Page:The Biographical Dictionary of America, vol. 01.djvu/167

AUSTIN.AVERY. and a "Dissertation on Christian Theology" (1826). He also collected and edited the "Works of Jonathan Edwards" (8 vols., 1809). He died at Glastonbury, Conn., Dec. 4, 1830. AUSTIN, Stephen F., pioneer and "father of Texas," was born in Virginia, Nov. 3, 1793; son of Moses Austin. He was graduated with distinction at Transylvania university, Ky.; was elected to the territorial legislature of Missouri in 1813, and annually re-elected until 1819, when he removed to Arkansas, where he was appointed circuit judge. His father had received from Mexico a large grant of land near the boundary of Texas, for colonization purposes, conditional on his locating three hundred families. At his death, in 1820, Stephen, in pursuance of his father's request, proceeded immediately to colonize the tract. After many delays and much difficulty, he finally had the grant confirmed and planted on the present site of Austin a colony of some two hundred families. He was constituted governor by Mexico, and, as such, possessed dictatorial power; but he governed with justice and clemency. In 1833 the American settlers became discontented, and Austin was appointed by the colony as a commissioner to carry a petition for a separate government for Texas. The Mexican government, however, failing to consider the petition, Austin wrote to his people in October to form themselves into a separate colony, without awaiting Mexico's consent. This letter being intercepted, Austin was thrown into prison for many months. President Santa Anna, in May, 1834, called a council to hear the petition. Austin appeared before it, and by his eloquence won a promise of the repeal of the decree forbidding citizens of the United States from immigrating into Texas. The council also promised to establish a postal system and to station four thousand soldiers at Bexar to protect the frontier; but declined the prayer for separation. Austin was detained as a prisoner, but at the end of two years was allowed to return to his colony. At their first consultation, in 1835, Austin advised that any attempt by the Mexican government to disarm the colonists should be met by armed resistance. To this the colonists gladly acceded. Austin endeavored to effect a reconciliation, but all terms were haughtily rejected by the Mexicans; he determined to make no further overtures for peace, hostilities followed, the revolutionists were victorious at Gonzales, Conception and San Antonio, and Austin was made commander-in-chief of the army by acclamation, and forthwith sent to Gen. Sam Houston for aid in carrying on the revolution. Austin was sent as commissioner to Washington in November, 1835, to appeal to the United States government for aid, and made a favorable impression at the national capital. In 1836 the independence of Texas was declared, Sam Houston was elected first president of the republic, and he appointed Austin secretary of state. He died Dec. 27, 1836. AVERELL, William Woods, soldier, was born in Cameron, Steuben county, N. Y., Nov. 5, 1832. He was a grandson of Capt. Ebenezer Averell of the revolutionary army. Was graduated from West Point in 1855, was promoted 1st lieutenant in the 3d cavalry mounted rifles. May 14, 1861, after active service on the Indian frontier, where in a night attack by the Navajo Indians in 1859 he was severely wounded. His first service in the civil war was at the first battle of Bull Run and in the defence of Washington. In August, 1861, he was promoted colonel of the 3d Pa. volunteer cavalry attached to the army of the Potomac. For his gallant service in several engagements he was brevetted major, March 17, 1863, and at this time made his name famous in a series of cavalry raids in West Virginia, and was brevetted lieutenant-colonel after the battle of Kelly's Ford; colonel, Dec. 15, 1863; brigadier-general, March 13, 1865; and for meritorious conduct in the battle of Moorefield, Va., he was brevetted major-general. He was made captain in the regular army July 17, 1862, and resigned from the service May 18, 1865. He served as consul-general to the British provinces during 1868-'69,and on his return to the United States became president of the Asphalt Pavement Company, New York. He made several discoveries and inventions, including a method of converting ore into cast-steel at a single operation, an improved asphalt pavement, a machine for placing underground electric conductors. He was inspector-general of soldiers' homes at the time of his death, which occurred in Bath, N.Y.. Feb. 3, 1900. AVERY, Alphonso Calhoun, jurist, was born at Morganton, N.C., Sept. 11, 1835; son of Col. Isaac T, Avery, and grandson of Col. Waightstill Avery, a signer of the Mecklenburg declaration of independence. He was graduated at the University of North Carolina in 1857; studied law under Chief-Justice Pearson, and was admitted to the bar. He served as 1st lieutenant and captain in the 6th North Carolina regiment, 1861-’62; was promoted assistant inspector-general with the rank of major in Hill's division. Army of Northern Virginia and afterward served on the staff of Breckenridge Hood and Hindman. He was taken prisoner and held until 1865, when he resumed practice in Morganton, He was a member of the state legislature in 1866; of the state constitutional convention in 1875; judge of the superior court of his district, 1878-'88, and justice of the state supreme court. 1888-'96. AVERY, Elroy McKendrel, author, was born in Erie, Mich., July 14, 1844; son of Casper Hugh