Joseph C. Avery

Infobox Politician
name = Joseph Conant Avery


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office2 = Legislator in the Provisional Government of Oregon
term_start2 = 1848
term_end2 = 1849
predecessor2 =
successor2 = position dissolved
constituency2 = Benton District
majority2 =
office3 = Oregon Territory House of Representatives
term_start3 = 1850
term_end3 = 1852
predecessor3 =
successor3 =
constituency3 = Benton County
majority3 =
birth_date = June 9 1817
birth_place = Tunkhannock, Pennsylvania
death_date = June 16 1876
death_place = Oregon
party =
relations =
spouse = Martha Marsh
children =
residence =
occupation = farmer, merchant
religion =


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Joseph Conant Avery (1817 – 1876), was the founder of Corvallis, Oregon, United States. Avery was the first postmaster for the community, and served as a legislator in the Provisional Government of Oregon and the government of the Oregon Territory.

Early life

Avery was born in Tunkhannock, Pennsylvania on June 9 1817.Corning, Howard M. "Dictionary of Oregon History". Binfords & Mort Publishing, 1956.] He was educated in Wilkes-Barre before moving to Illinois in 1839. Avery then married Martha Marsh in 1841 before they immigrated to Oregon Country in 1845.

Oregon

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 Oregon. 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 Oregon 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 Oregon that began in December. [ [http://arcweb.sos.state.or.us/legislative/histleg/provisional/1848reg.htm Oregon Legislative Assembly (4th Provisional) 1848-1849 Regular Session.] Oregon State Archives. Retrieved on January 30 2008.] He was elected to the Oregon Territorial Legislature in 1850 [ [http://arcweb.sos.state.or.us/legislative/histleg/territorial/1850reg.htm Oregon Legislative Assembly (2nd Territorial) 1850 Regular Session.] Oregon State Archives. Retrieved on January 30 2008.] through 1852, serving as a Whig and representing Benton County. [http://arcweb.sos.state.or.us/legislative/histleg/territorial/1852reg.htm Oregon Legislative Assembly (4th Territorial) 1852 Regular Session.] Oregon State Archives. Retrieved on January 30 2008.] In 1853, Avery was appointed as a postal agent servicing both Washington and Oregon territories. In 1856, Avery returned to the Territorial Legislature as a Democrat. [http://arcweb.sos.state.or.us/legislative/histleg/territorial/1856reg.htm Oregon Legislative Assembly (8th Territorial) 1856 Regular Session.] Oregon State Archives. Retrieved on January 30 2008.]

Before the American Civil War, he began publishing the pro-slavery "Occidental Messenger" in Corvallis.Lansing, Ronald B. 2005. "Nimrod: Courts, Claims, and Killing on the Oregon Frontier". Pullman: Washington State University Press. p. 264.] Joseph Avery, the father of 12 children, died on June 16 1876.

References