The New Orleans daily Democrat. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1877-1880, 1877-05-06
DEATH OFJoH v. AVER, OF CHICAGO.
The Romance of His Life.

The Romance OF His Life.
Tho Chicago papers announce the death of
that much respected citizen John " Aver, so
well known and highly esteemed In this COM
m,inity, MS well as lii Chicago. For some
years past, ever since the war, Col. Aver has
spent his winters In this city and on his
plantation ON the Teche for the benefit Of his
health, which was greatly impaired by the
severe winters of the North. For many years
be had been d victim Of the gout, In It's sever
est form. and on the occasion Of his last visit
TO our city, which was only few weeks ago,
his only locomotion was effected In chair.
His love Of company and genial spirit
would never endure the seelusion Of his cham
Der. and he could be seen every evening In
the st. Charles rottnda, rolling around and
chatting PLEASANTLY and cheerfully TO his old
| friends, OF whom, perhaps, no man ever had q
larger number, Impatient, however, to reioln
| his family, his wife being IN invalid. he anti
cipated his customary return to Chicago, and
thus lost the benefit OF olr milder cline ttg-
gravated his disease and hastened the fatl
termination thereof.
He was a most estimable kindly and hos
pitable gentleman, and endeared himself to u
large circle of friends In the South by the
strong proofs he always gave OF his warm
sympathies in all our sorrows and troubles,
and his strong attachments to our institu-
tions and even to our customs. These attach
ments to New Orleans and Louisiana were
formed thirty years ago. and they survived
his long residence in Chicago, and even his
partial alterations of the war.
/ An occurrence Of u sngularly romantic
character had no doubt contributed to
strengthen the tie by which Col. Aver
always regarded himself as strongly bound
to and intimately associated with our city.
In early life he had emigratsd from one oi
the New England States and settled In this
lefty. engaging in the shoe business. Fol
some years his business was prosperous ane
his prospects very encouraging. He regarded
his circumstances 10 be sufficiently easy ant
assured to Justify his marriage. I'm
pressed by the beauty, the intelligence ans
many charms Of very attractive blonde,
nativo of this city, Of highly cultiva
ted tastes and no little ambition, h'
sought her hand and was married to her
For some time the marriage was happ.
one. MS the husband was d prosperous mer
chant, and able to gratify the ambitious
tastes Of bis handsome wife. But. alasl Mis-
fortunes suddenly came upon the young
couple. The husband failed in his business
lost everything. and was reduced TO very
straitcned circun, stances, to which his cult
! waited and somewhat spirited young wife
found it very difficult to become reconciled
, Not improbably she murmured over her hare
| a nI inItiIrnI I'm f,f her uufnr.
, tunate husband. But Mr., Aver was not thu
man TO surrender to the first rebuff Of fortune
He was dsgusted with the surroundings .
his mishap and disaster, and determined Il
seek another field Of enterprise and adventure
He therefore proposed to try his fortunes II
the then remote and small village Of Chicago
away up on Lake Michigan. The wife re
belled violently against 80 wild an idea
Leave her family and friends, and dear New
Orleans, with all It's gaieties and refined pleas
ures, and trust her fine complexion, soft hand
and beautiful golden locks to the rude winds
t which sweep from Lake Michigan, abandon
the luxuries of her comfortable home to take
!, up a residence In u wretched mud hole and con
sort with the rude settlers of new ialf-Tndar
village on the borders of civilization No
never! But the stout New Englander wa
firm in his purpose and would not chang
IL for any woman. SO they euarreled
J and separated. The young wife went home Il
her mother whilst Aver hurried off to LAX
Michigan. and there joined the enterpr isins
body of settlers who laid the foundations o
the now grand and solid city of Chicago TIN
marvel Of the continent and the nobest mon
tlment Of American enterprise which has evel
been erected.
3 Shortly after the separation, the wife gave
birth to fine son. who was named Herbert
This separation was q final one The hus
band engaged In active and absorbing bust
ness, and the wife formed new associations
each determined to forget the other, and t,
| Danish all idea OF ever resuming their con
; nubial relations. With the progress of years
this alienation became complete, SO as to en-
title both parties to legal separation, which
was granted And not long after the deere.
, of the court had dissolved their old marriag,
) tie, both formed new ones and entered upor
new careers The widow Aver, with he
, beautiful boy, became the much loved ant
honored wife Of Il highly respected merchan
! and bank cashier, and the enterprising emf
grant from New Orleans, who had repaired
his fortunes in the distant town of Chicago
chose most estimable lady of that town fo,
his second venture in matrimony.
Their second marriages proved very happ,
ones. Several children blessed both. and a.
! time passed on these childred grew ND tx
adulthood The son of Mr.. Aver became &
fine, handsome, manly, spirited and intel
. ligent youth, but adopted the name of his
stepfather and secured a good position in
mercantile house. Then there were half-sis
. ters, charming and accomplished young la
bo |,