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Avery N. Smith was one of the highly esteemed citizens of
Delaware county and a progressive and successful agriculturist. He was born in
New York state, April 25, 1832, a son of Abner and Lucina (Yates) Smith, both
natives of Vermont. They subsequently removed to the Empire state and there the
death of the mother occurred. Abner Smith came to Iowa in 1865, driving through
with covered wagons from Smithport, Pennsylvania, to Clayton county, the trip
requiring six or seven weeks. He settled near Edgewood and resided there until
his death.
Avery N. Smith came to Iowa in 1856 and entered land in
Delaware County. After residing upon his property for a short time he went to
Freeborn county, Minnesota, and took up a homestead there, upon which he lived
for two years. He then sold his land in that state and returned east, settling
in Smithport, Pennsylvania, where he conducted a livery business. In 1865 he
returned to Iowa, bring his father with him. He did not long remain here at that
time but made his way to Wisconsin, where he found employment in the lumber
camps of the north woods. After one year so spent he returned to Iowa, but in
1870 he again left the state, going this time to Jonesville, Michigan, where he engaged in the livery business for four or fiveyears.
He subsequently sold out and returned to
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Delaware county in 1874 and bought a farm north of Manchester. He then turned
his attention to farming and cultivated the fields until his death.
The marriage of Mr. Smith and Miss Lucretia J. Cross occurred
in 1872 in Jonesville, Michigan. Mrs. Smith is a native of New York state and a
daughter of Ebenezer and Sophia (Cummings) Cross, both of whom were born in
the Empire state but removed to Michigan many years ago, where they both passed
away. She was the only child born to them and by her marriage became the mother
of three children: Edwin A., who resides upon a farm in Delaware township
married Winnifred Goen and has one child, Edith E.; Eveline L. is a graduate of
the local high school; and Fred A. operates the homestead.
Mr. Smith was a member of the Universalist church, as
are the members of his family. He was a democrat and prominent in the local
councils of his party. At one time he ran for state representative on the
democratic ticket and was only defeated by a very small majority. Fraternally he
was a Knight Templar Mason and a member of the Mystic Shrine. His death, which
occurred February 2, 1911, deprived the county of one of her well known and
prosperous pioneer citizens and was sincerely mourned by a wide circle of
friends. |
