John Ayres Cordrey

b. 5 March 1867, d. 1963
John Ayres Cordrey|b. 5 Mar 1867\nd. 1963|p10385.htm|Francis Cordrey|b. 6 Feb 1838\nd. 15 Feb 1917|p2966.htm|Christiana Catharina Gramlich|b. 20 Aug 1840\nd. 22 Sep 1876|p10384.htm|Moses A. Cordrey|b. 9 Jul 1810\nd. 17 Mar 1873|p10391.htm|Hannah Black|b. 1 Jan 1812\nd. 6 Apr 1875|p10392.htm|Johann F. Gramlich|b. 27 Dec 1812\nd. 29 Dec 1897|p10573.htm|Friederike J. Foit|b. 22 Jun 1819\nd. 1 May 1899|p10574.htm|

Uncle of Ruth Minerva Fairfield.
Great-granduncle of Laura Jane Munson.
Family Background:
Fairfield and Allied Families
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Ayres Cordrey
     John Ayres Cordrey was born on 5 March 1867 in Tuscarawas County, Ohio.1 He was the son of Francis Cordrey and Christiana Catharina Gramlich. He died in 1963 in Fort Wayne, Allen County, Indiana.2 He was buried in Lindenwood Cemetery, Fort Wayne.3 Click to view image
     
     Ayres Cordrey, oldest child, moved with his parents to Hardin County, Ohio, in 1868, and to Fort Wayne in 1871. He was a farmer and inventor. He patented a steam engine in 1887. He gave the prototype to his grandnephew Bill Horn, and it is owned by Bill's widow, Jean. Traditionally, he invented automobile headlights for Dodge, and the company gave him one of the first of the cars so equipped. As the story goes, he willed or gave the car back to Dodge.

     Bill Horn, who lived in New Richland, Minnesota, traveled to Fort Wayne on occasion to visit. Over the years, Ayres, who never married, gave Bill a valuable collection of family artifacts that include his father's Civil War diaries, photographs, the above mentioned prototype, and other things too numerous to mention. On one occasion he took Bill into his yard where he dug up some valuables, so it's safe to say he was an eccentric.

     Ayres lived well into his nineties. His last years were spent in a Fort Wayne hospital where traditionally he was a great favorite and lovingly attended by the staff.

Additional Data
John A. Cordry appeared on the 1 June 1870 Federal Census of Cessna township, Hardin County, Ohio, in the household of his parents, Francis and Christina Cordry.4 Click to view image

John A. Cordrey appeared on the 1 June 1880 Federal Census of Aboite township, Allen County, Indiana, in the household of his father Francis Cordrey.5 Click to view image

Ayers Cordery appeared on the 1 June 1900 Federal Census of Aboite township, Allen County, Indiana, in the household of his father Francis Cordery.6 Click to view image

John A. Cordrey appeared on the 15 April 1910 Federal Census of Adams township, Allen County, Indiana, in the household of his father Francis Cordrey.7 Click to view image

John Ayres Cordrey was executor of his father Francis Cordrey's will dated 10 June 1914 in Fort Wayne, Allen County, Indiana.8 Click to view image

John A. Cordrey appeared on the 1 January 1920 Federal Census of Fort Wayne, Allen County, Indiana, in the household of Hannah J., his sister.9 Click to view image

John A. Cordrey appeared on the 1 April 1930 Federal Census of Fort Wayne, Allen County, Indiana, in the household of Hannah J. Bitner, his sister.10 Click to view image

Citations

  1. [S944] Francis Cordrey pension application file; 137007 Certificate 96353; Pension and Bounty-Land Warrant Application Files, 1800-1960; Records of the Veterans Administration, Record Group 15; National Archives, Washington.
  2. [S770] John Ayres Cordrey tombstone, Cordrey Plot, Lindenwood Cemetery, Fort Wayne, Allen County, Indiana; photographed by the writer in September 1987.
  3. [S770] John A. Cordrey tombstone, Lindenwood Cemetery, Fort Wayne, Allen County, Indiana.
  4. [S947] Francis Cordry household, 1870 U.S. Census, Hardin County, Ohio, population schedule, Cessna twp, Kenton P.O., page 345, dwelling 37, family 33; National Archives micropublication M593, roll 1219.
  5. [S773] Francis Cordrey household, 1880 U.S. Census, Allen County, Indiana, population schedule, Aboit twp, enumeration district (ED) 109, sheet 9A/315, dwelling 70, family 70; National Archives micropublication T9, roll 264.
  6. [S774] Francis Cordery household, 1900 U.S. Census, Allen County, Indiana, population schedule, Aboit twp, enumeration district (ED) 1, sheet 2B, dwelling 30, family 34; National Archives micropublication T623, roll 357.
  7. [S786] Francis Cordrey household, 1910 U.S. Census, Allen County, Indiana, population schedule, Adams twp, enumeration district (ED) 2, sheet 7A/18, dwelling 129, family 129; National Archives micropublication T624, roll 338.
  8. [S975] Francis Cordrey will (1914), Allen County Wills, County Clerk's Office, Fort Wayne, Indiana.
  9. [S789] Hannah J. Bitner household, 1920 U.S. Census, Allen County, Indiana, population schedule, Fort Wayne city, enumeration district (ED) 61, sheet 126/13A, dwelling 300, family 309; National Archives micropublication T625, roll 421.
  10. [S777] Hannah J. Bitner household, 1930 U.S. Census, Allen County, Indiana, population schedule, Wayne twp, Fort Wayne city, enumeration district (ED) 2-81, sheet 17A/33, dwelling 360, family 414; National Archives micropublication T626, roll 576.