Source: Past and present of Clinton County, Michigan, by Judge S. B. Daboll, assisted by D. W. Kelley, together with biographical sketches of many of its prominent and leading citizens and illustrious dead. Illustrated. Author: Daboll, Sherman B., 1844-1910.

"TYLER C. AVERY
Tyler C. Avery, following the occupation of farming on section 5, Ovid township, is a native of Wyoming county, New York, born February 5, 1833: --- his parents being John and Sarah (Cooper) Avery, the former a native of Connecticut and the latter of New York. In pioneer times in the history of Michigan the father came west to Clinton County and took up forty acres of government land in Greenbush Township. He afterward removed to a farm a mile east and at one time was the owner of three hundred acres of rich and productive land. He died upon the old farm homestead in 1885, at the age of eighty-five years, while his wife passed away in 1882, when seventy-seven years of age. Horace Avery, a brother of John Avery, came to Michigan with him and also located in Greenbush Township but subsequently sold his property and removed to Nebraska where his death occurred. In the family of Mr. and Mrs John Avery were seven children; John, a practicing physician at Greenville, Michigan; James M., who is now living in Lake county, this state; Sanford C., who is living on a part of the old homestead farm; Tyler C, and three who have passed away, Marvin having been killed while serving in the Union Army as a member of the Third Michigan Cavalry, while Ann is the deceased wife of Alpheus Chapman, and Laura, the deceased wife of Leonard Clark.

Tyler C. Avery was only four years old when brought by his parents to this state and his education was acquired in one of the old log schoolhouses. He began working in the timber upon the old home farm and forty-five years ago he came to his present farm on section 5, Ovid township, taking possession of eighty acres of wild land, on which he cut the first stick of timber. He has since cleared all but a few acres and has plowed and planted the fields and continued the work of improvement until he now has a valuable and productive farming property.

When his father came to this county in 1839 Dewitt was the nearest trading town and on one occasion the family had to go to Ann Arbor for salt. The first home of the family was a little log structure, the roof being made of boughs. As the years have gone by Mr. Avery has continued the work of cultivation and improvement until he now has a valuable farming property. He relates many interesting incidents of pioneer times that took place around the old homestead farm in Greenbush Township. Wolves and bears were numerous in the forests and annoyed the settlers by killing hogs and even since Mr. Avery has taken up his abode upon his present farm he had four of his sheep killed by a bear. Great changes have occurred, however, as the years have gone by and the country has been claimed by the settlers who have transformed the wild timbered region into fertile farms and attractive homes.

On the 11th of December 1855. Mr. Avery was married to Miss Hannah Rowell, a daughter of Samuel and Sarah (Pearl) Rowell, both of whom were natives of Springwater New York. Mrs. Avery, having traveled life's journey with her husband for more than forty-six years, departed this life June 28, 1902, at the age of sixty-two. In their family were four daughters and a son: Alice, the wife of John Fizzell, of Duplain township; Emma, deceased; Jennie, the wife of Grant Cleveland, of Eureka, Michigan; Myrtle, the wife of Lewis McCullough, of Ashley, Michigan; and Arthur J., of Ovid township.

Mr. Avery is a republican, having always given his allegiance to that party, and his first vote cast in Greenbush Township. Both he and his wife are members of the Christian Church at Colony. He is one of the substantial pioneers of Clinton County and a highly respected citizen. From boyhood days he has lived in this part of the state and all who know him entertain for him warm regard because he has been found reliable in business transactions, faithful in citizenship and loyal in friendship."

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