John Lindley Avey. Among the men who are contributing materially to the advancement of the commercial, civic and educational interests of Garvin County, one who is deserving of the esteem and regard of his fellow-citizens is John Lindley Avey, of Lindsay, who since 1905 has been proprietor and editor of the Lindsay News, and who is now energetically and capably performing the duties of the office of postmaster. Mr. Avey’s residence at Lindsay covers the period of the community’s greatest progress, and each important enterprise has found his name enrolled upon its list of supporters.

John L. Avey was born at Arcola, Douglas County, Illinois, September 25, 1866, a son of Richard and Celia (Oakland) Avey, and a grandson of an innkeeper of County Suffolk, England. Richard Avey was born in County Suffolk, in 1837, and was about eighteen years of age when he came to the United States to seek his fortune, several years later locating in Coles County, Illinois, where he followed the vocations of farming and stockraising. In 1892 he came to Oklahoma and located at Oklahoma City as a pioneer implement dealer, but after about one year in that business disposed of his interests and retired. He continued as a director and stockholder of the American National Bank of Oklahoma City until his death, which occurred October 1, 1915. He was a democrat in his political views, and while residing in Illinois was elected to the offices of tax collector, member of the school board and commissioner of Coles County. He was an active member of the Episcopal Church, as well as a member of its official board. Richard Avey married Celia Oakland, who was born in 1838, in Norway, and who still survives him and resides at Oklahoma City. They became the parents of seven children, as follows: Mary, unmarried, who has for many years been engaged in educational work and is now one of tho most popular and efficient public school teachers of Oklahoma City; William T., who is president of the Mattoon Trust and Savings Bank, at Mattoon, Illinois; John Lindley; Maud, who is the wife of James Widmeyer, connected with the United States Weather Bureau at Wytheville, Virginia; Newton, who is engaged in the real estate and insurance business at Oklahoma City; Martha, unmarried, who for a number of years has had charge of the drawing work in the Oklahoma City Public Schools; and Oscar, a banker of Seattle, Washington.

John Lindley Avey received his primary education in the public schools of Arcola, Illinois, where he was graduated from the high school with the class of 1885. He next attended Valparaiso University, at Valparaiso, Indiana, and then returned to the home farm, where he remained until reaching his majority. His first independent enterprise was as a school teacher, but after teaching f,or several terms in the public schools of Coles and Douglas Counties, Illinois, was drawn into the field of journalism, and in the fall of 1892 entered the office of the Arcola Herald, with which organ he served his apprenticeship and with which he continued to be connected in various capacities until 1905. In July of that year he came to Oklahoma, locating at Lindsay, where he purchased from Editor Trillingham the Lindsay News, a newspaper which had been established in 1901 by A. A. Veach. Under Mr. Avey’s capable and energetic management this democratic organ has grown and developed to large proportions and now circulates in Garvin, Stephens, McClain, Grady and the surrounding counties, in addition to having a respectable foreign list. Mr. Avey is the owner of the building and plant, on Murray street, an establishment which would do credit to a city many times larger than Lindsay, being equipped to handle all kinds of first class printing work. From the time of his arrival here Mr. Avey has been a stalwart and enthusiastic booster of every enterprise calculated to advance the general welfare, and has been generous in giving of his time, abilities and means in the forwarding of such projects. He is the owner of a tract of ten acres adjoining the city park, where he owns also his own moder n and commodious residence. ,

In politics a democrat, Mr. Avey has taken some interest in public affairs, and October 19, 1913, received from President Wilson the appointment as postmaster of Lindsay, a position in which he has conscientiously endeavored to advance and elevate the efficiency of the service. He has also served as president of the school board and is a stanch friend of education. His religious faith is that of the Christian Church, in which he is an elder, while fraternally he is affiliated with Lindsay Lodge No. 248, Ancient, Free and Accepted Masons, tho Modern Woodmen of America, the Knights of Pythias and the Court of Honor, in all of which orders he has numerous friends.

Mr. Avey was married at Charleston, Illinois, in 1902, to Miss Nellie I. Fancier, daughter of the late David Fancier, who was a stationary engineer for cotton mills, city water works, etc. Mr. and Mrs. Avey have one child; Paul K., who was born April 6, 1904.