Avery Skinner

Churchill: Landmarks of Oswego County, 1895 Mexico - Avery Skinner was born at Westmoreland, NH, June 9, 1796, and died at Union Square in this county, November 24, 1876. After passing his boyhood on a farm he attended the Chesterfield Academy, teaching in winters to pay his expenses. In 1816 he started for ³the Black River Country² on horseback, and ten days later reached Watertown, where he remained six years engaged in various pursuits. In 1823 he settled in Union Square, to which he gave its name. In 1831 he was elected to the Assembly and re-elected in 1832. In 1826 he was appointed County Treasurer and held the position twelve years, resigning upon his election to the State Senate. In 1828 he was appointed county judge and held the office until 1839, when he declined a reappointment. From 1838 to 1842 he represented the county in the Senate. In 1846 he was defeated for Congress by William Duer by only a few votes. He was a Democrat in politics, and in the various public officers to which he was chosen he exhibited exceptional natural qualifications, good abilities and high character. Timothy W. Skinner, a son of Avery, was admitted in 1857 and has practiced in Mexico village. He was surrogate sixteen years, longer than any other man in the county.

Mexico, Mother of Towns by Elizabeth M. Simpson (1946) states ³On 14 March 1821, Elizabeth L., daughter of the Huntington family, at the age of 18 became the wife of Avery Skinner in Watertown, NY. ³ Timothy Warner Skinner was born 1827. Avery's only sister, Cynthia, married Hiram Walker. The marriage took place in NH in February when ³Timothy was a little shaver². Mr. And Mrs. Hiram Walker joined the Avery Skinners, ³buying a farm on the Mexico road near Union Square, where their son the Rev. Avery Skinner Walker grew to manhood.²

History of Oswego County, 1877: Obit of Avery Skinner notes he was the ³father of Hon. Timothy W. Skinner of Mexico, NY, Hon. Charles R. Skinner of Watertown, NY, Rev. J. A. Skinner and Mrs. Mary G. Wright, wife of Judge Maurice I. Wright of Oswego, NY all of whom survive him, and of Mr. Albert F. Skinner and Mrs. E. H. Richardson, now deceased.² Timothy was born in Mexico in 1827 and ³admitted to the bar in Watertown in 1857, and has since practiced at Mexico. For fifteen years he was the junior partner of the banking house of Whitney & Skinner. In 1863 he was elected surrogate for four years, in 1871 for six years, and in 1877 for six years. He was also president of the village and justice of the peace for eight years. In 1856 he married Elizabeth Calkins, who died in 1861, leaving one child, Lizzie V., now Mrs. J. B. Stone of Auburn. Mr. Skinner afterwards married Sarah Rose and their children are Grace A. and Avery W.


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