Biography of Walter Averill  Portrait and Biographical Record, Pgs. 278, 281 WALTER S. AVERILL, a prosperous agriculturist and well-known earlysettler of Chester Township, Ottawa County, was identified with the privationsof the pioneer days of Michigan, and, being a man of enterprise and businessability, has aided in the development of the interests of his home locality andcounty. Born in the State of New York, April 17, 1842, our subject is the son ofSamuel H. and Elizabeth (McFerren) Averill. His father was born in Vermont,November 22, 1797, and his mother in New York, March 21, 1806. They made theirhome for many years in the Empire State, but in the fall of 1848 emigrated tothe West, and in the early winter of 1849 located upon the farm where they longresided. Taking from the Government eighty acres of land at a cost of $1.25 per acre,the father found himself left with the modest capital of seventy-five cents inready money. He and his children with united effort toiled early and late toclear, cultivate and improve the land. He died December 16, 1886, when in hisninetieth year. During his many years of usefulness he occupied with fidelityvarious positions of trust and served several times as Justice of the Peace. Hewas the first man who in an official capacity gave orders to the township. Theprimitive method had been to personally notify each individual that at such atime and upon such an occasion they would be called upon to pay a certain sum. Samuel Averill assisted in surveying most of the sections in ChesterTownship, and although he received only four days’ schooling he was one of thebest-informed men in the township. Possessing excellent judgment and habits ofclose observation, he kept himself intelligently posted on all the publicaffairs of the day. He and his excellent wife were the parents of twelvechildren, seven of whom lived to years of maturity. Mary J. is the wife of DolphLook, of New York; William B. resides in Casenovia; M. B. lives in MuskegonCounty; Eliza is the wife of John Hilton, of Porterville, Cal.; Edward F.resides in Chester Township; Elvira is the wife of David Waller, of ChesterTownship and Walter is the subject of this sketch. The mother passed awayJanuary 9, 1875. Our subject came to this State at the age of eight years, and was educated inthe common schools of the home neighborhood. The first school of the districtwas regularly established in 1852. During the first day’s session the teacherfound but one scholar, a boy, who could correctly state what year of our Lord itwas. After dinner the other scholars seized the unfortunate boy and gave him athrashing. He immediately returned to his home and was never seen more in thatschoolroom; thus was superior knowledge rewarded in the pioneer days. Upon hisfather’s farm Walter Averill attained to manhood, and immediately after histwentieth birthday enlisted, in 1862, in Company B, Twenty-first MichiganInfantry, and as a private was assigned to the Army of the Cumberland under thecommand of James Cavanaugh and A. A. Stevens. He actively participated in thebattles of Perryville, Stone River and other engagements. He was twice wounded—firstin the fight at Perryville, where he received a wound on the left side of hisneck which stiffened the muscles and cords. In the battle of Stone River he hadhis foot shattered with a piece of shell, and for nineteen years has never worna boot. As a partial compensation for the suffering resultant from his injury hereceives a pension of $12 a month. Discharged in July, 1863, Mr. Averill at once returned home and continued toassist upon the farm until the death of his mother. Soon afterward he wasmarried, his father residing with him until he too passed away. The homesteadreverted to Mr. Averill, who has through all the changing seasons industriouslycultivated the fertile fields. Walter Averill was first united in marriage withMinerva Wood, a native of Ohio and the daughter of William Waller, an earlysettler of Chester Township, widely known and highly respected. The estimableyoung wife survived only one year and bore her husband one child, Alice. Asecond time entering the bonds of matrimony, our subject wedded Miss Anna B.Thatcher, a native of Pennsylvania and daughter of Edwin and Kate (Carpenter)Thatcher, pioneers of Ottawa County. Mr. and Mrs. Averill are the parents offour children: Ross G., Judd E., Hettie M. and Lee W. Mr. Averill has held with ability various school offices and is interested inthe conduct of public affairs. He is a stanch Republican, but without theaspirations of a politician, and is content to do his duty at the polls, beingalso ever ready to lend a helping hand in all matters of public welfare. He isfraternally connected with Ravenna Lodge No. 355, I. O. O. F., and is a valuedmember of Albert Sperry Post No. 337, G. A. R., at Ravenna. In the latterorganization he has officiated as Quartermaster and officer of the order.Financially prospered, Mr. Averill owns fifty-five acres of highly cultivatedland, which annually yield an abundant harvest. The improvements of thehomestead are of a substantial and attractive character, the handsome residence,commodious barns and outbuildings denoting thrift and comfort. Our subject has a store of interesting reminiscences of the past, and amongother incidents relates that his father pounded the first bread out of cornraised upon the farm by means of a stump hollowed out and the use of a heavywooden pestle. The pestle was used for this purpose for many years, and a numberof persons came from a distance of four or five miles to thus pound their corninto meal. Soon after arriving in Chester Township, the father went to Steele’sLanding, a distance of fifteen miles, and purchased flour, which he brought homeon his back. They had a team of oxen, but as no road was open they could notcross the thickly wooded land. The first team of oxen owned by our subject hebought in 1863, with money earned by clearing land. In this toilsome manner thepioneers gained their homes and money, and with unceasing industry promoted thegrowth and enterprises of the West, which to-day is rich in resources,manufactures and the energy of a people whose watchword has ever been"Upward and Onward."

Portrait & Biographical Record of Muskegon & OttawaCounties, Michigan 1893, Chicago: Biographical Publishing Company 

Transcriber: Susan Gates Davis
Created: 10 January 2003