Background
Avery was born in Tunkhannock, Pennsylvania on June 9, 1817.
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Joseph Conant Avery
Edit ProfileEducation
He was educated in Wilkes-Barre before moving to Illinois in 1839.
Career
Avery was the first postmaster for the community, and served as a legislator in the Provisional Government of and the government of the Territory. Avery then married Martha Marsh in 1841 before they immigrated to Country in 1845. Joseph Avery settled at the mouth of Marys River where it flows into the Willamette River in the central part of the Willamette Valley of what would become the state of At that location he operated a ferry across the Willamette and established a farm.
In 1848, Avery went to the gold fields of California and mined for a brief time before using his gold to purchase mercantile goods.
Avery then returned to where he opened a store on his land claim where he then established a town site. He surveyed and platted the area and named it Marysville.
In 1848, Avery was elected and served in the final session of the Provisional Legislature of that began in December. He was elected to the Territorial Legislature in 1850 through 1852, serving as a Whig and representing Benton County.
In 1853, Avery was appointed as a postal agent servicing both Washington and territories.
In 1856, Avery returned to the Territorial Legislature as a Democrat. Before the American Civil War, he began publishing the pro-slavery Occidental Messenger in Corvallis. Joseph Avery, the father of 12 children, died on June 16, 1876.
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Born
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Died
June 16, 1876 (aged 59) -
Nationality
United States -
Political Party
Democratic party