932 a Ayres Family reunion was held in Kaufman, see partial news article below:

and Reunion Picture:

Ayres Family Reunion

I do not recognize any of the people in this picture so..if anyone does, please advise.

(Some of this information was compiled from family records belonging to Jan McCart, descendant of Eli and Cornelia Ayres.  Jan also provided some of the pictures.  Thank you Jan!  Other information gathered from Pontontoc County, MS, Smith County, TX and Kaufman County, Texas genealogy and Census/Land records.  Also from Betty Bradley Blackwell and Charmian Bradley Giles (Eli and Caroline Wilson Ayres) line.)