The picturesque home of the Averys, built in 1656, in the town of New London (now Groton), by Captain James Avery, was occupied by his descendants until it was destroyed by fire in 1894. A monument has been erected upon the site, with a bronze tablet containing a _fac-simile_ of the old home. The youngest son of Captain James Avery was Samuel, whose fine face looks out from the pages of the interesting Avery Genealogy, which Homer D. L. Sweet, of Syracuse, spent thirty years in writing. Samuel, an able and public-spirited man, married, in 1686, in Swanzey, Mass., Susannah Palmes, a direct descendant, through thirty-four generations, of Egbert, the first king of England. The name has always been retained in the family, Lucy Avery Rockefeller naming her youngest son Egbert. Her eldest son, William Avery, married Eliza Davison; and of their six children, John Davison Rockefeller is the second child and eldest son. [Illustration: JOHN D. ROCKEFELLER.] He was born in Richford, Tioga County, N.Y., July 8, 1839. His father, William Avery, was a physician and business man as well. With great energy he cleared the forest, built a sawmill, loaned his money, and, like his noted son, knew how to overcome obstacles. The mother, Eliza Davison, was a woman of rare common sense and executive ability. Self-poised in manner, charitable, persevering in whatever she attempted, she gave careful attention to the needs of her family, but did not forget that she had Christian duties outside her home. The devotion of Mr. Rockefeller to his mother as long as she lived was marked, and worthy of example. The Rockefeller home in Richford was one of mutual work and helpfulness. The eldest child, Lucy, now dead, was less than two years older than John; the third child, William, about two years younger; Mary, Franklin and Frances, twins, each about two years younger than the others; the last named died early. All were taught the value of labor and of economy. The eldest son, John, early took responsibility upon himself. Willing and glad to work, he cared for the garden, milked the cows, and acquired the valuable habit of never wasting his time. When about nine years old he raised and sold turkeys, and instead of spending the money, probably his first earnings, saved it, and loaned it at seven per cent. It would be interesting to know if the lad ever dreamed then of being perhaps the richest man in America?