george bucher ayres was an american photographer, historian, newspaper editor, author, and musical instructor. he is famous for purchasing the glass negatives of alexander hesler's photographs of abraham lincoln, which he safeguarded from almost certain destruction in the great chicago fire of 1871. early life and career ayres was born in elizabethtown, illinois, in 1829. he attended the common schools and garfield university in wichita, kansas, and was admitted to the bar in 1893. he practiced law in wichita and held various public offices, including clerk of the court of appeals of kansas f…