Born: March 14, 1835, Greenville, New Hampshire
Died: March 24, 1906, Biloxi, Mississippi (71 years)
Buried: Springdale Cemetery, Peoria, Illinois
Biography
Gilman Willard Avery was born in Greenville, New Hampshire, March 14, 1835, to Amos and Lydia (Evans) Avery. His father was engaged in the farming business in that country of rocks, where the most earnest effort and economy were necessary to secure a living. When the subject of this sketch was ten years of age his father removed to Jaffrey in the same State.
Mr. Avery was educated in the common schools of his native State and at the Kimball Union Academy, located at Meridan.
After leaving the Academy he taught for a time in Westmoreland, New Hampshire, but at nineteen years of age went to Missouri and taught school at Greenfield and in Greene County during the years 1857 and 1858 subsequently starting a high school at Ebenezer, Missouri, which he conducted successfully for a few years. Having left that employment, he started a general store at Lebanon, Missouri, which was. continued successfully until compelled to leave the State on the breaking out of the Civil War, losing all he had. Mr. Avery then went to Brocton, New York, and taught school for a winter. In August of that year he located at Gridley, Illinois, and engaged in general merchandise, but the following fall came to Peoria, and has ever since remained here.
In 1864 he engaged in business under the firm name of Comstock & Avery, dealing in furniture and house supplies. The business was carried on by the firm until about ten years ago, when it was incorporated under the style of the Comstock-Avery Furniture Company.
Mr. Avery has been in the management of the Peoria store from its inception and has conducted the business with marked success, enlarging it to meet the growing demands of a growing city. He has always had the reputation of being thoroughly honest and reliable. This fact has done as much to increase his trade and intrench him in business as all others combined. He still enjoys the confidence of his fellow citizens and his trade, at the present time, is by no means confined to the limits of the city of Peoria. He has always been public spirited and interested in whatever pertains to the welfare of the city. He was at one time a member of the City Council. He has been for many years an influential member of the Baptist Church, and had much to do with erecting the fine stone edifice now occupied by that denomination.
He was married to Ellen Haywood, of East Jaffrey, New Hampshire, January 18, 1859. She died, April 19, 1890. She was a well educated, domestic woman, devoting herself exclusively to the care of her household and the comfort and happiness of her family – a woman of a gentle, happy, sunny disposition.
Mr. Avery married, for his second wife, Alice J. Sawyer, at Peterboro, New Hampshire. Three children were born of the first marriage, namely: Frank E. Avery, Preston A. Avery and Fred H. Avery. The oldest and youngest still survive. The second son died in 1864.
Mr. Avery, while an active church member and strictly temperate in all his habits, has never been narrow or bigoted.
He is, and always has been, willing to concede to every other man or woman the rights and privileges he claims for himself.
His word has always been regarded as good as his bond.
His reputation for integrity and uprightness has never been questioned, and his business career furnishes a good example to young men about to enter into the active business of life.
– Historical Encyclopedia of Illinois and History of Peoria County, Volume II, 1902 –
