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Averill, John Wilson

MILITARY SERVICE Age: 22, credited to Barre, VT Unit(s): 8th VT INF Service: enl 12/3/63, m/i 12/15/63, Pvt, Co. E, 8th VT INF, m/o 6/28/65 See Legend for expansion of abbreviations VITALS Birth: 07/07/1841, Orange, VT Death: 04/05/1919 Burial: Elmwood Cemetery, Barre, VT Marker/Plot: Not recorded Gravestone researcher/photographer: Monica White Findagrave Memorial #: 81438663 MORE INFORMATION Alias?: None noted Pension?: Not Found Portrait?: Unknown College?: Not Found Veterans Home?: Not Found (If there are state digraphs above, this soldier spent some time in a state or national soldiers' home in that state after the war) Remarks: Twin brother of James W. Averill, same unit DESCENDANTS (Are you a descendant, but not listed? Register today)

BURIAL: Copyright notice Elmwood Cemetery, Barre, VT Check the cemetery for location/directions and other veterans who may be buried there.

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Obituary

CAME OF OLD BARRE FAMILY
John W. Averill, Esteemed Citizen and Civil War Veteran, Died To-Day. John W. Averill, nearly a lifelong resident of Barre Town, a much respected citizen, and veteran of the Civil war. Passed away at his home farm on Beekley hill at 2 o'clock this morning after being in poor health during the greater part of the winter. The cause of death was heart disease.

John Wilson Averill was a descendant of one of the early settlers of Barre, his grandfather, David Weston Averill, having come here from New Hampshire in 1810 and having cleared a patch of land in the eastern part of the town, on which he built a log cabin, roofed with bark. The following year he brought his wife from New Hampshire, and the Averills of this family have been residents in and about Barre for more than a century, John W. Averill being the son of Weston D. And Mercy (Wilson) Averill and having been born in the neighboring town of Orange July 7, 1841.

When John W. Averill was a year old his parents moved to Barre and for more than 76 years thereafter he has been a resident of the town, barring the time he spent in service in the Civil war. He gained his education in the district schools and in Barre Academy, meanwhile learning the duties which were incident to farm life and the knowledge of which was to make him a successful farmer in later years.

The martial spirit of David Weston Averill, a soldier of the War of 1812, was handed down to the grandson, and John W., when 21 years of age, enlisted in the 8th Vermont Volunteers in the Civil War, in the year 1863, he being one of ten boys from Barre to form a band. The band joined the regiment at Franklin, La., in February 1864, and served in that state until July 5 of that year, when the regiment was transferred to Washington, D. C., and the Shenandoah valley. Later Mr. Averill was sent to the hospital at Frederick City, Md., for treatment for illness, being transferred sometime later to Baltimore and eventually to the hospital at Montpelier. Having partially recovered, he, with other soldiers from the hospital, was sent to St. Albans to do duty in the famous "Raid" service in defense against the Confederates. In the spring of 1865, Mr. Averill rejoined his regiment and was mustered out in June of that year.

James Weston Averill, a twin brother of the subject of this sketch, who had enlisted at the same time and who served two years in the war, was mustered out in the fall of 1865, having lost one foot by a shell at the battle of the Wilderness. This brother is still living, his home being in Otisville, Mich., and he has made frequent visits to his old home in Barre. He is ill at the present time and will be unable to come to Barre for the funeral.

John W. Averill married, March 24, 1866, Adela M. Trow, daughter of Mr. And Mrs. Dexter Trow of Barre; and she survives him, together with the following children: Edith W. Averill of Barre, Mrs. Leslie Lawrence of Barre, Mrs. George Townsend of Hardwick, Mrs. Ira Lawrence of Barre, John T. Averill of Barre and Adela M. Averill of Barre. One other son, Milton e. Died in 1889.

Mr. Averill never sought public office but he had served as a selectman in the town of Barre. He was a member of R. B. Crandall post, G.A.R., of Barre, and had served several terms as commander of the post, holding that office at the time of his death. He was an exemplary citizen and one who held the esteem of a large number of people.

The funeral will be held at the Congregational church in this city Tuesday morning at 10 o'clock, Rev. F. L. Goodspeed officiating, and interment will be in Elmwood cemetery. Owing to the poor condition of the roads there will be no service at the house. The members of the family request that flowers be omitted.

Source: Barre Daily Times, April 5, 1919
Courtesy of Tom Boudreau.