My Genealogy Hound

Henry N. Lavery, one of the prominent citizens of the village of Royal Oak, and a large land owner in Oakland County, was born February 14, 1856, in Canada, and came to Michigan when about five years of age. He is a son of Thomas and Julia (Franklin) Lavery, the former of whom was born in Ireland, and the latter in Canada.

Thomas Lavery accompanied his parents to America in boyhood, and they settled in Canada, where he grew up in the business of handling timber. Later he became a farmer, and in 1861 removed to Michigan, settling first at Detroit and later at Saginaw. He lived in Midland County for about 10 years prior to his death, where he became a man of considerable prominence and served some years as a justice of the peace. In politics he was a Republican; in religious belief, an Episcopalian. He married Julia Franklin, who died when our subject was six months old. Seven children were born to them, five of whom survived infancy, namely: Margaret, whose first husband was Daniel Donohue, of Detroit, and her second, Charles Frost; Thomas, deceased; Frederick, of Canada; Julia, deceased; and Henry N.

Henry N. Lavery, on being left motherless at the tender age of six months was placed in the Protestant Orphan Asylum at Detroit, and there obtained his primary education, which was later continued in the public schools of Royal Oak township, while a member of the household of James Lewless, with whom he lived until 18 years old. He then went to Midland County and for eight years worked in the timber, returning to Royal Oak township in 1884. Renting the farm of Amos W. Decker, he remained on it three years; operated the Kaiser farm for six years, and the Greenfield Park Hotel for two years and then entered the milk business as a producer. In 1896 he bought property in Royal Oak village and then went into the milk business as a wholesaler, in which he continued for four years. In 1899 the Detroit Creamery Company was formed and Mr. Lavery has been one of the stockholders and its agent ever since. In addition he farms 126 acres of land, owning 109 acres in Brandon township and 26 acres in section 16, Royal Oak township, where he rents 80 acres. He also owns his attractive home in the village and has paying property in Detroit. Mr. Lavery is one of the self-made, successful men of the locality.

In 1877 Mr. Lavery was married to Catherine E. Langer, who was born in 1858 at Pontiac and who is a daughter of Joseph and Catherine (Glatsell) Langer. Two children have been born to them, — Maud Belle, and Thomas Norman. Mr. Lavery is a prominent Republican, and in 1896 was elected township treasurer, to which office he was subsequently re-elected for a second term. In 1898 he was elected supervisor, an office he still holds. He is also assessor of the village. In 1900 he was elected a member of the village School Board and its moderator, and he was chairman of the building committee at the time of the construction of the new $12,000 school building which is an ornament to Royal Oak. In securing this building Mr. Lavery worked hard against much opposition and his success justifies his position as a public spirited citizen. He is now a member of the building committee which is considering proposals for the new Court House at Pontiac for which an appropriation of $100,000 has been made. Fraternally Mr. Lavery is a member of various Masonic bodies, and of the National Masonic Protective Association; of the Odd Fellows and the Loyal Protective Association of this order; of the Knights of the Maccabees and the Forresters of America.