Born in Union Square (later Maple View). Son of Timothy &Ruth (Warner) Skinner. Husband of 1) Elizabeth "Eliza" Lathrop Huntington, & 2) Charlotte P. Skinner.

The Hon. Avery SKINNER, was one of the pioneers of the northern section of NY State, having come to Watertown from New Hampshire in 1816. He afterwards moved to Union Square in this county in 1824, and from that time until his death in 1876 was prominently identified with the best interests of this section. Judge Skinner was a man of powerful intellect, combined with a vigorous and athletic frame, admirably fitted by nature to take part in the settlement and progressive movements of a new country. For fifty years he filled a most important part in the history of Oswego County and the northern section of the State of New York. In politics he was a Democrat of the Jeffersonian school, a personal friend of Horatio SEYMOUR, Silas WRIGHT and other prominent Democrats, and responsible political honors were repeatedly conferred upon him. For twelve years he was judge and county treasurer of Oswego county. In 1831 he was elected member of assembly from his district, and re-elected to the same office in 1832, serving two terms thereafter; and in 1836-41 was chosen State senator from the district then comprising the counties of Oswego, Jefferson, Lewis, Onondaga, Otsego and Madison. While in the Senate Judge Skinner was a member of the Court for the Correction of Errors, which under the old constitution was the highest court in the State and analogous to the present Court of Appeals. He was also interested in business and educational matters, having been the first presiding officer and a director of the Syracuse Northern Railway Company. He was also one of the founders of the Mexico Academy in 1826, and in 1876, a few months before his death, he attended its semi-centennial as the only survivor of its original board of trustees.