Escambia County FlArchives Biographies.....Avery, Albert Miner 1852 - ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/fl/flfiles.htm ************************************************ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Joy Fisher http://www.genrecords.net/emailregistry/vols/00001.html#0000031 June 29, 2010, 4:29 pm Source: See below Author: See below Albert Miner Avery The founder of a successful business house takes commendable pride in the establishment which his years of energy, application, enterprise and integrity have built. When he can retire from active business life and be relieved by a younger member of the family competent to carry on the work to which his life has been devoted, he doubtless realizes a satisfaction in his latter years that could not be known to one who is compelled to contemplate the passage of his business to other hands, and its disappearance from the commercial world. When the son does succeed the father, it is but natural that he should be inspired by family, as well as personal pride, to maintain the high reputation won, to enlarge and develop the business, and to keep pace with the demands of the times and changing conditions. For over fifty years the name of Avery has been a prominent factor in the hardware business in Pensacola, in Florida, and in the South. While the founder of the great establishment that is such a credit to Pensacola, retired many years ago full of honors, and has since been gathered to his fathers, the enterprise to which he gave being has been enlarged and developed by the son, Albert Miner Avery, who has been as zealous of the firm's good name, and as full of enterprise and progress as was his father before him. Albert Miner Avery is of English descent, and comes of an old Colonial family. His father came to Florida in 1833, and first located in Escambia county, but in a few years removed to Pensacola, where he engaged in the hardware business. A. M. Avery was born in Pensacola, August 30, 1852, his parents being Albert Lord and Emily Campbell Avery. He is a brother of Judge Jno. C. Avery, also of Pensacola, a sketch of whom appears in this work. He received his early education in the public schools of Pensacola, and later took a course at the University of the South it Sewanee, Tenn. He did not graduate, however, leaving the University to engage in business. After a brief experience in the saw mill and lumber industry, he entered his father's wholesale hardware house in 1876, as a partner, the firm being known as A. L. and A. M. Avery. Having the benefit of his father's long and profitable experience, and being himself a man of fine executive ability, progressive, enterprising and at the same time of fine judgment, he was able to contribute much to the continued growth and prosperity of the business. When his father desired to retire, he had become in every way competent to succeed him, and continued to build up the splendid commercial institution which had gained a name and a fame all over the State and the South. For some years after A. L. Avery retired, the firm was known as Avery and Wool folk, but this partnership was dissolved in 1889, Mr. Woolfolk retiring, and Mr. Avery becoming sole proprietor. For many years he continued to develop and extend the business, without change, but in 1906 organized the Avery Hardware & Supply Company, of which he became president, and which took over the business. A retail department has been added, and the company is now, not only the oldest established business continually operated under one name, but is probably the best stocked and equipped enterprise of its kind in all departments, in the State. He has never been too busy to take a lively interest in public affairs, and has for several years been a member of the city board of aldermen, and has also served the county as chairman of the board of county commissioners. He has from time to time been associated with numerous business enterprises, being for a long time the leading spirit in several substantial building and loan associations. He has always given his best efforts to promoting the interests of his native city, and is not only one of its most prosperous and progressive, but one of its best beloved citizens. In addition to his duties as president of the Avery Hardware Company, he is a director in the American National Bank, in the affairs of which he takes an active interest. He is a communicant of the Protestant Episcopal Church, and in politics is a Democrat, though he has never sought public office. He is a member of the Osceola Club, and of the Country Club, and is Past Master of his lodge of Free and Accepted Masons. Mr. Avery was married February, 1878, to May Clara Grant, a daughter of Alexander and Olampe Grant, of New Orleans. They have had seven children, of whom five are now living, as follows: Stella C, A. M., Jr., Catherine G., A. Marion and Preston S. Avery. Additional Comments: Extracted from: FLORIDA EDITION MAKERS OF AMERICA AN HISTORICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL WORK BY AN ABLE CORPS OF WRITERS VOL. II. Published under the patronage of The Florida Historical Society, Jacksonville, Florida ADVISORY BOARD: HON. W. D. BLOXHAM COL. FRANK HARRIS HON. R. W. DAVIS SEN. H. H. MCCREARY HON. F. P. FLEMING W. F. STOVALL C. A. CHOATE, SECRETARY 1909 A. B. CALDWELL ATLANTA, GA. File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/fl/escambia/bios/avery129gbs.txt This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.org/flfiles/ File size: 5.6 Kb