John Avery (politician)
Encyclopedia
John Avery was a physician
and politician
from the U.S. state
of Michigan
.
Avery was born in Watertown, New York and moved with his parents to Michigan in 1836. He attended the common schools and entered Grass Lake Academy in Jackson
, where he studied medicine for two years. He graduated from the Cleveland Medical College in 1850 and commenced the practice of medicine in Ionia, Michigan
. He then moved to Otsego, Michigan
, in 1852 and continued the practice of his profession.
During the American Civil War
, he was assistant surgeon and surgeon
of the Twenty-first Regiment, Michigan Volunteer Infantry
. He served in the Army of the Cumberland
in Kentucky
and Tennessee
and was with General William Tecumseh Sherman
on his March to the Sea
, as well as during the subsequent Carolinas Campaign
.
He settled in Greenville, Michigan
, in 1868 and again engaged in the practice of medicine. He was a member of the Michigan State House of Representatives
in 1869 and 1870. He was appointed a member of the State Board of Health in 1880 and was reappointed in 1886.
Avery was elected as a Republican to the United States House of Representatives
for the Fifty-third and Fifty-fourth Congresses, serving from March 4, 1893 to March 3, 1897. He was not a candidate for renomination in 1896.
After leaving Congress, Avery went back to Greenville and returned to the practice of medicine. He died at the age of eighty-nine is interred at Forest Home Cemetery of Greenville.
Physician
A physician is a health care provider who practices the profession of medicine, which is concerned with promoting, maintaining or restoring human health through the study, diagnosis, and treatment of disease, injury and other physical and mental impairments...
and politician
Politician
A politician, political leader, or political figure is an individual who is involved in influencing public policy and decision making...
from the U.S. state
U.S. state
A U.S. state is any one of the 50 federated states of the United States of America that share sovereignty with the federal government. Because of this shared sovereignty, an American is a citizen both of the federal entity and of his or her state of domicile. Four states use the official title of...
of Michigan
Michigan
Michigan is a U.S. state located in the Great Lakes Region of the United States of America. The name Michigan is the French form of the Ojibwa word mishigamaa, meaning "large water" or "large lake"....
.
Avery was born in Watertown, New York and moved with his parents to Michigan in 1836. He attended the common schools and entered Grass Lake Academy in Jackson
Jackson, Michigan
Jackson is a city located along Interstate 94 in the south central area of the U.S. state of Michigan, about west of Ann Arbor and south of Lansing. It is the county seat of Jackson County. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 33,534...
, where he studied medicine for two years. He graduated from the Cleveland Medical College in 1850 and commenced the practice of medicine in Ionia, Michigan
Ionia, Michigan
Ionia is the largest city in, and the county seat of, Ionia County, Michigan, United States. The population was 11,394 at the 2010 census. Every late July it hosts what may be the world's largest free-admission fair...
. He then moved to Otsego, Michigan
Otsego, Michigan
Otsego is a city in Allegan County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 3,934 at the 2000 census. The city is within Otsego Township, but is administratively autonomous....
, in 1852 and continued the practice of his profession.
During the American Civil War
American Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
, he was assistant surgeon and surgeon
Surgeon
In medicine, a surgeon is a specialist in surgery. Surgery is a broad category of invasive medical treatment that involves the cutting of a body, whether human or animal, for a specific reason such as the removal of diseased tissue or to repair a tear or breakage...
of the Twenty-first Regiment, Michigan Volunteer Infantry
21st Michigan Volunteer Infantry Regiment
The 21st Regiment Michigan Volunteer Infantry was an infantry regiment that served in the Union Army during the American Civil War.-Service:The 21st Michigan Infantry was mustered into Federal service at Ionia, Michigan and Grand Rapids, Michigan on September 9, 1862...
. He served in the Army of the Cumberland
Army of the Cumberland
The Army of the Cumberland was one of the principal Union armies in the Western Theater during the American Civil War. It was originally known as the Army of the Ohio.-History:...
in Kentucky
Kentucky
The Commonwealth of Kentucky is a state located in the East Central United States of America. As classified by the United States Census Bureau, Kentucky is a Southern state, more specifically in the East South Central region. Kentucky is one of four U.S. states constituted as a commonwealth...
and Tennessee
Tennessee
Tennessee is a U.S. state located in the Southeastern United States. It has a population of 6,346,105, making it the nation's 17th-largest state by population, and covers , making it the 36th-largest by total land area...
and was with General William Tecumseh Sherman
William Tecumseh Sherman
William Tecumseh Sherman was an American soldier, businessman, educator and author. He served as a General in the Union Army during the American Civil War , for which he received recognition for his outstanding command of military strategy as well as criticism for the harshness of the "scorched...
on his March to the Sea
Sherman's March to the Sea
Sherman's March to the Sea is the name commonly given to the Savannah Campaign conducted around Georgia from November 15, 1864 to December 21, 1864 by Maj. Gen. William Tecumseh Sherman of the Union Army in the American Civil War...
, as well as during the subsequent Carolinas Campaign
Carolinas Campaign
The Carolinas Campaign was the final campaign in the Western Theater of the American Civil War. In January 1865, Union Maj. Gen. William Tecumseh Sherman advanced north from Savannah, Georgia, through the Carolinas, with the intention of linking up with Union forces in Virginia. The defeat of ...
.
He settled in Greenville, Michigan
Greenville, Michigan
Greenville is a city in Montcalm County of the U.S. state of Michigan. Portions of the county are associated with the Western region while others are more closely associated with the Central Michigan region. The population was 8,481 at the 2010 census...
, in 1868 and again engaged in the practice of medicine. He was a member of the Michigan State House of Representatives
Michigan State House of Representatives
The Michigan House of Representatives is the lower house of the Michigan Legislature. There are 110 members, each of whom is elected from constituencies having approximately 77,000 to 91,000 residents, based on population figures from the 2000 federal U.S. Census.Members are elected in...
in 1869 and 1870. He was appointed a member of the State Board of Health in 1880 and was reappointed in 1886.
Avery was elected as a Republican to the United States House of Representatives
United States House of Representatives
The United States House of Representatives is one of the two Houses of the United States Congress, the bicameral legislature which also includes the Senate.The composition and powers of the House are established in Article One of the Constitution...
for the Fifty-third and Fifty-fourth Congresses, serving from March 4, 1893 to March 3, 1897. He was not a candidate for renomination in 1896.
After leaving Congress, Avery went back to Greenville and returned to the practice of medicine. He died at the age of eighty-nine is interred at Forest Home Cemetery of Greenville.