He came to Wisconsin in 1849, first settling at Neenah with a wife and one child before moving to Green Bay in 1856 (one source says 1850), where he practiced medicine and had part ownership of a drugstore.
[2] Ayres volunteered for service in the American Civil War and was enrolled as first assistant surgeon in the 7th Wisconsin Infantry Regiment, part of the famous Iron Brigade of the Army of the Potomac.
Although he had made an unsuccessful bid in 1858 for the 11th Wisconsin Legislature (losing to Democrat Edgar Conklin) Ayres was first elected to the Assembly from the 1st Brown County district (the Towns of Eaton, Glenmore, Green Bay, Humboldt, Morrison, New Denmark, Preble and Scott and the City of Green Bay) for the 1868 session (21st Wisconsin Legislature) as a Republican, unseating Democratic incumbent Randall Wilcox.
[7] He was re-elected in 1871 for the 25th Wisconsin Legislature (1872 session) from the new 2nd Brown County district, drastically changed by redistricting to encompass Fort Howard, now called a "borough", and the Towns of Howard, Lawrence, Pittsfield, Suamico, West De Pere and Wrightstown, with 470 votes to 458 for Democrat A. F. Lyon.
[8] Soon after returning to civilian life, Ayres bought a farm and a sawmill at what was then called Duck Creek and moved his medical practice there, developing a large custom among the Oneida Nation of Wisconsin at their nearby reservation.
He was not a candidate for re-election to the Assembly, and was succeeded by William H. Bartran, who like himself was a physician from upstate New York, a Republican and a Union Civil War veteran.