As an author, Avery wrote school textbooks about physics and chemistry as well as books about the history of the United States, Cleveland, and New Port Richey.

[1] He fought in the American Civil War achieving the rank of Sergeant-Major while with the 11th Michigan Cavalry.

[1] In Battle Creek, Michigan, he was a high school principal in 1869 and married Catherine Hitchcock Tilden on July 2, 1870.

[2] Elroy Avery worked as a publisher in Cleveland until he retired and moved to New Port Richey, Florida in June 1919.

[4][5] On October 27, 1924, New Port Richey was incorporated and Avery was named its first mayor at age 80, serving until 1925.