John T. Averill

John T. Averill
Born March 1, 1825
Alna, Maine, U.S.
Died October 3, 1889 (aged 64)
St. Paul, Minnesota, U.S.
Buried at Oakland Cemetery, St. Paul, Minnesota, U.S.
Allegiance

 United States of America

Service/branch Union Army
Years of service 1862-1865
Rank Colonel
Brevet brigadier general
Commands held 6th Minnesota Infantry
Battles/wars American Civil War
Other work U.S. congressman

John Thomas Averill (March 1, 1825 October 3, 1889) was a United States Army officer in the American Civil War who later became a U.S. congressional representative from Minnesota.[1]

Early life and education

Averill was born in Alna, Maine, March 1, 1825. He moved with his parents to Montville, Maine in 1838 and 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.[1]

Career

On August 22, 1862, Averill was commissioned as a lieutenant colonel of the 6th Minnesota Infantry Regiment. He was promoted to Colonel on November 22, 1864, and was assigned as Provost Marshal General for the District of Minnesota. He was honorably mustered out on September 28, 1865; and was made a Brevet Brigadier General on October 18, 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 of the Committee on Indian Affairs (Forty-third Congress); was not a candidate for renomination in 1874.[1]

Later life and death

Averill resumed his business activities in St. Paul, Minnesota, where he died on October 3, 1889; interred at the Oakland Cemetery.[1]

He is the namesake of the community of Averill, Minnesota.[2]

References

  1. 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 Eicher, John H., and Eicher, David J., Civil War High Commands, Stanford University Press, 2001, ISBN 0-8047-3641-3.
  2. Upham, Warren (1920). Minnesota Geographic Names: Their Origin and Historic Significance. Minnesota Historical Society. p. 115.

External links

United States House of Representatives
Preceded by
Eugene McLanahan Wilson
U.S. Representative from Minnesota's 2nd congressional district
1871 1873
Succeeded by
Horace B. Strait
Preceded by
U.S. Representative from Minnesota's 3rd congressional district
1873 1875
Succeeded by
William S. King