Autobiography of Earl Avery, Westphailia Township, Clinton County, Michigan Copyright © 1998 by Bob Lyon. This copy contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives. ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/mi/mifiles.htm ************************************************ It was written by my Great Grandmother Lyon's brother Earl in the spring of 1974 when he was about 93 years old. I don't know when or what age he died. Bob Lyon, 11/21/1998 ************************************************************************** "There are a few things I want to relate in regards to my life. I was born Earl Daniel Avery, August 10, 1885 in Westphalia Township, Clinton County, Michigan at home on Pioneer Road. I was the second child of Charles Luther and Ida May Howe Avery. Ethol was my older brother, then myself, Bert, Lena, Hazel and Minerva. Our father was born in Lucas County, Iowa, June 5, 1854. My grandfather Avery, Charles Sumner Avery, was born in Massachusetts, August 23, 1813. My grandmother Avery, Harriet M. Holbrook, was born in New Hampshire, July 20, 1827. They met in Ohio and were married in April 1845. In 1852 they moved to Iowa. In 1865 the family decided to go back east and came with covered wagons, arriving near Eagle, April 28, just one month after leaving Iowa. In 1882 my Dad married Ida M. Howe daughter of Daniel and Catherine Howe of New York. Mother was born December 13, 1865. Dad died in 1935 and mother in 1956. My father was a great reader and was quite a learned man. He read and studied the Bible. He could quote much scripture. He also studied history. He enjoyed talking and could argue and debate different issues. I attended the Sandord School for the most of my elementary education. Some of my schoolmates were the Bucklin boys, Mabel, Myron, Alpha and Alberta Brace, also Mabel, Merle, Bill and Esther Ingler. One year I stayed with my grandfather and grandmother Eddy and went to the North Eagle School. I went to Wacousta High School, then attended Clinton County Normal in St. Johns. My roommate and a good friend there was King Lee. I taught at the Sanford School. I finished out the year there for Merle Mahar who became ill and unable to teach. Theodore Townsend, Clinton County School Commissioner asked me to finish the year for her. I lived with the Frank Brokaw family. The pay was poor, about $35 a month, so I decided to farm with my father. Previous to my Dad's farming, he worked at carpenter work. He lived and did carpenter work in Portland. Ethol was born there. In 1884 they moved to Westphalia Township, Pioneer Road. Dad built their new barn in 1895 and new house in 1901. When I was about 12 years old I stayed with Grandpa and Grandma Eddy and went to the North Eagle School. Grandma Eddy was my mother's mother. Some of my schoolmates were Ira and Lee Howe, Bertha Briggs, Henry, Mary Perry and Alfred Avery. At Halloween time that year there was a tragic happening across the road at John Strong's. A group of boys went to Strong's farm to do some deviltry. John heard them and went with his gun and shot toward the group. He shot and killed one of them, Billy Eddy. I remember what John Gruber said when he was asked what he did. John said "I ran." In about 1906 Ethol, Jim Hayes and myself decided to go up north and work for Sib Hazen. He had bought some land in upper Michigan that had lots of timber. We took a train to Soo Junction, then went on to Sib's place. He put us to sawing logs. Hulbert Lake was nearby. We watched deer swim across the lake. Often they would herd up in the cedar swamps. We had plenty of venison to eat. Sometimes when the snow got so deep we wore snowshoes. We stayed a few months and worked with the timber. The scenery around there was beautiful! I decided to go out west in 1908. Ed Tillitson and I went by train to North Dakota. Ed didn't want to go further. He got cold feet and came home. I stayed and worked there. I looked Claude Lyon up. They called him "Abe" because he was tall and slim. Claude was out there working as a separator man. There was lots of threshing to be done as much grain was raised. I got a job threshing and stayed in North Dakota during the harvest season. I remember the owner's name of the ranch that I worked on was Olson, a Swede. There were lots of hired hands there. The cook there was a very nice lady from Virginia who had a broqe of her own, not really a southern drawl. When she called us to dinner she called, "come to dinna". North Dakota was a prohabition state and if the fellows wanted liquor they had to go across the line to Minnesota. I then went on to Sioux Falls, South Dakota and worked in a stone quarry. The stone men hammered the stone about the size of cement blocks then they were shipped to Chicago for paving. From there I went to Omaha, Nebraska. I visited the corn palace. I heard William Jennings Bryan speak. He was a great orator. He ran for President twice and was defeated both times. McKinley won over Bryan. I left Omaha, Nebraska and started west again. I was on the train when I heard about Jack Johnson, a black man, defeating Tommy Burns in a championship fight. About that same time there were plenty of fighters, Jim Jeffries and Bob Fitzsimmons. Fitzsimmons came from Australia. I went on west and looked up Merele Doty, an old friend and neighbor. He was farming in California. I went to San Francisco and saw the remnants of the 1906 earthquake among many other things. I worked in the oil fields near Baker's Field. I worked on the wood derricks there for two years. We built them eighty-two feet high, twenty feet square on the bottom and five feet on top. The axle for the bull-wheel came from Japan. There was no hardwood in California. Some of us fellows went by ship to Seattle, Washington to the Alaskan Yukon Pacific Exhibition. We call them world's fairs now. We then went on to Canada for a short time. We visited Vancouver and British Columbia. We decided to go back to California. While I was in San Francisco's Golden Gate Park I was robbed! They took about all the money I had. I wrote to my friend, Merele Doty, and he sent me so money. I worked in the oil fields again and soon paid him back. Doty farmed on Tehatchpe Hill. Many nice people were friends of mine while out west. Andrew Banta from Indiana worked with me. He was a very nice guy and a good musician. We always slept outdoors on the ground. We saw Haleys Comet in 1910, a very unusual sight. It looked like a star with a tail. We also saw a gas well on fire. We went to Death Valley, far below sea level. Nothing much there but horn toads and rattlesnakes at that time. While out west I worked on building one of the new railroads. The Atchison, Topeka and the Sante Fe and Union Pacific were already built. They needed another railroad in the western part of the country. Everyone was anxious to ride on the new railroad. After quite a stay in California I decided to go back to Michigan. In 1912 Ethol and I bought the farm on what is now called Wright Road and where I now reside. We bought the place from Matt Schneider. Aunt Hale (Grandma Eddy's sister) from New York came to keep house for Ethol and me. She was a cripple and went around in a wheel chair. She lived with us until I was married. I married Merle M. Ingler, daughter of John and Minnie Morris Ingler, June 6, 1918. Merle's birth date is June 13, 1892. Soon after we were married Ethol bought the farm just south of us from Joe Martin of Westphalia. We worked the fields with horses, milked the cows by hand and raised pigs. Our crops were mostly corn, beans, wheat and oats. When we got our first tractor, it seemed great! In 1920 there was a bad tornado through this part of the country. I was working in the field with my 8-16 tractor. I saw the bad black clouds roaring. I thought I'd never make it to the barn. Hurrying down the lane I saw barn doors blow off and lumber and debris flying through the air. We got back safely! A family by the name of Horman over in Riley Township was hit about the hardest. Mrs. Horman's mother was sick in bed when the house was demolished. The wind picked her up mattress and all and blew her some distance before setting her down in a field. She died shortly afterwards. Our son Charles John Avery was born March 6, 1919. Cheryl Minerva Avery Maier was born October 30, 1921. Elgeva Joyce Avery Pingel was born July 30, 1933. They were all born here at home. Merle Liked to have many of the Sanford School teachers board and roo with us. We were handy to the school and it gave her some extra money. Some of the teachers who made their home with us were: Lula Avery (no relation), Beryl Cornell, Anna McNerney, Mayo Jones, Viola Georgia, Isabelle Cook and Harriet Balmer. Viola was with us four years. We always kept in touch with them all and enjoyed their friendship. Cheryl taught the Sanford School for three years and lived at home. Merle and I were always interested in the school. I was director of the Sanford School for many years. After I was director Meryl was the treasurer for several years. Sometime in the early 1920's we bought the 80 acres across the road. We bought it from George Piefer. We needed the house for a hired man. Roll and Gertie Tillitson and family first lived there. He worked for me for eight years. Other hired men that lived there with their families wee Clarence Plowman and Edd Kempf. John Beachman and Albert Rossaw, single men, worked here before Tillitson. Clifford Brown lived with us and worked here about seven or eight years. Arthur Hoerner and A.J. Thelen also worked for us. In 1929 the depression hit and times were bad! Banks closed, nothing was right! We sold hogs for three or four cents a pound. It was real rough going for everyone. Many lost their homes and farms. Welfare lines were long. We always had enough to eat, but many people didn't. Luckily President Franklin D. Roosevelt helped save some of us who were heavily in debt. He canceled the interest on our farm debt that we had through the Federal Land bank. One day just before the bank closed I went to the Grand Ledge Bank to borrow $20 to buy a boar pig. They wouldn't loan it to me. I went down the street and saw Ed Summers from the Wacousta area. He loaned me the $20. He knew I'd pay it back when I could. I worked for awhile during the 1930's for the State Farm Insurance Company, but farming kept me so busy that I couldn't go into it too heavy. Many years later I worked for the Farm Bureau Insurance company. I have belonged to the Farm Bureau for over 50 years. I always have thought it was a good farm organization. Merle and I entertained first community Farm Bureau group in this part of the country. Charles Openlander organized it. That was about 1940. Charles Openlander and I worked together in harmony in farm bureau work including insurance work for some time. He was a good friend of mine. He did much good work in the field of agriculture. Conditions gradually got better on the farm. We remodeled the old house in 1938. All the family was happy to have a modern house with electricity and many modern conveniences. I know Merle was especially happy about it. While the house was being remodeled we lived in the tenant house. While there Merle, Charles and Cheryl had the Mumps. Charles was extremely ill with them. After Charles graduated from high school in 1937 we had a farm partnership. He and Phyllis Blough were married May 11, 1941. They had five children, Diane, Charlene, Gerald, Karen and John Earl. In December 1945 Merle and I joined a group of Farm Bureau people and went by train to the National Farm Bureau convention in California. On the way there and in California we had many interesting side tours which all made for a most fun and educational time. It was a beautiful sight going through the mountains, especially going through the Royal Gorge and the Grand Canyon. The news butcher was on the train selling cigarettes, candy, papers, etc. We met many new friends. One of the couples we enjoyed being with was Mr. and Mrs. William Hazenbank from Freesoil, Michigan, Mason County. We called on them the next summer and they came to see us. They owned and operated a fox farm. It was a big operation. They slaughtered old and crippled horses and fed the meat to the fox. When we were ready to leave California they wondered which route we were taking back home. I wanted the shortest route because I wasn't feeling just right and I thought I was going to be sick. Soon after we got back from California I had a bout with pneumonia. Doctor Cook gave me penicillin and I got well. Doctor Cook was a good Doctor. He never overcharged anyone. When many doctors were getting $7 or $8 for an office call he got $3 or $4 plus he furnished the medicine. I figure he was a good Christian man. He died while attending Mass in Westphalia. In 1946 we re-built the barn. Charles and I cut the logs from our woods. We had the Johnson Portable Sawmill moved in here and cut the lumber. Frank Bedaine and Loyal McCrumb were the carpenters. Fred Klein laid the cement blocks. A.J. Thelen worked for us at that time. Cheryl married Donald Maier, November 20, 1949. They were married here at home. They have three daughters: Brenda, Sandra and Jeannie. Elgeva married Carroll Pingel, September 15, 1951. They were married in the Wacousta Church. They have six children: Gary Earl, Vicki, Linda, Julie, Larry and David. Charles and I continued to farm. After he bought the farm I helped him all I could. I went to California twice by train and the last time by plane. I went along with Lena and Claude Lyon by plane to attend Doris Lyon Guerin's funeral in the early 1950's. A person who has lived as long as I have has observed many important changes in how people live. When I was young we drove a horse and buggy for our transportation. We took our stock, grain, etc. to town in a wagon. Pretty slow going and cold in the winter. Farming changed and progressed as did other ways of living. Lumber wagons, sleighs, horse and buggies, an old 8-16 tractor, 10-20 tractor, then more modern tractors, hay loaders, work horses, binder, horse drawn plow and other tools, combine, baler, corn picker, trucks. Model-T Ford, Model-A Ford, Plymouth, Judson are just some of the tools and cars we had on the farm at different times. One of the best things that happened was getting electricity! A modern house was enjoyable for Merle and all the family. It helped at the barn and all other buildings. It was good to have a milking machine and so good to have lights in the barn and not depend on lanterns. Another big improvement was when the road was improved in 1929 and then again when it was blacktopped in the 1950's. In the early 1950's I went with a Farm Bureau tour to New York City and Washington D.C. It was a thrill to see the Statue of Liberty. The statue was a gift to the United States from France as a gesture of goodwill. Otto Eckert from Lake Odessa was my companion on this trip. He was a very religious young man. We attended Norman Vincent Peale's Church. He is an outstanding minister. We attended a large outdoor meeting in Washington D.C. Lowell Thomas, well known newsman, traveler, and lecturer was the narrator. We took a tour around the capitol and saw many interesting things that we had read about and were pleased to see such as the Capitol, White House, Washington Monument, Lincoln Memorial, Lincoln Memorial and other places of interest. In 1952 we went with Elgeva and Carroll to New York State. We saw many interesting things and called on some relatives, some of Mother's family. Our family has had many celebrations through the years that we have enjoyed together. Sometimes a Sunday dinner together, a birthday dinner or something else. Merle and I enjoyed entertaining family and friends. We often had large outdoor parties as we had a nice large lawn. In 1947 we had an "air show" in one of our fields. I enjoyed flying over our farm and the neighborhood. Many people took an airplane ride, for some it was their first. Eric Windfuhr, David Morris and others had their planes here. Many times when I wanted to get entertainment for a gathering here at home, church, or some other place I would contact Margaret and Eric Windfuhr or Marion Marshall. They were right on hand to help out. Others who often helped me out were Orel and Charles Boughton and Chum Davison, they were good musicians. Merle and I celebrated our Silver Anniversary in June 1943. The children had a nice open house for us here at our home. Many friends and relatives came. Our Golden Anniversary open house was at our Wacousta Church June 1968. Our children and grandchildren had another nice party for us. We enjoyed seeing so many of our relatives and friends. In 1959 we went with Cheryl, Don and Girls to Upper Michigan enjoyed the Mackinac Bridge, Soo Locks, etc.. Nola and Clifford invited us to drive along with them to Florida sometime in 1962. They took their children and Mabel and Clayton. We had a good trip. We have had many wonderful neighbors through the years! Louis and Cora Rosier and Merle and I enjoyed a nice trip to the Upper Pennisula and Mackinaw Island in about 1926. Our family and theirs have been good friends through the years. The Henry Beachnau and Dale Volk family were such near neighbors for many years. We have been together through many happy occasions and several very sad occasions. They have truly been dear friends. The John Catlin family has always done many kind things for our family. There have been many changes in our neighborhood the last few years. Mr. and Mrs. Cecil Powers have a large dairy business on Ethol's old farm. The Julius Vos family live where Charles and Phyllis did. Charles continued farming until his very tragic death when the barn was burned, August 29, 1963. Phyllis passed away August 2, 1972, a victim of cancer. At this time in the spring of 1974 our family numbers 30. There is much I could tell, but I have told just some of the highlights as I have been thinking back through the years. I have always enjoyed reading and reciting parts of the poem "Let me Live in the house by the side of the road and be a friend to man". My favorite hymns are "Abide by me" and "in the sweet by and by". Following are a couple of quotes by two people that I have admired: "Do not be afraid, always believe"..JC Penney "Practice the magic of believing"..Norman Vincent Peale Now I must say, "Good-Bye and God Bless". Earl Avery dz