Payette County ID Archives Biographies.....Avey, Oliver H. 1857 - ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/id/idfiles.htm ************************************************ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Joy Fisher http://www.genrecords.net/emailregistry/vols/00001.html#0000031 October 13, 2010, 2:06 am Source: See Below Author: S. J. Clarke (Publisher, 1920) FOR seventeen years Dr. Oliver H. Avey has successfully practiced medicine and surgery in Payette, but while recognized as an able and eminent representative of the profession, he has at the same time been an active factor in connection with events which have largely shaped the development and the history of the city and surrounding district. His worth as a man and citizen is widely acknowledged and there are few men who enjoy a higher degree of confidence and respect in Payette than does Dr. Avey. A native of Ohio, he was born in Logan, December 31, 1857, a son of George L. and Mary (Fox) Avey. The father, a native of Maryland, was born March 12, 1830, and about 1850 became a resident of Ohio, where he engaged in business as a saddle and harness maker. With the outbreak of the Civil war he joined Company H of the One Hundred and Fourteenth Ohio Volunteer Infantry and as first lieutenant assisted in the recruiting of the company. He served from 1862 until the close of the war and his military career was one of honor and distinction throughout, marked by participation in various hotly contested battles and strenuous campaigns. During the period of his residence in Ohio. George L. Avey filled various positions of public honor and trust and enjoyed an unassailable reputation for integrity and worth of character. The evening of his days was passed in Payette, where his death occurred April 19, 1912. Some time before he had retired from active business life and was making his home with his son, Dr. Avey. In the meantime, following his service in the Civil war, he had become a resident of Oskaloosa, Iowa, where he remained until his removal to Idaho. His wife is a native of Germany and was brought to America by her parents when a little maiden of seven years, the family settling in Ohio, where she was reared and educated and there became acquainted with the man to whom she gave her hand in marriage. She now makes her home in Redlands, California, living with her son, John L. Avey, at the age of seventy-seven years. After attending the public schools of his native town Dr. Avey continued his education in Penn College at Oskaloosa, Iowa, and was graduated therefrom with the Bachelor of Arts degree in 1881. He was soon afterward appointed assistant postmaster and four years later he entered upon the profession of teaching and for a number of years was principal of one of the schools at Oskaloosa, Iowa. In 1891 Dr. Avey went to Salt Lake City, Utah, where for nine years he was principal of the Washington school and became a prominent factor in the organization of the free public school system, for the schools of the city up to that time had been under Mormon regime. When he gave up his position in Salt Lake City it was to enter upon the study of medicine, for he had long cherished a desire to become a representative of the profession. He entered Rush Medical College and before receiving his medical diploma attended medical lectures during vacation periods and did dissecting on his own account in the cellar of an undertaking parlor. He was so well versed in the science of medicine before entering Rush Medical College that he completed the course in less than three years and his ability was immediately recognized by the faculty of that institution. He was graduated in 1901 with the M. D. degree and opened an office at Cedar City, Utah, where he remained for a year and then came to Idaho. It was his intention to locate at Boise and his arrangements had been completed toward that end when Dr. Hosmer of Payette asked him to take over some patients of his in Payette, as Dr. Hosmer was desirous of leaving for a time. As he never returned, Dr. Avey was accorded all his practice and has continuously remained in Payette. In 1904 he pursued a post-graduate course in the Chicago Post Graduate College and in many other ways he has labored to keep abreast of the advance that is being continually made in connection with medical and surgical practice. He reads widely and broadly along professional lines and he is a member of the Idaho State and American Medical Associations and also of the Northwestern Rush Medical College Alumni Association. His practice has been important and extensive and yet he has found time to participate in other interests and activities of value to the community. In 1906 he became one of the organizers of the Payette National Bank and has continuously remained its president. He became one of the organizers of the Payette Valley Land and Orchard Company, which has converted seven hundred and twenty acres of sagebrush land into one of the finest apple orchards in the United States, and his work in this connection has done much to further the horticultural development of the section of the state in which he resides. Dr. Avey is the president of the Payette Valley Land and Orchard Company and is the owner of some attractive property in and about the city of Payette. On the 6th of July, 1886, Dr. Avey was married to Miss Lorie Pomeroy, a daughter of Stephen and Elizabeth Pomeroy, of Oskaloosa, Iowa. They have reared an adopted daughter, Irene, upon whom they have lavished all the affection and care that would, have been given to children of their own. She was married in April, 1919, to Clarence Coats, and they are now residing on a ranch in Big Willow, thirteen miles from Payette. Dr. Avey is well known in Masonic circles. He belongs to Washoe Lodge, Xo. 28, A. F. & A. M.; Payette Chapter, No. 8, R. A. M.; Weiser Commandery, K. T.; and Elkorah Temple, A. A. O N. M. S., of Boise. For nine years he has served as president of the school board of Payette and the cause of education has ever found in him a stalwart champion. He is a member of the Payette Commercial Club and is in hearty sympathy with that organization in its efforts to promote the progress and upbuilding of the city and surrounding country and uphold its civic standards and ideals. His life has been one of great usefulness to the community in which he has cast his lot and for seventeen years his labors have constituted a valuable contribution to its professional and business activity. Additional Comments: Extracted from: IDAHO DELUXE SUPPLEMENT CHICAGO THE S. J. CLARKE PUBLISHING COMPANY 1920 Photo: http://www.usgwarchives.net/id/payette/photos/bios/avey93nbs.jpg File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/id/payette/bios/avey93nbs.txt This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.net/idfiles/ File size: 6.9 Kb