The Biographical Dictionary of America/Avery, Isaac Wheeler

AVERY, Isaac Wheeler, lawyer, was born in St. Augustine, Fla., May 2, 1837; son of Isaac Wheeler and Mary (King) Avery. After a careful preliminary education under the tutelage of the Georgian historian, the Rev. George White, he entered the Oglethorpe university, Georgia, whence he was graduated in 1854. He then taught school, and in 1856 became legislative correspondent of two of the leading Democratic dailies of the state. He then studied law, and in 1860 gained admission to the Savannah bar. He aided in the capture of Fort Pulaski in January, 1861, and then enlisting in the 8th Georgia infantry as a private, he served throughout the war. He was promoted through the several ranks to that of brigadier-general of cavalry. In 1862 he was captured by Sheridan, but was soon specially exchanged at Corinth. He received a severe wound at the battle of New Hope church; which prevented his return to the army up to the close of the war. In 1864 Colonel Avery resumed the practice of law at Dalton, Ga. In 1868 he married Emma Bivings, and in 1869 removed to Atlanta and became editor-in-chief of the Constitution. In 1872 he was elected by the Democrats a delegate-at-large to the presidential convention, and was also a member of the state Democratic executive committee, and its secretary and manager the same year. From 1877 to 1883 he was secretary of the Georgia executive department, and from 1885 to 1889 was chief of the public debt division, U. S. treasury. In 1892 he began his work of establishing direct lines for commerce between the southern ports of North America and foreign countries which resulted in an enormous increase in foreign trade in the South. General Avery managed the Atlanta Constitution; became a commissioner at large in 1893, for the Cotton states and the International exposition, held at Atlanta. Ga., and in 1895 visited the United States, South America and Mexico in their interests, securing commissioners to the exposition and oreign exhibits. He published "Digest of Georgia Supreme Court Reports" (1866); "History of Georgia" (1881). He died at Atlanta, Ga., Sept. 8, 1887.