Tyler Avery's biography, Ovid Township, Clinton County, Michigan

Copyright © 1999 by Jan Sedore. This copy contributed for use in 
the MIGenWeb Archives.  

 
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PAST AND PRESENT OF CLINTON COUNTY, 1906
CLINTON COUNTY, MICHIGAN
Page 300-305
Photo available: T. C. Avery and Mrs T. C. Avery

TYLER C. AVERY
        Tyler C. Avery, following the occupation of farming on section 5, Ovid
township, is a native of Wyoming county, New York, born February 5, 1833,
his parents being John and Sarah (Cooper) Avery, the former a native of
Connecticut and the latter of New York. In pioneer times in the history of
Michigan the father came west to Clinton County and took up forty acres of
government land in Greenbush Township. He afterward removed to a farm a
mile east and at one time was the owner of three hundred acres of rich and
productive land. He died upon the old farm homestead in 1885, at the age of
eighty-five years, while his wife passed away in 1882, when seventy-seven
years of age. Horace Avery, a brother of John Avery, came to Michigan with
him and also located in Greenbush Township but subsequently sold his
property and removed to Nebraska where his death occurred. In the family of
Mr. and Mrs John Avery were seven children; John, a practicing physician at
Greenville, Michigan; James M., who is now living in Lake county, this
state; Sanford C., who is living on a part of the old homestead farm; Tyler
C, and three who have passed away, Marvin having been killed while serving
in the Union Army as a member of the Third Michigan Cavalry, while Ann is
the deceased wife of Alpheus Chapman, and Laura, the deceased wife of
Leonard Clark.
        Tyler C. Avery was only four years old when brought by his parents to this
state and his education was acquired in one of the old log schoolhouses. He
began working in the timber upon the old home farm and forty-five years ago
he came to his present farm on section 5, Ovid township, taking possession
of eighty acres of wild land, on which he cut the first stick of timber. He
has since cleared all but a few acres and has plowed and planted the fields
and continued the work of improvement until he now has a valuable and
productive farming property.
        When his father came to this county in 1839 Dewitt was the nearest trading
town and on one occasion the family had to go to Ann Arbor for salt. The
first home of the family was a little log structure, the roof being made of
boughs. As the years have gone by Mr. Avery has continued the work of
cultivation and improvement until he now has a valuable farming property.
He relates many interesting incidents of pioneer times that took place
around the old homestead farm in Greenbush Township. Wolves and bears were
numerous in the forests and annoyed the settlers by killing hogs and even
since Mr. Avery has taken up his abode upon his present farm he had four of
his sheep killed by a bear. Great changes have occurred, however, as the
years have gone by and the country has been claimed by the settlers who
have transformed the wild timbered region into fertile farms and attractive
homes.
        On the 11th of December 1855, Mr. Avery was married to Miss Hannah Rowell,
a daughter of Samuel and Sarah (Pearl) Rowell, both of whom were natives of
Springwater, New York. Mrs Avery, having traveled life's journey with her
husband for more than forty-six years, departed this life June 28, 1902, at
the age of sixty-two. In their family were four daughters and a son: Alice,
the wife of John Fizzell, of Duplain township; Emma, deceased; Jennie, the
wife of Grant Cleveland, of Eureka, Michigan; Myrtle, the wife of Lewis
McCullough, of Ashley, Michigan; and Arthur J., of Ovid township.
        Mr. Avery is a republican, having always given his allegiance to that
party, and his first vote cast in Greenbush Township. Both he and his wife
are members of the Christian Church at Colony. He is one of the substantial
pioneers of Clinton County and a highly respected citizen. From boyhood
days he has lived in this part of the state and all who know him entertain
for him warm regard because he has been found reliable in business
transactions, faithful in citizenship and loyal in friendship.