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				DR. JOHN AVERY, M.D. 
			      MRS. JANE (EWELL) AVERY

	John Avery was born in Watertown, N.Y., Feb. 29, 1824.  He is the eldest son of John and 
Susan (Mitchell) Avery.  His father served in the war of 1812.  Mr. Avery attended the district 
school in Chautauqua Co, N.Y., and Clinton Co., Mich.  He also studied a part of two years  at 
the academy at Grass Lake, which was conducted by Rev. Hiram Elmer.  He attended or taught school 
in the winter and worked on his father's farm in summer, until he reached the age of twenty-one.
In 1847 he began the study of medicine with Dr. Whaley, of Grass Lake, and in 1848 went to 
Duplain, continuing studies for several months with Dr. Watson. He then went to Cleveland, Ohio, 
where he attended lectures at the medical college, graduating in 1849 with the degree of Doctor 
of Medicine.  Removing to Owosso, Mich., Dr. Avery entered into a partnership with Dr. J.B. 
Barnes, a physician there, and commenced the practice of his profession.
	In the spring of 1854 he removed to Ionia, where he practiced with Dr. D.W. Bliss.  At 
the expiration of his engagement with Dr. Bliss he removed to Otisco, and continued the practice 
of his profession until 1862.  He was then appointed assistant surgeon to the Twenty-first 
Michigan Infantry, and in the following year was promoted to the rank of surgeon.  He remained
in the army until the close of the war; was present at the battles of Perryville, Stone River, 
Lookout Mountain, Chickamauga, and Bentonville, and was with Gen. Sherman on his march to the 
sea.  During the last year of the war he acted as brigade surgeon, and with his regiment was 
mustered out of service at Detroit in June, 1865.  Returning to his home in Otisco, Dr. Avery 
resumed the duties of a practicing physician, and remained there two years.  In January, 1867, 
he removed to Greenville, making that a permanent place of residence.  His knowledge as a 
physician and his skill as a surgeon were so highly appreciated that he was called upon to 
practice in all that section of the State.  In 1872 he erected a handsome brick store, renting 
the building for a drug-store, and in 1875, having decided to retire from active practice, he 
purchased the stock and engaged in the drug business, in which he continues, practicing 
occasionally.  As a practitioner, Dr. Avery was eminently succ!
essful.  While in Otisco, he was intimately identified with the township and county interests.  
He was supervisor of Otisco township, and has been connected with the city government of 
Greenville as an alderman and member of the school board.  In 1868 he was elected to the State 
Legislature as the Montcalm County representative. During his term of service he introduced and 
advocated the resolution admitting women to the State university.  Dr. Avery is president of the 
Northern Medical Association.  He has belonged to the Masonic fraternity since 1853.  He is a 
member of the Episcopal Church and senior warden of the church at Greenville. In May, 1852, he 
married Jane H. Ewell, daughter of Samuel Ewell, of Romeo, Mich. They have two sons and two 
daughters.  The eldest son, Frank P., graduated at West Point, June 1878; is now lieutenant in 
the regular army.  Dr. Avery for many years has had an extensive surgical practice.  His skill 
in this branch of his profession is of the highest order. He has twice successfully performed 
the difficult operation of ovariotomy, and twice successfully ligated the common carotid artery, 
besides performing many other extremely rare surgical operations.



This biography is taken from "HISTORY OF IONIA AND MONTCALM COUNTIES, MICHIGAN" 
by John S. Schenck. Philadelphia:  D. W. Ensign & Co., 1881.  Pages 393. City of Greenville.