Ayers Family Plot
aka Jakes Springs Cemetery
Jakes Springs, Lincoln County, New Mexico
Compiled by C. W. Barnum October 18, 2006
Return to Cemetery Page
Updated 2008
 

The Ayers Family Plot is about one mile north of Jakes Springs and just north of Jakes Hill. It's south of Carrizozo on the west edge of Polly Flats. The plot was set aside by Carl Ayers on the Ayers Ranch about 1900. Carl died and was burial on top of the highest hill near Jakes Springs. It's often referred to simply as Jakes. His family was to be buried there too, but the ranch was purchased by the Cornett family. Years later it became the Hemphill Ranch. One story states there are two graves on that hill. One grave was marked by a wooden cross and the other by a headstone. Jakes was an important RR water stop up ca. 1955. Prior to that, it was a stage coach stop.

I wish to thank my good friend Eddy Bob Hemphill for guiding our expedition. Access is restricted and a four wheel drive is mandatory. Do not attempt to walk to this location.  

The grave of Carl Ayers  The inscription reads:
Carl Ayers    March 19, 1895  -  August 14, 1916
A Loved One from us has gone
A voice we love is stilled
A place is vacant in our home
Which never can be filled.

Jakes Spring as seen from Ayer's plot.
Possible additional grave under mesquite bush in foreground on large pile of dirt.
My friend Eddy Bob Hemphill standing near Ayers' grave.
A herd of antelope in the distance as see from Jakes.

Family Group Sheet for William Jefferson Ayers  WIFE: Minnie L. Waldon
by Virginia (Ginny) Lee Ayers Spann  VASPANN@aol.com  

~~~Family Group Sheet~~~
Husband's name: William Jefferson Ayers
Birth date and place: December 28, 1868 Honey Grove, Fannin, TX
Death date and place: December 18, 1944 Lincoln County, NM
Marriage date and Place: November 24, 1889 St. Francis County, AR
His Father's name was: Thomas Jefferson Ayers
His Mother's name was: Lucy Ann Bennett
~
Wife's name: Minnie L. Waldon
~~~
Children:
1. Minnie Gertrude Ayers b. 1891 AR
2. Hartley Ayers b. 1894 AR
3. Carl Ayers b. 1895 AR d. 1916 NM
4. Anna Lee Ayers b. 8-18-1898 AR d. 5-13-1989 - Santa Cruz, CA
      Marriage date and Place: NM to Jack Adams

Jack A. Adams & Anna Lee "Annie" Ayers Adams had one known son, Jack Adams buried next to his father at Evergreen Cemetery in 1935.

Carrizozo Outlook stating that Carl Ayers died on the 18 August 1916. It states the following:
"CARL AYERS DIES
Carl Ayers, a young man of twenty-one years, died at his home in Jake Springs, on Monday from complication of diseases. The young man had been a sufferer for a long time, having been sick about two years. His parents, Mr. & Mrs. W. J. Ayers, are well known in the community, as Mr. Ayers has for some time been section foreman for Southwestern (RR) at that point. The funeral was held Monday evening and interment made at Jake Springs Cemetery."
From the information I have gathered, William Jefferson Ayers owned a small ranch in Lincoln county. I was told that WJA was buried at Carrizozo Cemetery - but have not been able to "prove" it.