Encyclopedia of Connecticut biography, genealogical-memorial ...

gineer by the Connecticut State Highway
Department for six months, and was with
the Ellison Construction Company of
Hartford one year. For six months he
was a construction engineer of the Southern
New England Telephone Company,
and left this employment to become direc-
tor of public works at Middletown in
1922. He has charge of the streets, water
works and other departments of city serv-
ice. The elimination of the grade crossing
on Bridge Street, Middletown, is one
of the projects to which he has given
much attention, and the final adoption of
a plan and commencement of operations is
due chiefly to his determination and perseverance,
against the objections of some
parties in interest. The improvement of
the city water service is now engaging
his attention, and his fertile brain is con-
stantly planning improvements in the
public service.
Mr. Mylchreest is affiliated with the
Methodist Church, and is a steadfast Re-
publican politically. He is identified
with the principal Masonic bodies, from
St. John's Lodge, No. 2, to Cyrene Commandery,
No. 8, and including Sphinx
Temple, Ancient Arabic Order Nobles of
the Mystic Shrine, of Hartford. He is
also a member of Central Lodge, No. 12,
Independent Order of Odd Fellows ; and
Middletown Lodge, No. 771, Benevolent
and Protective Order of Elks. In all rela-
tions of life he is energetic and faithful,
and enjoys the esteem and confidence of
his contemporaries.
He married, February 7, 1919, Grace
Ellen Burch, who was born September
5, 1894, in Spencer, Massachusetts, daugh-
ter of Manly Erastus and Mary (Sweet)
Burch, the latter a native of Hatfield,
Massachusetts. Mr. and Mrs. Mylchreest
are the parents of a son, Joseph Warren,
Junior.
ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY
173
AVERY, Edward C,
Business Man.
There is no name in New England
history borne with more worthy distinction
than that of Avery. Its members
have occupied those places of prominence
that lend lustre to a family name, and
have performed those daily duties of good
citizenship that contribute even more
surely to the welfare and prosperity of
the community. The origin of this name
in England has not thus far been fully de-
termined, some authorities stating that it
was derived from Aviarus. which means a
keeper of birds, while others assert that
the storehouse in which the forage for the
king's horses was deposited was called
the avery prior to the conquest. It is
quite probable, however, that the Saxon
personal name Alberic, which became
Latmlzed into Albericus, was softened
during the Norman rule into Aubrey, and
finally acquired its present form of
spelling.
A branch of this family was founded
in New Hampshire by John Avery, born
in Groton, Massachusetts, September 17,
1705, who settled in Stratham, New
Hampshire, in young manhood. He was
of the fourth American generation, de-
scended from Christopher Avery, founder
of the family in America, through his son,
Captain James Avery, and his grandson,
Samuel Avery, all of whom held important
places in public life. This is probably
the line whence sprang Robert Avery,
born near Franconia Notch, New Hamp-
shire, in 1804. He grew to manhood in
New Hampshire and shortly before his
marriage moved to Burke, New York.
There he engaged in farming on a fiftyacre
tract of land, which was a wedding
present to his wife from her father. He
married Maria Estabrook (see Estabrook