Edward Avery (judge)

Edward Avery (February 20, 1790 – June 27, 1866) was a lawyer from Wooster, Ohio, United States who was an Ohio State Senator and served on the Ohio Supreme Court from 1847 to 1851. He later helped found the College of Wooster and the Wooster Cemetery.

Edward Avery
Justice of the Ohio Supreme Court
In office February 6, 1847 – March 1, 1851
Preceded by	Reuben Wood
Succeeded by	Rufus P. Ranney
Member of the Ohio Senate from the Wayne County district
In office December 6, 1824 – December 3, 1826
Preceded by	Thomas McMillan
Succeeded by	Joseph Larwill
Personal details
Born	(1790-02-20)February 20, 1790 Stamford, Connecticut
Died	June 27, 1866(1866-06-27) (aged 76) Wooster, Ohio
Resting place	Wooster Cemetery
Political party	Whig
Spouse(s)	Jane Galbreath Gennetta Marie Sherwood
Children	one
Alma mater	Yale University

Biography

Edward Avery was born February 20, 1790 in Stamford, Connecticut. He graduated with a bachelor's degree in 1810 from Yale University.[1] He studied law and was admitted to the bar in Connecticut in 1813.[2] He traveled to Europe in 1816.[2] In 1817, he became the second lawyer to locate in Wooster, Ohio.[1][3]

In 1819, Avery was appointed prosecuting attorney of Wayne County, Ohio and served until 1825.[1][3][4][5] He was elected to the Ohio State Senate in 1824 and served one two-year term. His re-election in 1826 was contested in the Senate, and his seat given to his opponent.[6]

After he complete his service in the Senate, Avery returned to his practice in Wooster. In 1832 he was one of four trustees of the town, and was a school examiner. He also mentored law students.[1]

On January 15, 1847, the Ohio General Assembly elected Avery to a seat on the Ohio Supreme Court to a seven-year term that began February 6, 1847.[1] The judges traveled to each county in the state in those days. The job was arduous, and Avery's health gave out. He submitted his resignation March 1, 1851, and was replaced by the legislature on March 17, 1851.[1]

After returning to Wooster, Avery retired from law practice.[1][2][5] He helped establish the College of Wooster and was generous in giving to it.[1][5] He guarantee the notes to establish the non-denominational Wooster Cemetery.[1] He was an elder in the Presbyterian church.[1][3][5]

Edward Avery married Jane Galbreath of Steubenville, Ohio November 25, 1823[1] or December 28, 1823.[3] She died in 1824, and Avery married Gennette Marie Sherwood on February 3, 1834.[1] Gennette had no children.[1]

Edward Avery died June 27, 1866 at Wooster.[1][2][3][4] He was buried at Wooster Cemetery next to his two wives and daughter.[1]

References

1. "Edward Avery". The Supreme Court of Ohio & The Ohio Judicial System. Retrieved 2012-01-12.
2. "Supreme Court of Ohio". The Medico-legal journal. 18: Page 181 of supplement. 1900.
3. Douglass, Ben (1878). History of Wayne county, Ohio, from the days of the pioneers and the first settlers to the present time. Indianapolis: Robert Douglass.
4. Kinkead, Edgar B (1895). "Supreme Court of Ohio". The Green bag: an entertaining magazine of the law. 7: 231.
5. Douglas, Ben (1900). History of the lawyers of Wayne County, Ohio, from 1812 to 1900. Clapper Printing. pp. 215–218.
6. Bell, William Jr. (1876). Annual report of the Secretary of State to the Governor and General Assembly for the year 1875... Ohio Secretary of State.

Sources

• Edward Avery at Find a Grave