William Ward Ayer, BiographyPorter County biographical sketches . . . .
Transcribed biography of William Ward Ayer
REV. WILLIAM WARD AYER - Was born in New Brunswick, Canada, on November 7, 1892, the son of George and Sarah (Ayer) Ayer. His father was a native of the State of Maine, and his mother of New Brunswick, Canada. George Ayer followed the sea in his early years, shipping before the mast on a merchant vessel with his father, who was master of the vessel. He later engaged in farming in New Brunswick, Canada. To the paternal grandparents were born five children, three daughters and two sons. To the parents of Rev. Mr. Ayer were born the following children: Henry; Eldridge; Abigail, the wife of Fred McFadden of Dover, New Hampshire; three other daughters who died in infancy; and May, who passed away at the age of thirty-two; Alvie, who died at the age of forty-eight in 1926; and William Ward. Rev. William Ayer attended the schools of New Brunswick, Canada, Brooklyn, New York, Lynn and Winchester, Massachusetts; and on the completion of that phase of his education he became apprenticed to the printing trade in the employ of Ginn & Company, nationally known schoolbook publishers. Here he remained for eight years, and in 1917 he decided to prepare himself for the ministry and entered Moody Bible Institute of Chicago. In 1920 he amplified this training at Lincoln College, Lincoln, Illinois. Entering the Northern Baptist Theological Seminary of Chicago, he did one year of resident work, and during this period served as a pastor in Valparaiso. He had also filled the pulpit as a student pastor at Mason City and Atlanta, Illinois, remaining two years in each of those places. His first regular charge was as pastor of the First Baptist Church of Valparaiso, taking up his duties there in September, 1922. The membership of this church is about 325 souls, at all times showing a gradual increase. Reverend Ayer has very consistently endeared himself to his flock and the public in general of this community through his spiritual ministry and also through his constructive interest in civic affairs. On February 13th Mr. Ayer concluded his work in Valparaiso, having accepted the call to the Central Baptist Church of Gary, Indiana. .He began his work in that pastorate on February 20, 1927. He was united in marriage with Lucille, the daughter of John and Rhoda Woodward of Mason City, Illinois. Mrs. Ayer attended Normal University at Normal, Illinois, and takes a proper part in the women's movements attendant to the pastorate of her husband. Reverend Ayer was the twenty-eighth minister in order of succession to serve the Baptist Church of Valparaiso.
Source: Cannon, Thomas H., H. H. Loring, and Charles J. Robb. 1927. History of the Lake and Calumet Region of Indiana Embracing the Counties of Lake, Porter and Laporte. Volume II. Indianapolis, Indiana: Historians' Association. 827 p.
Page(s) in Source: 519-520
This biography has been transcribed exactly as it was originally published in the source. Please note that we do not provide photocopies or digital scans of biographies appearing on this website.
Biography transcribed by Steven R. Shook