Joseph Averill, of Walker township.-There is probably no name more familiar among the farmers of Kent county than that of Averill, a brief genealogy of which is here presented as furnished by Joseph Averill, a prominent young farmer of Walker township, who is ably sustaining the good name established by his forefathers. Joseph Averill is a native of Polkton township, Ottawa county, Mich., and was born April 23, 1860, being the eldest child of Levi and Artemisia (Denton) Averill. Levi Averill was a native of New York and was born in the year 1828. He came to Michigan when but a small boy with his father, John P. Averill, who located at Battle Creek, where they lived for about ten years, at the end of which time they removed to Polkton township, Ottawa county, and remained there until the year 1859. In 1860 Levi and wife came to Kent county, and purchased a farm in Walker township, but not being satisfied here they then removed to Alpine township, where they lived until removal to Grand Rapids. After a short residence in Grand Rapids, tired of city life, they left for Ada village, where they now reside, and where he is engaged in farming and dairy. During his residence in Walker and Alpine townships, Mr. Averill witnessed many improvements in Kent county. Upon his arrival he found much of the land covered with timber and swamps, and the now thriving city of Grand Rapids was a mere village. Since the organization of the Kent County Agricultural society, Mr. Averill has served three or four years as president, and has filled the important position with honor, and remained director for several years. He was also superintendent of a department in the West Michigan Fair association. The date and place of Mrs. Averill’s birth cannot be ascertained, as she died when her son, Joseph, was but five years old. The latter’s step-mother was Catherine Smith, a native of Walker township, and a daughter of the pioneer, David Smith. Joseph Averill began life for himself when twenty-one years of age, prior to this having attended the county school. At this age, having become sufficiently advanced in education, mainly in the Grange academy in Alpine, to be able to teach in the common schools, he accordingly engaged to teach and successfully followed the profession for about seven years, mainly in Kent county. He next purchased a farm in Walker township, which he rented out for two seasons, then moved upon it himself and made it serve as his home until removal, in 1898, to his present farm in section No. 5, Walker township. This farm contains forty acres on Peach avenue, in the excellent fruit region. His other farm contains thirty acres, almost wholly devoted to peach trees. He also owns a first class hog pen of forty acres, adjacent to Kinney station. All these he operates himself. On January 1, 1885, Mr Averill was united in marriage to Miss Eleanor M. Manley, a native of Huron county, Ohio, born November 22, 1856, and the third child of Skiff and Betsey Manley. The father of Mrs. Averill was a native of Vermont and her mother was born in England. They resided on the Manley homestead in Huron county until 1885, when they came to Walker, securing the present home of their daughter, Mrs. Averill. Both parents died here, and their remains are interred in Walker cemetery. Mr. Manley was a good carpenter and contractor, and reared nine children, all of whom still survive. Mr. and Mrs. Averill are the parents of but one child, Levi S., a lad of twelve summers, who is now attending school. He is also a member of the juvenile grange. Mr. Averill is an ardent republican and cast his maiden vote for James G. Blaine. Officially, he has served as deputy Agricultural association clerk, also as deputy township clerk. Socially, he and wife are members of the Kinney grange. They are active members of the Alpine Walker Congregational church, Mrs. Averill having been Sunday-school superintendent for the last two years. She has always been a worker in the Sunday-school and has about seventy-five Sunday-school scholars; also has been delegate to Sunday-school state conventions. He is a member of Centennial lodge, I. O. O. F., No. 280, ever since his twenty-sixth year. Mr. Averill continued to teach in connection with his farming. Mrs. Averill taught for twelve years, mainly in Huron county, Ohio. She received an excellent normal training, and was one of the really successful teachers. He keeps well posted on general matters.