James F Ayers

James was born in Virginia, on the 28th of November 1849, and while some sources say that he was born in Collinstown, I cannot find that township, town, or city anywhere in Virginia. The closest thing I found was Collinsville or Collierstown, so if anyone happens to know more about this, I would love some clarification. James enlisted in the Army from Richmond and was assigned to the 6th US Cavalry, with whom he deployed to Kansas in support of the Indian Wars. It was his actions on the 23rd of April 1875, that would later earn him the Medal of Honor. The citation reads:

Rapid pursuit, gallantry, energy, and enterprise in an engagement with Indians.

James was at Sappa Creek, Kansas, during what is known as the Red River War, and he received the Medal of Honor on the 16th of November 1876. He was a Private at the time of his actions and he reached the rank of Sergeant. Marrying Matilda in 1883, the couple had two sons and one daughter. James F Ayers died on the 18th of January 1895, at the age of 45, and he is buried in the Fort Riley Post Cemetery at Fort Riley, Kansas: Section F, Plot 27.