Mrs. Eliza Cook came with her stepparents. Mr. and Mrs. Charles Yule came to Barnes County in the spring of 1878, settling in Worthington. Eliza Cook attended school in Valley City and at the age of twenty-three, married Leonard Ayers on November 29, 1893.
Mr. Ayers was engaged in the draying business. To this union were born three children, Frank (Tacoma, Washington); Cecil (deceased); and Alice (Walker).
Mr. Ayers became ill and the family moved several times seeking a better climate for Mr. Ayers. He passed away in Portland, Oregon on August 8, 1912.
After the death of Leonard Ayers, Mrs. Ayers and her family returned to her home in Valley City. Frank, now of age, and Mrs. Ayers decided to homestead at Dodson, Montana, living there until 1923, when the family returned to Valley City.
Alice finished school in Montana and completed nurse's training at the Cook County Hospital in Chicago. She then returned to Valley City to work in the Valley City Clinic.
On February 17, 1923 she married Art Ratzlaff. He passed away January 3, 1948. She re-married July 15, 1951.
She is now Juvenile Supervisor of five counties with headquarters in Valley City.
The following children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Ratzlaff.
Leonard (Buzz) was born in Thermopolis, Wyoming on February 4, 1925. He now teaches at Grand Forks Central High School.
Edna was born April 18, 1926 in Valley City. She lives in Malta, Montana and is employed by Municipal Utilities for Montana Power.
Dorothy was born September 20, 1930. She is now a registered nurse in Valley City and is also in business with
her husband in the Peterson-Olson Funeral Home of Valley City.
Source: Barnes County History 1976 Page 259