obit,: AVERY, Robinson Lafayette - 1824 - 1889 Avery/Tebo/Henry
Clinton Eye, Mar 2 1889 - A pioneer gone - R. L. Avery died in this city at his residence on Franklin Street Wednesday at 9:30 a.m. of pneumonia and heart disease. He passed away quietly and unconsciously. The right lung was paralyzed and he suffered no pain. His death was a shock to the
community, as he had been ill but a short time; complained of feeling badly from taking cold Thursday of last week that did not take to his bed until Saturday. He was 64 December 12th and was born and White County, Tennessee. Came with his parents, the Rev. Henry Avery and Elizabeth Green Avery, to this county in 1831 and lived on the farm pre-empted by his father in Tebo township until four years ago when he moved to Clinton for better educational advantages for his children. The house on the farm where he lived for 40 years still stands and was the first dwelling erected in the county. Our first county court was held in it. Robert Avery was sent to Tennessee for his education and taught school for a number of years on his return and has the oldest teacher's certificate in the county. He has two sisters and two brothers living, all younger than himself. Mrs. N. A. Fewel, his eldest sister , resides at Moniteau Springs, Colorado , and Mrs. S. J. Roberts, next in age, at Durango, Colorado. A. C. and J. M. Avery reside in the city. Robert Avery married Venezuela Palmer December 8th 1857. Ten children have been born to them, five now living. Mrs. Mary Chipman, the eldest, resides on the home farm. The other four, Flave, James, Estelle and Edgar, reside with their mother in this city. R. L. Avery was August, generous to a fault, bore malice to none. Those in trouble never appealed to him in vain. He treated his fellow men as though they were upright as him and, as a coincidence, was imposed upon by never murmured. He belonged to no sect or creed, but was simply one of God's nobleman. Funeral at the home and remains were taken to Tebo township and laid rest with parents, brothers and relatives in the family burying ground. A pouring rain fell all day; even nature wept that so good a man must die.

Biography:AVERY, R. L.
source: 1883 History of Henry Missouri , National Historical Co., pg: 628
--- R. L. Avery, farmer and stock raiser, was born December 12, 1824, in White County, Tennessee, where he also received his education. His parents, Rev. Henry Avery, born October 18, 1793, in Roane County, Tennessee, and Elizabeth (Green) Avery, born November 10, 1798, in Barren County, Kentucky, were married November 10, 1819. They had eight children, five of whom are still living, three sons and two daughters. Henry Avery at the age of nineteen enlisted under General Jackson as a private soldier, and served during the entire war of 1812. He was almost constantly with that general and on very intimate terms with him. He was engaged in general merchandising in Bibb County, Alabama, during the years 1818, 1819 and 1821, and then closing his business, was appointed secretary of state, which office he held for two years. He was for nine years occupied in farming in White County, Tennessee, and then removed to St. Louis, where he remained only a short time, when he went to Morgan County, Missouri. In 1831 he came to Lafayette (now Henry) County, and at that time was the only man that took a paper here, it being the Missouri Republican, published at St. Louis. He pre-empted 160 acres of land in 1831 in Tebo Township, and in 1838 purchased 1,000 acres of the government at $1.25 per acre, and in 1839, 340 more. He was ordained a minister of the gospel in May of 1834 by Revs. Ricketts, Warder and White, and continued to preach as long as strength lasted. He died September 18, 1845. The subject of this sketch soon received 220 acres of the homestead, upon which he commenced farming at the age of twenty-one and he has since that time continued upon it. He was for several years employed in teaching during the winter season and can show the oldest teacher's certificate in the county. He married Miss Venezuela Palmer, daughter of Drury and Mary Palmer, (born January 8th, 1839) December 8th, 1857. By this union there have been six daughters and four sons, of whom three sons and two daughters survive. Mary C., born October 5th, 1858, married David Chipman, of Henry County, December 20th, 1882. Henry F., born January 18th, 1864. Serepta E., born August 27th, 1868. James W., born September 15th, 1870. Robinson E., born November 29th, 1875. Mr. Avery has remained upon the same farm fifty-one years, and was forty years an inmate of the first dwelling house erected in the county. This house, a double log structure, was raised July 18th, 1832, by Drury Palmer, Judge Thomas Arbuckle, Rev. Henry Avery, John Wade, Martin Wade, and Judge William Goff. Mr. Avery has a fine farm, well watered, and is one of the enterprising farmers of this district, dealing quite extensively in stock. He was a Union man during the war and did much to harmonize feeling during that period. Mrs. A. is connected with the Old School Presbyterian Church, and his views are Democratic.