1870 - 1942 (72 years) Submit Photo / Document
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Name |
William Alonzo Avery |
Born |
12 Feb 1870 |
Hudson, Columbia, New York |
Gender |
Male |
Library book: The Groton Avery Clan |
07089 |
Biographical Information |
Aviation Pioneer William first flew in 1896. Seven years before the Wright brothers made their famous first powered flight. He was an associate of Octave Chanute. As the technology advanced to the point gliders were becoming a reality Chanute was too old to act as a pilot. Avery built the gilders from Chanutes plans and acted as one of his test pilots. |
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Letter to Herring. 1901 page 1 of 2. William was not just the hired muscle and test pilot. He was part of the development team. The third member was Augustus herring. Eventually his ego got the best of him and he left the group. He did not however have the resources to make his plans reality. He eventually tried to patent a powered version of their glider but, it was rejected as it was an unproven theory.
In the second point of this letter he wrote to Herring Chanute laments that neither he or herring have given Avery proper credit.
Correspondence of Octave Chanute 1888-1910, Institute of the Aeronautical Sciences (U.S.). Aeronautical Archives. Pages 218 & 219. |
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Letter to Herring. 1901 page 2 of 2. Correspondence of Octave Chanute 1888-1910, Institute of the Aeronautical Sciences (U.S.). Aeronautical Archives. Pages 218 & 219. |
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Chicago Airship Sails - William Alonzo Avery In 1904 Avery headed to the World's Fair in Saint Louis, Missouri. A Frenchman was offering a prize of $10,000 for the longest flight.
The Inter Ocean (Chicago, Illinois) 19 Sep 1904, Monday, Page 2 |
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Letter to Wright Dec 1904. In this letter Chanute wrote to one of the Wright brothers (first name not specified) he talks about how Avery injured his ankle in Saint Louis and was forced to withdraw from the competition.
Correspondence of Octave Chanute, letters to Wilbur and Orville Wright 1900-1910, Institute of the Aeronautical Sciences (U.S.). Aeronautical Archives. |
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1896 Flight Test. William lived in Chicago. He was a contractor by trade so, he had the skills and shop space needed to build Chanute's gliders. it was an ideal location because a short trip to the southern end of lake Michigan provided the sand dunes, weather and isolation needed for testing. The first testing was done in September of 1896 on the lake shore in Indiana. Avery had the longest verified flight. |
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The Gliding Machine of William Avery. The Gliding Machine of William Avery at the 1904 Words Fair, Saint Louis, Missouri. |
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Glider Launcher Patent 1906. The launch system used at the worlds fair consisted of a car that ran on railroad like rails and an electric motor that pulled a tow rope. |
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1904 Flight. The performance at the fair was nothing short of outstanding. It seemed to prize was destine to be Avery's. Unfortunately before it was wrapped up the tow rope broke before it should have been released. This resulted in a hard landing in which Avery sprained his ankle bad enough to end his participation in the competition. In a few short years the success of the Wright brothers accelerated aviation development to the point it was no longer being done by amateurs out of their home shops.
There are many places where reproductions of this glider can be seen. The original glider was disassembled and shipped to France where it still is at the Musee de L'Air et de L'Espace at Paris, France. |
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Chanute Letters (9) More letters regarding William A. Avery's appearance at the St. Louis 1904 World's Fair. |
Census |
1875 |
New York |
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1875 NY Avery. Hudson, Columbia, New York. Family number 64. |
Census |
1880 |
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1880 Avery 3. 1880 US census, Chicago, Cook, Illinois, enumeration district 190, Family Number 6885836, Avery. |
Biographical Information |
1893 |
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Four Are Drowned. Chicago Tribune, Monday, July 19, 1893. Page one. |
Died |
3 Mar 1942 |
Chicago, Cook, Illinois |
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Captain William Alonzo Avery Obituary Chicago Tribune (Chicago, Illinois) 04 Mar 1942, Wednesday, Page 25 |
Buried |
5 Mar 1942 |
Rosehill Cemetery and Mausoleum, Chicago, Cook, Illinois, United States |
Siblings |
7 siblings |
1. Henry Cyrus Avery, b. 18 Jul 1859, Hudson, Columbia, New York , d. 21 Jan 1925, Chicago, Cook, Illinois | |
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5. Frank Crofts Avery, b. 19 Aug 1867, Hudson, Columbia, New York , d. 3 Apr 1936, Chicago, Cook, Illinois | |
6. Samuel Powell Avery, b. 24 Apr 1872, Hudson, Columbia, New York , d. 12 Oct 1935, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California | |
7. Frederick Hauge Avery, b. 14 Jan 1875, Hudson, Columbia, New York , d. 26 Jan 1928, Chicago, Cook, Illinois | |
Headstones |
Submit Headstone Photo |
Person ID |
I39549 |
Nagel |
Last Modified |
9 Oct 2021 |
Father |
William Alonzo Avery, b. 4 Oct 1828, Hudson, Columbia, New York , d. 6 Jan 1899, Chicago, Cook, Illinois (Age 70 years) |
Relationship |
Birth |
Mother |
Sarah Whitfield Powell, b. 3 May 1833, Ireland , d. 5 Dec 1903, Chicago, Cook, Illinois (Age 70 years) |
Relationship |
Birth |
Married |
27 Oct 1858 |
Family ID |
F12350 |
Group Sheet | Family Chart |
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Event Map |
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| Born - 12 Feb 1870 - Hudson, Columbia, New York |
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| Census - 1875 - New York |
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| Died - 3 Mar 1942 - Chicago, Cook, Illinois |
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| Buried - 5 Mar 1942 - Rosehill Cemetery and Mausoleum, Chicago, Cook, Illinois, United States |
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Pin Legend |
: Address
: Location
: City/Town
: County/Shire
: State/Province
: Country
: Not Set |
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Photos |
| William Avery William Avery - Fifth great grandson of James Avery. Aviation pioneer. |
| Willian Alonzo Avery William worked with Octave Chanute in the development of gliders. |
1940 Census |
| 1940 Avery 14 1940 US census, Lake Villa, Lake, Illinois, enumeration district 49-49, Family Number 49, Avery. |
Dogs |
| The Dawn of Flight. Pictured are aviation pioneers William Avery and Augustus Herring. The photographer was likely Octave Chanute. No record of who owned the dogs but, it's comforting to know man's best friend was present at the dawn of flight |
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