William E. Ailes, son of William and Elizabeth (Black) Ailes, was born in Lancaster County, Penn., December 8, 1840, and was married, December 11, 1867, to Martha Jane Carrick, daughter of Alexander Carrick, of Philadelphia, and has had born to him nine children: Alexander C., William B., Robert E., George M., Elizabeth H., Joseph H., Charles M., Franklin A. and Edwin H. In the fall of 1869 Mr. Ailes came to York County and purchased the “Gordon property,” a farm of 172 acres, and since that time he has been engaged in agricultural pursuits. He served with the Twelfth Pennsylvania Regiment, “Emergency” men, and participated in the battle of Antietam, and was drafted afterward in the One Hundred and Sixty-sixth Pennsylvania, and served one year, mostly at Suffolk, Va. He is a member of Corporal Baer Post 277, G.A.R., and also a Master Mason.


Taken from the book, “History of York County, Illustrated 1886” by John Gibson, Historical Editor