John Averill

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John Thomas Averill (March 1, 1825 – October 3, 1889) was a Representative from Minnesota; born in Alna, Maine, March 1, 1825. He moved with his parents to Montville, Maine, in 1838; graduated from the Maine Wesleyan Seminary at Readfield in 1846. He taught school for a short time, and subsequently engaged in lumbering for one year. Averill then moved to Winthrop, Maine, and engaged in mercantile pursuits for three years. In 1852 he moved to northern Pennsylvania and again engaged in lumbering - until 1857, when he settled in Lake City, Minnesota. Once there, he engaged in mercantile pursuits and the grain business; was a member of the Minnesota Senate 1858 – 1860.

On August 22, 1862, he was commissioned Lieutenant Colonel of the Sixth Regiment, Minnesota Volunteer Infantry; he was promoted to colonel on November 22, 1864; he was honorably mustered out on September 28, 1865. In 1866 he moved to St. Paul, Minnesota and engaged in the wholesale paper and stationery business. He was a member of the Republican National Committee from 1868 through 1880; elected as a Republican to the 42nd and 43rd Congresses (March 4, 1871 – March 3, 1875); He was chairman, Committee on Indian Affairs (Forty-third Congress); was not a candidate for renomination in 1874. He resumed his business activities in St. Paul, Minnesota, where he died on October 3, 1889; interred in Oakland Cemetery.

Preceded by: Eugene McLanahan Wilson	U.S. Representative from the 2nd Congressional District of Minnesota 1871 – 1873	Succeeded by: Horace Strait
Preceded by: —	U.S. Representative from the 3rd Congressional District of Minnesota 1873 – 1875	Succeeded by: William S. King