By Muriel Bristol | November 26, 2023
John William Avery was born in Wolfeboro, NH, August 16, 1869, son of Brackett F. and Susan (Varney) Avery. (Brackett F. Avery had served in the 1st NH Heavy Artillery Regiment during the Civil War).
Father Brackett F. Avery moved from Wolfeboro, NH, to Milton, circa 1877-78.
Brackett F. Avery, a farmer, aged fifty-one years (b. NH), headed a Milton [“Milton 3 Ponds”] household at the time of the Tenth (1880) Federal Census. His household included his wife, Susan V. [(Varney)] Avery, keeping house, aged fifty-five years (b. NH), and his children, Harry L. Avery, at school, aged sixteen years (b. NH), Sally C. Avery, at school, aged thirteen years (b. NH), and John W. Avery, at school, aged ten years (b. NH). Their household appeared in the enumeration between those of George M. Corson, a farmer, aged thirty-eight years (b. ME), and William H. Ricker, a farmer, aged twenty-eight years (b. NH).
John W. Avery married in Rochester, NH, June 23, 1889, Emma B. Getchell, both of Milton. He was a shoemaker, aged nineteen years, and she was a shoe-shop worker, aged twenty-two years. Rev. J. Burnham Davis performed the ceremony. She was born in Maine, August 25, 1866, daughter of Edward F. and Cynthia W. (Shaw) Getchell. (Her father, who had been a Captain in the 2nd ME Infantry Regiment during the Civil War, had died in Vassalboro, ME, February 27, 1869).
John W. Avery was one of the founding officers (vice president) of the Milton lodge of the United Endowment League, when it was founded in January 1890.
MILTON. Teneriffe Lodge, No. 5, United Endowment League, was successfully launched on its career Tuesday evening, January 14, by Supreme Organizer, Benjamin Holt of Lowell, Mass., and an efficient corps of assistants. The following list of officers was publicly installed for the term ending Dec. 31: President, Henry R. Johnson; vice president, John W. Avery; counsellor, A.C. Willey; secretary, Irving W. Tuttle; financial secretary, Harry L. Avery; treasurer, Hattie L. Pinkham; chaplain, Rev. G. Frank Durgin; guide, F.P. Jones; sentinel, Charles D. Jones, M.D.; medical examiner, Charles D. Jones, M.D.; guard, Hazen Plummer; trustees, Charles E. Lord, J.D. Willey, S.M. Bragden. This new comer among the fraternal orders of Milton has our best wishes (Farmington News, January 31, 1890).
United Endowment League. Eureka of Lowell initiated several candidates Friday evening, and entertained its membership by a literary and musical programme. At the last meeting of Teneriffe of Milton, N.H., President Henry R. Johnson tendered his resignation and John W. Avery was elected to fill the vacancy. One member was admitted. Dorchester of Dorchester held its meeting on Thursday evening, and at the “good of the order” it was decided that at the next meeting an entertainment and collation will be given (Boston Globe, May 11, 1890).
(The United Endowment League was “one of a number of short-term endowment benefit fraternals that were popular in the 1880s and 1890s and then went bankrupt”). The United Endowment League did not appear in the Farmington News after 1891.
Both John W. Avery and his wife, Emma B. [(Getchell)] Avery, were installed as officers of the International Organization of Good Templars (I.O.G.T.) fraternal organization in February 1892. (The I.O.G.T. was a temperance-oriented fraternal organization).
MILTON. The officers of the I.O.G.T. were installed Feb. 4 as follows: C.T., Fred W. Drew; V.T., Mrs. Emma B. Avery; secretary, Roscoe H. Shaw; treasurer, Roscoe C. Nutter; marshal, J.G. O’Laughlin; D.M., Allie May Hodgdon; guard, Carrie Nutter; sentinel, Ed Jordan; assistant secretary, Addie Knight; chaplain, Rev. John Manter; P.C.T., John W. Avery (Farmington News, February 19, 1892).
Mother Susan (Varney) Avery died of cardiac dropsy in Milton, January 2, 1895, aged seventy years, one month, and twenty-five days. She was a housekeeper. W.F. Wallace, M.D., signed the death certificate.
John Avery, a shoe cutter, aged thirty years (b. NH), headed a Milton household at the time of the Twelfth (1900) Federal Census. His household included his wife (of eleven years), Emily B. [(Getchell)] Avery, aged thirty-two years (b. ME), his ward, Gertrude Getchel, at school, aged twelve years (b. ME), and his boarder, Edna Calkins, at school, aged eighteen years (b. ME). John Avery owned their house, free-and-clear. Their household appeared in the enumeration between those of Daniel W. Beede, a miller, aged fifty years (b. NH), and Mary French, a housekeeper, aged seventy years (b. ME).
MILTON. Mrs. [Cynthia W. (Shaw)] Getchell of Sanford, Me., is the guest of her daughter, Mrs. John W. Avery (Farmington News, April 22, 1904).
Father Brackett F. Avery unveiled the Milton soldiers’ monument in November 1908.
MILTON. The soldiers monument was dedicated last Saturday at 2 p.m. The monument was unveiled by Mr. Brackett Avery, the oldest member of the post, No. 86, and Dorris B. Randell, the great-granddaughter of George I. Jordan, the treasurer of the monument fund and to whom the origin of the fund is due. The monument was dedicated and presented to the town by Commander George C.S. Wentworth and the speech of acceptance was made by Selectman C.A. Jones. After the exercises of dedication an oration was made in the Baptist church by Rev. L.H. Buffum (Sanford Journal-Tribune (Biddeford, ME), November 20, 1908).
John Avery, a shoe shop foreman, aged forty years (b. NH), headed a Milton (“Milton 3 Ponds”) household at the time of the Thirteenth (1910) Federal Census. His household included his wife, Emma B. [(Getchell)] Avery, aged forty-two years (b. ME), and his niece, Gertrude Gillshell [Getchell], a teacher of music, aged twenty-two years (b. ME). John Avery owned their house, free-and-clear. Their household appeared in the enumeration between those of Ruth Nutter, aged seventy-nine years (b. NH), and [his elder brother,] Harry L. Avery, a fancy goods salesman, aged forty-six years (b. NH).
Mother-in-law Cynthia W. (Shaw) Getchell died of apoplexy in Alfred, ME, December 15, 1910, aged seventy years, eight months, and fifteen days.
OBITUARY. Mrs. Cynthia Getchell, Alfred. Mrs. Cynthia W. Getchell, mother of Mrs. Charles O. Emery, died in Sheriff Emery’s apartments in the jail at Alfred the 15th from the effects of a series of paralytic shocks, at the age of 70 years. Mrs. Getchell leaves one son, Willliam B. Getchell of Sanford, and two daughters, Mrs. Charles O. Emery with whom she made her home, and Mrs. John W. Avery of Milton. She is also survived by two brothers, Charles W. Shaw and Chester H. Shaw both of Winthrop, two sisters, Mrs. William H. Longdon of Putnam, Conn., and Mrs. Charles Huard of Stoneham, Mass., and three grandsons, Linwood J. Emery and Paul S. Emery, sons of Sheriff Emery, and Miss Gertrude M. Getchell, daughter of William B. Getchell (Lewiston Sun-Journal (Lewiston, ME), December 19, 1910).
Milton sent John W. Avery to Concord, NH, as its NH State Representative, for the 1911-12 biennium. He resided at 37 South State Street in Concord, NH, during the biennium, his House seat was 03-13, and he was assigned to the Committee on the Industrial School. (There was also another Avery representative, Rep. Oscar J. Avery (1866-1945) of Effingham, NH).
MILTON. John W. Avery, democrat, was elected representative to the general court (Sanford Journal-Tribune (Biddeford, ME), November 18, 1910).
Rep. Avery of Milton filed House Bill 182, “an act to incorporate the Nute Charitable Association,” which was assigned to the Committee on Incorporations in January 1911. (See Last Will of Lewis W. Nute (1820-1888)).
Section 1. That Everet F. Fox, Charles A. Jones, M.A.H. Hart, Harry L. Avery, Bard B. Plummer, Joseph H. Avery, Walter E. Looney, Charles D. Fox, Moses G. Chamberlain, and their successors, are hereby made a body corporate by the name of the Nute Charitable Association and shall have and enjoy all the powers and privileges and be subject to all the liabilities incident to corporations of a similar nature and by that name may sue and be sued. Harry L. Avery or Charles A. Jones may call the first meeting of said association by letter mailed to each member of said association at least seven days prior to the date set for said first meeting.
On Wednesday, March 29, 1911, HB-48, which was “an act creating a board of improvements and conservation and defining its duties,” failed in a division vote, i.e., a count of hands. Republican Rep. Rufus N. Elwell (1863-1919) of Exeter, NH, demanded a roll call vote. Rep. Avery of Milton voted with the majority of 167 representatives [51.7%] that voted against the bill, rather than with the 156 representatives [48.3%] that voted in favor of it.
In April 1911, the House took up a joint resolution making an appropriation for State House improvements. It had been passed by both chambers formerly, but then vetoed by Republican Governor Robert P. Bass (1873-1960), and an override was sought. Rep. Avery of Milton voted with the majority of 245 representatives [91.1%] that voted against the override, rather than with the minority of 24 representatives [8.9%] that voted in favor of the override.
The House also voted on another joint resolution (No. 118) that had been vetoed by Governor Bass. The joint resolution had sought to appropriate money for the NH College of Agriculture and the Mechanic Arts. Rep. Avery of Milton voted with the majority of 164 representatives [56.7%] that voted against the override, rather than with the minority of 125 representatives [43.3%] that voted in favor of the override.
Father Brackett F. Avery died of valvular disease in Milton, May 30, 1911, aged eighty-two years, ten months, and seven days. He had resided in Milton for thirty-three years, i.e., since circa 1877-78. He was widowed farmer. James J. Buckley, M.D., signed the death certificate. (The death certificate was recorded in the Milton town records by his eldest son, Milton Town Clerk Harry L. Avery).
John W. Avery appeared in the Milton business directory of 1917, as recording secretary of the Milton A.O.U.W. (Ancient Order of United Workmen). (See Milton’s A.O.U.W. Hall – 1890-1925).
John W. Avery, a shoe cutter (shoe shop), aged forty-nine years (b. NH), headed a Milton household at the time of the Fourteenth (1920) Federal Census. His household included his wife, Emma B. [(Getchell)] Avery, aged fifty-two years (b. ME), and his boarder, Stella Jellerson, a leatherboard finisher, aged forty-nine years (b. NH). John W. Avery owned their house on Charles Street in Milton Village, free-and clear. Their household appeared in the enumeration between those of [his elder brother,] Harry L. Avery, an owner, aged fifty-five years (b. NH), and Edward J. Witham, a leatherboard laborer, aged thirty-six years (b. ME).
John W. Avery, a shoe cutter (shoe shop), aged sixty years, headed a Milton household at the time of the Fifteenth (1930) Federal Census. His household included his wife (of thirty-five years), Emma B. [(Getchell)] Avery, aged sixty-three years (b. ME). John W. Avery owned their house on Charles Street, which was valued at $1,000. They had a radio set. They shared their two-family house with the household of [his nephew] Theron W. Avery, a fibre-mill foreman, aged thirty-four years (b. NH). Their household appeared in the enumeration between those of [his elder brother,] Harry L. Avery, a retail merchant (dry goods), aged sixty-six years (b. NH), and Edward Benton, a fibre-board mechanic, aged twenty-six years (b. NH).
John W. Avery died of broncho-pneumonia on Charles Street in Milton, March 5, 1936, aged sixty-six years, six months, and eighteen days. He was a shoemaker, and resident of Milton for sixty years, i.e., since circa 1875-76. M.A.H. Hart, M.D., signed the death certificate.
Emma B. [(Getchell)] Avery, aged seventy-three years (b. ME), headed a Milton household at the time of the Sixteenth (1940) Federal Census. Emma B. Avery owned her house on Charles Street, which was valued at $1,000. Her household appeared in the enumeration between those of [her nephew,] Theron W. Avery, a counter foreman (leather-board mill), aged forty-four years (b. NH), and [her niece,] Louise P. Avery, aged thirty-nine years (b. NH).
Emma B. (Getchell) Avery died of coronary thrombosis in Milton, June 3, 1949, aged eighty-two years. She was a widowed housekeeper. She had resided in Milton for sixty years, i.e., since her marriage in 1889. Paul Sharkey, M.D., signed the death certificate.
References:
Find a Grave. (2020, August 18). Brackett F. Avery. Retrieved from www.findagrave.com/memorial/214558859/brackett-f-avery
Find a Grave. (2020, August 18). John W. Avery. Retrieved from www.findagrave.com/memorial/214558616/john-w-avery
Find a Grave. (2013, March 11). Cynthia W. Getchell. Retrieved from www.findagrave.com/memorial/106544302/cynthia-w-getchell
NH General Court. (1911). Journal of the House of Representatives of the State of New-Hampshire. Retrieved from books.google.com/books?id=kfNBAQAAMAAJ&pg=RA1-PA6
Wikipedia. (2023, May 3). International Organisation of Good Templars. Retrieved from en.wikipedia.org/wiki/International_Organisation_of_Good_Templars
Milton Observer 