AUSTIN, GEORGE OSCAR

AUSTIN, HATHAWAY, SANDS, HARTSHORN, CARPENTER, REILLY, SCHMITT, FULLER, SHIELDS, DAY, HARRINGTON

Posted By: Jean Kramer (email)
Date: 5/27/2004 at 15:30:36

Biography reproduced from page 473 of the History of Kossuth and Humboldt Counties, Iowa published in 1884:

George O. Austin was born in Delaware Co., N. Y., March 13, 1827. He lived in his childhood’s home until twenty-six years of age. In 1854 he removed to Illinois, locating on a farm in Buffalo Grove, Ogle county. In 1865 he came to Kossuth county and took a homestead of 160 acres on section 21, Greenwood township. He purchased a half section of college land in the fall of 1865, but afterwards sold it. Mr. Austin has been married twice. In November, 1852, he was united in marriage with Bertha, daughter of Samuel and Jane (Buck) Sands, of Hancock, Delaware Co., N. Y. The result of this union was six children, four of whom are living—Hathaway, Oscar, Louise and Audell. Mrs. Austin died in July, 1875. She was a member of the M. E. Church. Mr. Austin was married on the 29th of January, 1881 to Lucy D. Shield, daughter of S. S. N. and Clarissa A. (Day) Fuller, of New York. They have one child—George. Mr. Austin is a republican. He has held many local offices of trust in this township.
-----------------------------

Biography reproduced from page 346 of Volume II of the History of Kossuth County written by Benjamin F. Reed and published in 1913:

Among the pioneers of Kossuth county whose names should receive mention in a work of his kind is George Oscar Austin, a retired farmer, who was justice of the peace in Bancroft for many years. He was born March 13, 1827, in Margaretville, New York, a son of George O., and Elsie (Hathaway) Austin.

George O. Austin received his education in the common schools of Delaware county, New York , after which he attended an academy at Kingston. At the age of seventeen years he became a sailor, following the sea for three years. He made two trips around Cape Horn in a sailing vessel which was engaged in whale fishing and while thus engaged he visited most of the islands of the Pacific, including Hawaii. He was in California in 1848, at the time gold was discovered. Upon leaving the sea Mr. Austin assumed the occupation of farming in Illinois. In the early spring of 1865, he loaded his household goods into wagons and with his family of six children, taking along his cattle, sheep and horses, he left Polo for Iowa, in search for free government homestead land. In June of the same year he unloaded his goods on the banks of the Des Moines river, two and one-half miles west of the present town of Bancroft, in Kossuth county. The first house to shelter his family was of sod, while those of other settlers were made of rails covered with hay and brush, there being plenty of such material close at hand. In the early years of his farming experience in Iowa he hauled his provisions from Fort Dodge, Iowa, Blue Earth, Minnesota, and Algona, Iowa. After residing on that farm for five years he received his patent from the government and continued to live there until 1890, when he moved to Bancroft, becoming proprietor of the Globe Hotel and conducting this hotel for ten years.

Mr. Austin was twice married, his first wife being Miss Bertha Sands, whom he wedded in 1843 in Hancock, Delaware county, New York. She was early left an orphan and was an intellectual and refined woman of Scotch and English descent. She died in this county, July 8, 1875, leaving four children: Hathaway, who married Jane Hartshorn; Oscar E., who married Adelaide Carpenter and is deceased; Louise E., the wife of P. A. Reilly; and Odell C., who married M. D. Schmitt. Mr. Austin was married in January, 1881, at the homestead in Greenwood township, to Mrs. Lucie (Fuller) Shields, the daughter of S. S. N. and Clarissa (Day) Fuller, the former a native of Massachusetts and the latter of Pennsylvania. Both parents are now deceased, the father passing away at Logan, Indiana, and the mother at Bancroft. To the second marriage of Mr. Austin three children were born: George G.; Frank F., who married Miss Lena Harrington; and Mayde. Two of the children, George G. and Mayde, are living at home with their mother, caring for Mr. Austin in his declining years.

George O. Austin is a man of convictions and has not been afraid to stand by them. He has always been interested in the public welfare, was a republican in his earlier years and has been something of a politician. He always took an active interest in the public schools, and in the early ‘80s was elected justice of the peace of Greenwood township, this county, a position which he held almost continuously until 1905. His political inclination in later years has been toward the democratic party. Mr. Austin has long been a member of the Methodist Episcopal church, contributing materially to its support, and by his well ordered life has added to the dignity of that religious body. As one of the pioneers of Kossuth county Mr. Austin assisted greatly in the development and has contributed largely to present civilization and prosperity. He was one of the first mail carriers of Greenwood township, receiving his first appointment on the day of General Lee’s surrender. His activity in business affairs as well as his prominent civic relationships were great aids, especially in the earlier years, in making this community what it is today, and he is well known to a large circle of friends throughout the county.