Newaygo County MI Archives Biographies.....Avary, Henry April 10, 1839 - 
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File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by:
Jan Cortez http://www.genrecords.net/emailregistry/vols/00020.html#0004939 March 15, 2009, 10:57 pm

Author: 1884 Portrait & Bio Album of Newaygo Co.

HENRY AVARY, farmer, section 20, Ashland Township, was born in Wayne Co., 
Penn., April 10, 1839.  His 

parents, Lewis and Nancy (Avary) Avary, were natives of Pennsylvania, born 
respectively of French and 

English parentage.  He was orphaned when five years old, and soon afterward 
was taken to bring up by a man 

named Horace W. Gager, of Lebanon Township, with whom he remained, operating 
as a farmer's assistant, 

until he was 17 years old; then, determined to do something for himself, he 
went to Sullivan N.Y., and 

learned the trade of painter from his uncle, Isaac Newton.  In the summer of 
1859 he located at Carbondale 

Co., Pa., and there pursued his profession.  In the autumn of 1860 he went to 
Lisbon, Ottawa Co., Mich., 

where he applied himself with energy to the work of acquiring an education.  
He studied a year and June 9, 

1861, enlisted in Co. H, First Mich, Inf.  His command was assigned to the 
Army of the Potomac, where he 

was a participant in 16 active engagements and ten unimportant skirmishes.  He 
was in action in the Seven 

Days' Battles before Richmond, at Fredericksburg, Chancellorville, Gettysburg, 
Culpepper and the battles 

of the Wilderness.  He was captured at Malvern Hill and held prisoner of war, 
two months and seven days, 

in the pnes at Libby.  He was wounded twice in the Wilderness, receiving two 
bullets in his left arm.  A 

minie ball passed entirely through the arm and at almost the same instant a 
bursting shell hurled a 

fragment firectly on the elbow joint, shatteirng it completely.  He refused 
inflexibly to have it 

amputated, and now has a stiff arm.  In July, 1864, he was promoted to the 
rank of Sergeant, which he held 

until his discharge May 13, 1865, his service having continued nearly four 
years.  On returning to 

Michigan he lingered some time in Washtenaw and Ingham Counties, going thence 
to Bluffton, Muskegon Co., 

and engaged as an assistant in the lumber mills of Wilcox & Co.  He remained 
until November 1873, when he 

came to Newaygo County and purchased 80 acres of land in Ashland Township.  He 
disposed of a portion of 

his first purchase and added another tract 40 acres in extent, making a 
convenient farm of 95 acres, which 

he has placed under good improvements with commodious and suitable farm 
buildings.

Mr. Avary was married in November, 1864, to Esther Wykoff, who was born in 
Washtenaw Co., Mich., in 1842, 

and died in Muskegon County, in August, 1870.  Mr. Avary contracted marriage a 
second time Feb. 27, 1872, 

with Minnie, daughter of William and Sarah D. (Wegg) Buckett.  The parents 
were natives of England and the 

mother, aged 71 years, resides with her daughter.  Mrs. Avary was born in the 
city of London, Eng., June 

13, 1841, and accompnaied her parents to the United States when eight years of 
age.  They resided for a 

time in New York City, next in New Orleans, La., then they returned to New 
York, where Mrs. Avary obtained 

her education.  Her parents transferred their residence successively to 
Pennsylvania, New York, Wisconsin 

and back again to the Keystone State, making a permanent settlement at last in 
Muskegon Co., Mich., in the 

fall of 1869.  Three children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Avary:  Ella G., 
Nov. 13, 1872; Charles C., 

Jan. 16, 1875; Frank C., Sept. 5, 1876.

Mr. Avary is a decided Republican, and has officiated in most of the positions 
of trust of the township 

government.  He is a member of the Odd Fellows fraternity, Lodge No. 362, at 
Ashland Center, in which body 

he has passed all the chairs, and is now Past Grand.  Mrs. Avary belongs to 
the Daughters of Rebekah in 

the same order.  Both are members of the Patrons of Husbandry, and Mr. Avary 
is present Master of Grange 

No. 545.

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