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REV. EUGENE H. AVERY was born at Sherburne, Chenango Co., N. Y., May 15, 1837. He is the son of Sidney and Mary (Dicky) Avery. His father was a native of Connecticut and his mother of New York. The family moved to Illinois when he was but a lad of seven years, and his youth was passed in the Prairie State. He graduated at Beloit College, Wisconsin, in 1858, and after teaching for a year in a classical school at Galena, Ill., pursued his theological course at Union Seminary, New York. He spent one year in European travel, after which he was ordained in April, 1863, and after preaching for one year at Roscoe, he became pastor of the Presbyterian Church at Warren, Ill., where he remained for nearly six years, then removed to this State. In 1870 he entered upon his labors in Sioux City, which was then rapidly building up, being a gateway to the great regions of the far West. He proved to be just the man for that important field, doing a most valuable and successful work for nearly twelve years. He was reluctantly released by his congregation and presbytery to accept a call to the church of Vinton, now perhaps the largest in the State. Here, under his ministry, have been added 125 new members. He is the President of the Board of Trustees of Coe College at Cedar Rapids.
Rev. Avery was married, Nov. 20, 1862, to Helen M., daughter of Jonathan and Elizabeth Nichols. By this union there have been born three children, only one of whom is living — Jennie. Mr. Avery has been a hard worker in the field of the Lord, and has been instrumental in bringing hundreds of souls to the love of Christ. Mr. Avery's parents are now residing at Belvidere, Ill.
Source Citation: "1887 Benton County, Iowa Biographies" [database online] Benton County IAGenWeb Project. <http://iagenweb.org/benton/>
Original data: "Portrait and Biographical Album of Benton County, Iowa." Chicago: Chapman Brothers, 1887, p. 311.
Transcribed by: Sue Soden. Submitted to the Benton County IAGenWeb Project on February 12th, 2009. Copyright © 2009 The IAGenWeb Project.
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