G. A. AVRILL

AVRILL

Posted By: Jake Tornholm (email)
Date: 4/20/2020 at 13:37:02

G. A. AVRILL was born in Oakland Norfolk county, Canada, May 9, 1838. He is a son of Thomas and Frances (Flewelling) Avrill, the former a native of Connecticut, of English ancestry, and the latter of New York, of Welsh extraction. The youth of our subject was spent on a farm where he did the lighter work which falls to the lot of a farmer’s son, and attended the common school. At the age of fifteen years he was engaged as clerk in a dry-goods and grocery store, and followed this business for seven years. In 1863 he came to Iowa, and January 4, 1864, he enlisted in Company C, Sixteenth Iowa Volunteer Infantry, and went to the defence of the flag of his country. He participated in many battles and sieges; was with Sherman on his march to the sea, back through the Carolinas to Washington, where he took part in the grand review. He was mustered out of the service at Louisville, Kentucky, and was honorably discharged at Davenport, Iowa, July 17, 1865. He then went to DeWitt, Clinton county, Iowa, and engaged in the practice of dentistry, for which profession he had fitted himself previous to entering the army. He remained in this place for five years, after which he practiced in Ottumwa for two years. In 1873 he came to Corning, Adams county, Iowa, and again engaged in the practice of his profession. In connection he has been interested in the sale of agricultural implements; he also owns and conducts a large stock farm three miles from Corning. In his undertakings he has been highly successful, and by his honorable and upright dealings he has won the confidence
and esteem of the entire community.

Dr. Avrill was first married in October, 1866, to Miss Elizabeth Shoemaker, by which union seven children were born, six of whom still survive: Ella F., the wife of "W. E. McGill; Adello, chief clerk in the loan department of the Globe Savings Bank, Chicago; May, Florence, Grace and Frank. Mrs. Avrill departed this life January 27, 1881.
The Doctor was married a second time September 5, 1881, to Mrs. Helen Alexander, a daughter of William and Jane (Jones) Smith, and a native of Steuben county, New York. By her first marriage Mrs. Avrill had three children: John, Jennie and George. Jennie is the wife of John M. Widner, acting president of the First National Bank of Corning; John is engaged in the furniture
business in the same town, and George is a railroad employee. By the last marriage there are two children,—Ida Louise and Wallace S. The Doctor is a member of Eagle Lodge, No. 27, F. & A. M., and has also taken the thirty-second degree in Scottishrite Masonry. He also belongs to the Grand Army of the Republic. Politically he affiliates with the Republican party.