Dr. J. C. Ayer & Company

Biography

Dr. J. C. Ayer's rise and growth in the Patent Medicine business is well-known to many and suffice it to say, Dr. Ayer's motto was:

"Undertake what you can accomplish and accomplish what you undertake."

Photograph from the collection of David Ayer

James Cook Ayer
Born: May 5, 1818 - Died: July 3, 1878


The AYER Lion


Photograph from the collection of David Ayer

The mighty lion was adopted as the symbol of the J. C. Ayer Company early in the company's history but didn't appear on their almanacs until 1895 and then again in 1902, continuing through the end of publication in 1925.

The Ayer Company associated the lion with "The King of Beasts", "Force", "Energy", "Strength" and "Vigor" all of which the company felt best described their products. They considered their products the best and strongest on the market and consequently the lion fit well with their marketing.

Dr. J. C. Ayer felt so strongly about the lion that his grave is adorned with a wonderful monument of the lion. We were fortunate enough to visit his grave several years ago and took some pictures.

Dr. James C. Ayer and his wife are buried in the Lowell cemetery. The lion monument is approximately twelve feet long. He is carved of Italian marble and sits atop what appears to be a coffin or sarcophagus which stands on a marble pedestal. His facial expression is meant to express sorrow.

The entire monument weighs more than twenty tons with the lion alone weighing approximately six. The monument was made in France by Price Joy, a British born sculptor, at a cost of $20,000. That was a fortune back in those days! When Joy completed the monument in 1880 he came to Lowell to oversee its installation. This lion is truly an international masterpiece and one worth seeing in person.

Photographs from the collection of David Ayer

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Dr. J. C. Ayer & Company