Rufus Lord Avery

"He was educated at Kenyon College; entered the mercantile business with his father. In 1860, he formed a partnership with F. E. Tracy. The firm has had a prosperous existence ever since and still retains his name and interest, the Tracy and Avery Co., wholesale grocers, Mansfield.

He enlisted in Co. C, 15th Ohio infy, April 17, 1861 ; was made sergeant, and promoted on the field to second lieutenant. He was at Phillipi and Rich Mountain, and took part in the operations that resulted in driving the Confederate forces from West Virginia. After his term of enlistment had expired, he assisted in organizing and drilling troops for the field, and, on the first of May, 1864, marched with the 163d Ohio infantry, as captain of Co. A. In June, he was at Fort Waltham, in the entrenchments fronting Petersburg; two days later, he commanded the skirmish line in a raid, destroyed six miles of railroad, and captured Gen. Beauregard's baggage. He soon contracted "Chickahominy" fever and died in the hospital of the receiving ship "Matilda," Aug. 2, 1864. His widow lives at Mansfield, Ohio."

THE GROTON AVERY CLAN, Vol. II, by Elroy McKendree Avery and Catherine Hitchcock (Tilden) Avery, Cleveland, 1912. p. 991, 1310