March 7, 1936

Noyes L. Avery, Vice-Chairman, The Michigan Trust Company

201 Michigan Trust Building, Grand Rapids, Michigan

Noyes L. Avery, s. of N. Fred Noyes and Annie (Barstow) Avery; b. Grand Rapids, Mich., Oct. 8, 1881.

N. Fred Avery, s. of Noyes and Fannie Avery; b . in Grand Rapids, Mich. He was asso. with a lbr. Bus., which was known as Robinson-Solomon & Co., and later was mgr. of the estate. He was dir, of various industries and banks, including the Grand Rapids Savs Bank. He d. about 1926. His wife, Annie (Barstow) Avery, dau. of Gideon Barstow, was b. in Paris twp., Kent Co., Mich., and d. in 1922.

Noyes Avery, s. of Elias, was b. in Gayuga Co., N.Y., in Dec 1811. With the intention of inspecting properties for eastern capitalists, he moved in the early 1840’s to Kent Co., Mich., where he settled. He entered the real estate bus., and engaged in various local, enterprises. He was co-founder and vice-pres. of the Nat’l City Bank; co-founder and a dir. of the Michigan Trust Co.; and co-founder of the Grand Rapids Gas Llight Co., and various other enterprises. He served as postmaster of Grand Rapids during the Civil War period.

Elias Avery, was b. in Groton, Conn. He was a descendant of Christopher Avery, who emigrated from England to Am. In the 1600’s. Various mems. of the Avery family served in the Rev. War.

Noyes L. Avery, attended Univ. of Mich.,; grad. Leland Stanford Junior Univ. (dept. of economics), A.B., 1904. Since that time he has resided in Grand Rapids, Mich. He was assoc. with the Nat’l City Bank, 2 yrs., after which he was employed by the Worden Grocer Co., 4 yrs. In Aug, 1911, he entered the employ of the Michigan Trust Co., as a clerk. He later served as pres. of the company, 4 yrs., and has been vice-chairman of the bd. Since 1932. Mr. Avery is pres. of the b d. of trustees of the Blodgett Memorial Hosp., and is a dir. of the Alabastine Co., the Grand Rapids Gas Light Co., and the Von Platen Fox Lumber Co., the latter of which is in Iron Mountain, Mich. He is a Republican, and a mem. of the following: Blue Lodge, F. & A. M., Commandery (K.T.) , Consistory (32^nd deg.), and Shrinre; Delta Kappa Epsilon (frat.); Kent County Club, Peninsular Club, Univ. Club of Grand Rapids ; and Congl. Ch., His hobbies are traveling, and motoring. Mr. Avery has a farm and summer home at Eastmanville, Mich. He is a breeder of Guernsey cattle.

On July 7, 1907, Noyes L. Avery m. Evelyn Leonard, who was b. in Grand Rapids, Mich., Feb. 28, 1883, dau of Frank E. and Sarah E. (Pierce) Leonard. Mr. and Mrs. Avery are the parents of 2 children: (1) Noyes L. Jr. is now in his senior yr. at the Harvard Univ. Med. Sch. (Boston, Mass.) (2) Elizabeth, wife of Thomas L. Sidlo, Address, Cleveland, Ohio.

Frank E. Leonard, father of Evelyn (Leonard) Avery, was the son of Heman Leonard, who was one of the first settlers in Grand Rapids, Mich. In 1847, he estab. The firm of H. Leonard & Sons (crockery and household furnishings), which has cont. in operation to the present time. It is the oldest retail bus. in Grand Rapids.

* For further data regarding Frank E. and Sarah E. (Pierce) Leonard, see Charles Moore "History of Michigan" (Lewis Pub. Co., Chicago, 1915), vol. 3, p. 1382.

Noyes Latham Avery: b. Aurora, NY Dec 11, 1815--d. Grand Rapids, Mich. June 8, 1901. Began in mercantile trade in Aurora, 1831-42; operated a farm, 1842-49. Came to Grand Rapids in 1850, engaging in gypsum business until 1860, then in real estate. Served as a city alderman in 1853, 1858 and 1859; Grand Rapids postmaster in 1861-66. Acted as volunteer co-ordinator of sanitary supply in Civil War. Was a director of the City National Bank, Michigan Trust Company, and held interest in several corporations. Last surviving delegate of the first Republican national convention in 1856. Lived at 40 Jefferson SE 1855-1901, the house remaining in his family until 1937. Father of N. Fred Avery, grandfather of Noyes L. Avery II (1880-1947).

1947

Retired Banker Passes After Long Illness

Noyes Latham Avery, 65, former president of the Michigan Trust Co. and of the Blodgett Memorial Hospital board, died Friday at his home, 601 Plymouth-rd., after a long illness.

Mr. Avery was a member of the Michigan Trust Co. since 1911. He was elected assistant secretary in 1916 and became a vice-president in 1921. Two years later was promoted to executive vice-president in 1926.Later that year he became president, an office he held until 1933.

From 1933 to 1946 he served as vice-president of the trust company.

Mr. Avery was a native of Grand Rapids and was graduated from Stanford university in 1904. He was married to Evelyn Leonard on Jun e 5, 1907. He was the son of the late Mr. and Mrs. Noyes Fred Avery of this city.

He was a former member of the board of Park Congregational church and former director and president of the board of Blodgett Memorial Hospital. He became a member of the board in 1915 when its name was changed from Union Benevolence association to Blodgett Memorial hospital, succeeding on the board his mother and grandfather, one of the founders of the association. Mr. Avery was a life member of the American Hospital association and the Masonic orders of DeMolay, Shrine, DeWitt Clinton consistory and F&AM. He was a member of the university club, the Peninsular club and Kent County club. He held directorships in the trust company, Michigan Consolidated Gas Co., Globe Knitting works, VonPalten Fox Lumber Co., White Friant Lumber Co., and Yosemite Sugar Pine Co.

During World War II he served as chairman of Kent County draft board No. 4 Mr. Avery also had been an East Grand Rapids city commissioner and a member of its planning commission.

Surviving besides his wife are one son, Dr. Noyes L. Avery, Jr., Grand Rapids; one daughter, Mrs. Thomas L. Sidlo of Cleveland, Ohio, and one brother Frederick D. Avery, Grand Rapids.

The body will be at Metcalf’s mortuary here until Sunday afternoon when it will be taken to the residence where services will be held at 3 p.m. Monday. Burial will be in Fulton Street cemetery.

Funeral services for Noyes . Avery, former president of the Michigan Trust Co. and widely known Grand Rapids business figure who died Friday, will be held Monday at 3 p.m. at the family residence, 601 Plymouth Blvd., SE, Dr. Edward A. Thompson, pastor of Park Congregational church, will officiate.

Bearers will be William J. Landman,Jr., Robert W. Mumford, Howard B. Tuthill, Thomas Kraal, aul F. Steketee, Jr. and Frederick M. Deane, Jr. Burial will be in Fulton Street Cemetery.