Charles Avery's biography, Westphalia Township, Clinton County, Michigan Copyright © 1999 by Jan Sedore. This copy contributed for use in the MIGenWeb Archives. ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/mi/mifiles.htm ************************************************ PAST AND PRESENT OF CLINTON COUNTY, 1906 CLINTON COUNTY, MICHIGAN Page 284-187 CHARLES L. AVERY Charles L. Avery, who carries on farming operations on section 36, Westphalia township in a profitable, progressive and practical manner, is a native of Lucas county, Iowa, his natal day being June 5, 1854. His parents were Sumner and Harriet (Holbrook) Avery, the former a native of Massachusetts and the latter of Vermont. The father was a farmer by occupation and when thirty years of age left the old Bay state and removed to Lorian county, Ohio, whence in 1852 he went to Iowa. The year 1865 witnessed his arrival in Clinton County, Michigan, and taking up his abode in Eagle township, he there made his home until his death, which occurred in 1898, when he reached the venerable age of eighty-four years. In politics he was a stanch republican and voted for Abraham Lincoln. He was prominent, active and helpful in church work, holding membership in the Free Methodist denomination and he lived an honorable, upright life. His wife still survives him at the age of seventy-eight years. In their family were ten children, of whom the following are still living: F. W., who resides in Eagle township; Jane, the wife of A. F. Williams, of Westphalia township; Charles L., of this review; Aaron, a resident of Lansing, Michigan; Sumner F., an agriculturist of Eagle township; Ada, the wife of Edgar Wilkins, of Eagle township, and Lora, who completes the family. Those who have departed this life are Cedelia, Harriet and Emma. In the district schools Charles L. Avery mastered the branches of learning which equipped him for life's practical and responsible duties, and upon the home farm remained until twenty-one years of age, when, starting out in life on his own account, he returned to Iowa, where he remained for a year and a half. He then came again to Michigan and for seven years worked at the carpenter's trade, after which he turned his attention to farming, locating on his present farm on section 36, Westphalia township, in 1884. Here he has one hundred and sixty acres of land, but he began with only thirty-nine acres. He built a comfortable house in 1901 and a good modern barn, with cement basement, in 1895, and altogether has a well-improved and valuable farm. In 1882 Mr. Avery was married to Miss Ida M. Howe, a daughter of Daniel and Catherine Howe, of New York. They now have six children: Ethel C., Earl D., Bert H., Lena, Hazel and Minerva. When twenty-one years of age, Mr. Avery started out in life on his own account with a capital of only fifty cents and all that he has since acquired has come as the reward of his own labor and diligence. He is ambitious and enterprising, forms his plans readily and is determined in their execution and these commendable traits constitute the basis of his success. He came into possession of land covered with brush and has converted it into a good farm. He is an independent voter and has filled some school offices but is without political aspiration, preferring to give his undivided attention to his business interests, which, capably managed, have brought to him a comfortable competence.