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A. S. Avery Practical Photographer
The home of Asahel S. Avery in a stereograph he created. Use links below to enlarge images.
The back of the stereograph shown above.
3D of photo
https://3dthis.com/player.htm?h=LTM0ODAzNzk
See a self portrait of Asahel S. Avery and read his obituary at the link below.
https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/128316763/asahel-stevens-avery
A. S. AVERY DEAD
The Oldest Native Citizen of Morris Passes Away
Asahel S. Avery died at his son Frank’s in Oneonta on Sunday morning last, April 27. Mr. Avery was taken seriously at his home here in Morris about a month ago. Recovering somewhat he went to Oneonta. Since then he grew gradually worse, and finally his heart refused to respond to remedies and the end came very quietly Sunday morning.
In his death Morris lost one of Ihe its best known citizens, and one of its oldest. In fact, its oldest native resident for he was born on the place where he has always made his home, in August 1822, his parents having moved here from Pennsylvania two years before. His father was a cabinet maker and an expert on the interior finishing of houses. Much of his work is still in existence today, and attests his talent along those lines.
A. S. Avery was a cultural and ingenious mechanic. He learned the cabinet making business, then turned from it to more congenial pursuits. He first learned the printer’s trade, and became an expert in such work as graining in imitation of natural woods, also in sign painting and lettering. There being no printing offices in Louisville at that time (now Morris) his taste for lettering naturally led him into the printing business and for a number of years in the fifties and during the war he ran a job printing office, doing a large amount of work for this and nearby towns. All his wood type he carved himself, and much of it is still in use at the CHRONICLE office today. Some of the time he published a little paper called “The Village Advertiser.” Also during this time he took up photography, which was an art in its infancy then. At this he worked for many years and for his day became an expert in it. Added to all these accomplishments he was an artist with the pencil and brush. His pictures, especially of “still life,” have been much admired in many places. We have two small pieces in oil which he painted from memory, that are priceless. One a picture of Main street, Morris on the east side from the present Kenyon block to Zion church as it was in 1827. The other is “Z. Roberta Inn” in 1827, which stood near where the Gardner House stands today.
Mr. Avery was the historian of the Village. Having a good education and a most unusually attentive memory, his reminiscence published from time to time in the CHRONICLE have become historically invaluable. Mr. Avery had a credible record as a school teacher and as a teacher of drawing, which he followed for a number of years. He was an active member of the Board of Education and the secretary for a number of years.
He was also an intense patriot and wholly public spirited. He was active in politics in the early days of the Republican party and became a leader of that party in local organizations. He was well read and thoroughly posted on the questions of those days, and was often called upon for political speeches.
During the war he was active as the soldier’s friend, and after the war he began and led forward to success the project for the massive Soldiers’ Monument which has beautified Hillington for thirty years, an honor to the town, for respect to the memory of her soldier dead, a memorial as well to Mr. Avery. In the shadow his remains ought to lie, but he wished it otherwise, and they have found a last resting place beside his kindred on the Friends grounds.
For about eighteen years Mr. Avery was postmaster of the village, and the affairs of his office were conducted in strict accordance with the law, but in the enforcement of it he made some enemies. However, he was strictly impartial, honest, prompt and straightforward in his administration.
Mr. Avery married his first wife Mary Halbert of Cortland county. She died in 1855, leaving two sons, Frank now of Oneonta, and Ben of Auburn. In 1900 he married Hannah Halbert Rogers, a widow, and sister of his first wife, who died March 7, 1899.
In all his long and varied career Mr. Avery had the confidence and esteem of his fellow townsmen, for he was honest in his dealings, prompt in his undertakings, unselfish in his motives, and imbued with the spirit of the progress and the good of his town. He had now to become an old man. Perhaps he had begun to live as much in the past to familiarize with the headlong new century, which dawn he was permitted to see. Perhaps -- it may be possible -- he had outlived his usefulness. However this may be, we realize his passing away with sense of great love, and it is with genuine sorrow that we contemplate the stern fact that we shall see him no more.
The funeral was held in Oneonta this Tuesday at his son’s residence. The bearers were Mr. Avery’s long time friends, John A. Ward, Silas W. Murdock, Henry S. Matteson, and A. F. Carr.
At least three photographic portraits by A.S. Avery is in the Library of Congress collection.
https://www.loc.gov/resource/ppmsca.85810/
The Oldest Native Citizen of Morris Passes Away
Asahel S. Avery died at his son Frank’s in Oneonta on Sunday morning last, April 27. Mr. Avery was taken seriously at his home here in Morris about a month ago. Recovering somewhat he went to Oneonta. Since then he grew gradually worse, and finally his heart refused to respond to remedies and the end came very quietly Sunday morning.
In his death Morris lost one of Ihe its best known citizens, and one of its oldest. In fact, its oldest native resident for he was born on the place where he has always made his home, in August 1822, his parents having moved here from Pennsylvania two years before. His father was a cabinet maker and an expert on the interior finishing of houses. Much of his work is still in existence today, and attests his talent along those lines.
A. S. Avery was a cultural and ingenious mechanic. He learned the cabinet making business, then turned from it to more congenial pursuits. He first learned the printer’s trade, and became an expert in such work as graining in imitation of natural woods, also in sign painting and lettering. There being no printing offices in Louisville at that time (now Morris) his taste for lettering naturally led him into the printing business and for a number of years in the fifties and during the war he ran a job printing office, doing a large amount of work for this and nearby towns. All his wood type he carved himself, and much of it is still in use at the CHRONICLE office today. Some of the time he published a little paper called “The Village Advertiser.” Also during this time he took up photography, which was an art in its infancy then. At this he worked for many years and for his day became an expert in it. Added to all these accomplishments he was an artist with the pencil and brush. His pictures, especially of “still life,” have been much admired in many places. We have two small pieces in oil which he painted from memory, that are priceless. One a picture of Main street, Morris on the east side from the present Kenyon block to Zion church as it was in 1827. The other is “Z. Roberta Inn” in 1827, which stood near where the Gardner House stands today.
Mr. Avery was the historian of the Village. Having a good education and a most unusually attentive memory, his reminiscence published from time to time in the CHRONICLE have become historically invaluable. Mr. Avery had a credible record as a school teacher and as a teacher of drawing, which he followed for a number of years. He was an active member of the Board of Education and the secretary for a number of years.
He was also an intense patriot and wholly public spirited. He was active in politics in the early days of the Republican party and became a leader of that party in local organizations. He was well read and thoroughly posted on the questions of those days, and was often called upon for political speeches.
During the war he was active as the soldier’s friend, and after the war he began and led forward to success the project for the massive Soldiers’ Monument which has beautified Hillington for thirty years, an honor to the town, for respect to the memory of her soldier dead, a memorial as well to Mr. Avery. In the shadow his remains ought to lie, but he wished it otherwise, and they have found a last resting place beside his kindred on the Friends grounds.
For about eighteen years Mr. Avery was postmaster of the village, and the affairs of his office were conducted in strict accordance with the law, but in the enforcement of it he made some enemies. However, he was strictly impartial, honest, prompt and straightforward in his administration.
Mr. Avery married his first wife Mary Halbert of Cortland county. She died in 1855, leaving two sons, Frank now of Oneonta, and Ben of Auburn. In 1900 he married Hannah Halbert Rogers, a widow, and sister of his first wife, who died March 7, 1899.
In all his long and varied career Mr. Avery had the confidence and esteem of his fellow townsmen, for he was honest in his dealings, prompt in his undertakings, unselfish in his motives, and imbued with the spirit of the progress and the good of his town. He had now to become an old man. Perhaps he had begun to live as much in the past to familiarize with the headlong new century, which dawn he was permitted to see. Perhaps -- it may be possible -- he had outlived his usefulness. However this may be, we realize his passing away with sense of great love, and it is with genuine sorrow that we contemplate the stern fact that we shall see him no more.
The funeral was held in Oneonta this Tuesday at his son’s residence. The bearers were Mr. Avery’s long time friends, John A. Ward, Silas W. Murdock, Henry S. Matteson, and A. F. Carr.
At least three photographic portraits by A.S. Avery is in the Library of Congress collection.
https://www.loc.gov/resource/ppmsca.85810/
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 A-S-Avery-House-Main-St-Morris-NY.jpg | 1.46 MB |
| A-S-Avery-House-Main-St-Morris-NY-card-back.jpg | 1.29 MB |
| A-S-Avery-home-Main-St.jpg | 126.88 KB |
| A-S-Avery-home-Main-St-card-back.jpg | 111.89 KB |
| Avery-Photograph-of-2nd-Lt-Shaw.jpg | 241.26 KB |
| 1882-12-13-The-Morris-Chronicle-Avery-transit-of-Venus.jpg | 44.99 KB |
| 1890-07-16-Tne-Morris-Chronicle-Avery-watching-Brooks-Comet.jpg | 72.88 KB |
