Biographies: Thomas W. AVERY, Eau Claire, Eau Claire Co., WI ==================================================================== USGENWEB NOTICE: In keeping with our policy of providing free information on the Internet, data may be used by non-commercial entities, as long as this message remains on all copied material. These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or for presentation by other persons or organizations. Persons or organizations desiring to use this material for purposes other than stated above must obtain the written consent of the file contributor, or the legal representative of the contributor, and contact the listed USGenWeb archivist with proof of this consent. The submitter has given permission to the USGenWeb Archives to store the file permanently for free access. This file was contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by: Nance Sampson 29 November 1999 ==================================================================== Thomas W. Avery, one of the early settlers of Eau Claire county, is a native of Allegany county, New York, where he was born May 19, 1840. When 17 years of age, in 1857, he came to Eau Claire with an elder brother, and shortly after his arrival here commenced farming operations with his brother-in-law, Peter Truax, who had preceded him to this county some two years. After about 25 years of successful general farming Mr. Avery moved into the city of Eau Claire and engaged in the selling of farm implements, a business he conducted for seven years, when he sold out and opened a music store, in which he handled all kinds of musical instruments. For fifteen years he continued in this profitable business, then disposing of his stock, he retired. Mr. Avery is one of Eau Claire's progressive and public spirited men, and any public enterprise which is for the betterment of the community generally receives his hearty support. His father, Benjamin Avery, was also a resident of Eau Claire county, having come here from the state of New York in 1858. Mr. Avery has four sisters living: Mrs. Peter Truax, Mrs. J. B. Champion and Mrs. Sara A. McLean, and Mary Avery, who makes her home with Mrs. Peter Truax. On July 17, 1873, Mr. Avery married Susan E. Grigsby, a most estimable lady of Eau Claire. --Taken from "The History of Eau Claire County, 1914, Past & Present", page 640.