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         W. D. AVERY, a retired farmer, residing near Columbus City, was born March 28, 1833, in Windham, Conn., of which State his parents, W. R. and Rhoda E. Avery, were also natives. They were descended from old English families, and were the parents of five children. In 1856 our subject first came to Iowa, locating in Johnson County, where he was one of the first settlers on the prairie. He there purchased eighty acres of . . .

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. . . wild, unbroken land, which he greatly improved, but afterward sold, purchasing the Lone Tree Farm of eighty acres. Continuing its cultivation for several years, he then sold out and returned to the East, locating in Cortland County, N. Y., where he made his home for a year and a half. Returning to Johnson County in 1866, he bought land in the neighborhood of his former home, residing there three years, when he settled in Louisa County, where for thirteen years he was a farmer near the village of Toolsboro, in Wapello Township.

In the month of April, 1872, Mr. Avery was united in marriage with Mary Ann Erwin, of Toolsboro, Iowa, a daughter of E. Erwin, of Louisa County, who was one of the earliest settlers of Jefferson Township. Their children are: William, who died at the age of two and one-half years, and Minnie, who is at home. Mr. Avery and his wife are members of the Baptist Church, in which he has held various offices, while politically, he is a supporter of the Republican party, though not an active politician. His whole life was spent as a farmer and stock-raiser, in which he was quite successful, until quite recently, when he retired from active business, and removed to his home, which is pleasantly situated near Columbus City.