Cyrus and Robert Avery established the Avery company in 1874, initially producing cultivators and planters (distinct from B.F. Avery & Sons). By 1891, the company relocated to Peoria, Illinois, where it began manufacturing steam tractors. In 1909, Avery entered the tractor market with the Farm & City, which had a design resembling a truck. Although the company launched a series of tractors, it encountered significant challenges during the Great Depression. Despite several reorganizations, the company ultimately ceased operations at the start of World War II.