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]
John T. Averill | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Birth name | John Thomas Averill |
| Born | March 1, 1825 Alna, Maine, U.S. |
| Died | October 3, 1889 (aged 64) Saint Paul, Minnesota, U.S. |
| Buried | Oakland Cemetery Saint Paul, Minnesota, U.S. |
| Allegiance | United States of America Union |
| Service | United States Army Union Army |
| Years of service | 1862-1865 |
| Rank |  Colonel Brevet brigadier general |
| Commands | 6th Minnesota Infantry |
| Battles / wars | American Civil War |
| Other work | U.S. Congressman |
| Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Minnesota's 3rd district | |
| In office March 4, 1873 – March 3, 1875 | |
| Preceded by | District Created |
| Succeeded by | William S. King |
| Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Minnesota's 2nd district | |
| In office March 4, 1871 – March 3, 1873 | |
| Preceded by | Eugene McLanahan Wilson |
| Succeeded by | Horace B. Strait |
| Member of the Minnesota Senate from the 12th district | |
| In office December 7, 1859 – January 7, 1861 | |
| Preceded by | James Ridpath |
| Succeeded by | Stiles P. Jones |
| Personal details | |
| Political party | Republican |
Early life and education
editAverill 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
editOn 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.[1]
In 1866, he moved to St. Paul, Minnesota, and engaged in the wholesale paper and stationery business (Averill, Russell & Carpenter Paper Manufacturers). 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
editAverill 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
edit- ^ a b c d e Eicher, John H., and Eicher, David J., Civil War High Commands, Stanford University Press, 2001, ISBN 0-8047-3641-3.
- ^ Upham, Warren (1920). Minnesota Geographic Names: Their Origin and Historic Significance. Minnesota Historical Society. p. 115.
External links
edit- United States Congress. "John T. Averill (id: A000344)". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress.