Alphonso Calhoun Avery (September 11, 1835 – June 13, 1913) was a lawyer,

Confederate Confederacy or confederate may refer to: States or communities * Confederate state or confederation, a union of sovereign groups or communities * Confederate States of America, a confederation of secessionist American states that existed between 1 ...

military officer, and politician in North Carolina. During the American Civil War, he served with the rank of major on the staffs of General

Daniel Harvey Hill Lieutenant-General Daniel Harvey Hill (July 12, 1821 – September 24, 1889), commonly known as D. H. Hill, was a senior officer of the Confederate States Army who commanded infantry in the eastern and western theaters of the American Civil Wa ...

and

John Bell Hood John Bell Hood (June 1 or June 29, 1831 – August 30, 1879) was a Confederate general during the American Civil War. Although brave, Hood's impetuosity led to high losses among his troops as he moved up in rank. Bruce Catton wrote that "the dec ...

. After the Civil War, he was very active in politics in North Carolina.

Early life and education

Avery was born on September 11, 1835, at Swan Ponds, Burke County, North Carolina, his brothers included

William Waightstill Avery William Waightstill Avery (1816–1864) was a North Carolina politician and lawyer. He served in the North Carolina House of Commons and State Senate prior to the U.S. Civil War. He represented North Carolina in the Provisional Confederate Co ...

and

Isaac Avery Isaac Erwin Avery (December 20, 1828 – July 3, 1863) was a planter and an officer in the Confederate States Army. He died at the Battle of Gettysburg during the American Civil War. Avery is most remembered for a poignant blood-stained note ...

. He received a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of North Carolina in 1857. He then studied law under Chief Justice Pearson of North Carolina.

Military career

Avery served in the 6th North Carolina regiment as a 1st lieutenant and captain. He then served as assistant inspector general with the rank of major on the staffs of General Daniel Harvey Hill, his brother in law via his marriage to Susan Morrison, and J. B. Hood. Another brother-in-law via marriage to a daughter of

Robert Hall Morrison Robert Hall Morrison was the first president of Davidson College. Morrison, originally from Cabarrus County, North Carolina, enrolled at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, eventually graduating second in the class, behind future Pr ...

was

Thomas "Stonewall" Jackson Thomas Jonathan "Stonewall" Jackson (January 21, 1824 – May 10, 1863) was a Confederate general during the American Civil War, considered one of the best-known Confederate commanders, after Robert E. Lee. He played a prominent role in nearl ...

Political career

In 1866, he served as a member of the North Carolina House of Representatives. In 1868, he was elected to the senate but not allowed to take his seat. He served as a member of the Constitutional Convention in 1875 and as a Tilden elector in 1876. He served as a judge of the Superior Court from 1878 to 1888. From 1888 to 1896, he was a judge of the Supreme Court for North Carolina. He was defeated in his reelection attempt in 1896.

Death and legacy

He died in

Morganton, North Carolina Morganton is a city in and the county seat of Burke County, North Carolina, United States. The population was 16,918 at the 2010 census. Morganton is approximately northwest of Charlotte. Morganton is one of the principal cities in the Hick ...

, on June 13, 1913. His house known as the

Alphonse Calhoun Avery House Alphonse Calhoun Avery House, also known as the Avery-Surnrnersette House, is a historic home located at Morganton, Burke County, North Carolina. It was built about 1876, and is a two-story, U-shaped, Late Victorian style brick house. It featu ...

or the Avery-Surnrnersette House was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1984. His papers are held by the

Louis Round Wilson Library The Louis Round Wilson Library is a library at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Completed in 1929, it served as the university's main library until 1984. Today, it houses several special collections. The dome rises 85 feet over the ...

at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. His daughter

Gladys Avery Tillett Gladys Love Avery Tillett (March 19, 1891 – September 21, 1984) was an American political organizer and activist, based in North Carolina. She supported women's suffrage when she was a college student, and was working for passage of the Equal Rig ...

was politically active in North Carolina, from suffrage to the

Equal Rights Amendment The Equal Rights Amendment (ERA) is a proposed amendment to the United States Constitution designed to guarantee equal legal rights for all American citizens regardless of sex. Proponents assert it would end legal distinctions between men and ...

, and served as a United States representative with

UNESCO The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization is a specialized agency of the United Nations (UN) aimed at promoting world peace and security through international cooperation in education, arts, sciences and culture. It ...

.Carolyn Roff
"Gladys Love Avery Tillett"
''Dictionary of North Carolina Biography'', edited by William S. Powell (University of North Carolina Press 1996).

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Avery, Alphonso Calhoun People from Morganton, North Carolina People of North Carolina in the American Civil War 1835 births Members of the North Carolina House of Representatives Confederate States Army officers 19th-century American judges North Carolina lawyers University of North Carolina alumni 1913 deaths 19th-century American lawyers