WI BIO - Lafayette Co - AUSTIN, Samuel R.
Commemorative Biographical Record of Counties of Rock, Green, Grant, Iowa and 
Lafayette, WI, Containing Biographical Sketches of Prominent and 
Representative Citizens, and of Many of the Early Settled Families. Chicago: 
Beers, 1901, pp 543-544

Samuel R. AUSTIN, one of the highly respected and prominent farmers of 
Belmont Township, Lafayette County [Wisconsin], who have retired from the 
active duties of an agricultural life to enjoy the fruits of their honest 
labor, was born in Sumner County, Tennessee, 31 January 1825, his parents 
being William and Edith (DICKINSON) AUSTIN, both of whom were natives of 
Maryland. William AUSTIN moved to Tennessee where for twenty years he 
followed farming and conducted a large tobacco plantation, in 1828 removing 
to Coles County, Illinois, where he purchased an improved farm and passed the 
balance of his life. The mother of our subject dying when he was a little 
child, his father later married Rebecca WOODHALL [a maiden name?], and many 
children were born to this union, seven daughters and five sons. Of this 
large family only our subject and his brother, James B., of Oklahoma, are 
living. Our subject grew up on the farm in Illinois, where he became the 
manager of a large estate while he was quite young.

In 1845 he [Samuel R. AUSTIN] married Maggie M. ASHMORE, who was born in 
Illinois in 1826, a daughter of Samuel and Margaret ASHMORE, who were born in 
Kentucky, and settled in Illinois. In 1846 Mr. AUSTIN, with his wife and one 
child, came to [the Territory of] Wisconsin, and lived for a short time in 
Lima, Grant County, but in 1847 he bought a quarter section of land from the 
government, in Lafayette County [Territory of Wisconsin; State of Wisconsin 
created 29 May 1848], where settlement was made, and the home in the new 
country instituted.

The early days of his pioneer life were full of hardship, but toil and energy 
accomplished wonders. Mr. AUSTIN has been one of the men who have made 
Wisconsin what it is, for the tillers of the soil have been the real elements 
in the progress of this great State. While there was much that was 
picturesque and exciting in the new life to those who had come from a 
thoroughly civilized community, there [p 544] were also many elements of 
danger, and the deprivations which only heroic spirits can endure. The first 
desire of Mr. AUSTIN was to complete buildings and make his family and stock 
and cattle comfortable, and these in time were erected, some of them still 
standing, in good repair.

When the Civil War broke out our subject [Samuel R. AUSTIN] made three 
applications before he was accepted, finally joining Company K, 44th 
Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry, but his discharge followed, on account of 
disability, and he returned to his farm, where he has lived since.

The children born to our subject and wife [Samuel R. and Maggie M. (ASHMORE) 
AUSTIN] are among the esteemed residents of this locality, and as he has 
taken a deep interest in their welfare, it is with pleasure that he can see 
their worldly prosperity, many of them settled around him. (1) William is a 
resident of Belmont [Lafayette County, Wisconsin]; (2) Elizabeth is the 
widow of Elijah BUSHNELL; (3) John is a resident of Platteville [Grant 
County, Wisconsin]; (4) Eliza, who married Sidney STEPHENS, resides in Lima, 
Grant County; (5) Margaret is deceased; (6) Samuel is a resident of Dubuque 
[Dubuque County], Iowa; (7) Frank resides in Platteville; (8) Ellen, who 
married William SHEPHERD, lives in Platteville; (9) Edith, deceased, married 
William THOMAS; (10) Emma is the widow of Eldred TRENARY, and lives in 
Platteville; and (11) James resides on part of his father's homestead. The 
grandchildren which gather around Mr. and Mrs. AUSTIN are happy and healthy, 
and give fair promise that the good old name will not soon die out in 
Wisconsin.

For some twelve years Mr. [Samuel R.] AUSTIN has been retained on the school 
board, an evidence of the confidence and esteem in which this worthy citizen 
is held in an intelligent community. His connection with the Republican 
party has been long and active, as he fully believes in the principles he 
professes. Both Mr. and Mrs. AUSTIN are highly valued in their connection 
with the Methodist Episcopal Church, and socially he is connected with 
Sherman Post, G. A. R., of Platteville. Mr. AUSTIN has always been a 
hard-working man, and thoroughly believes in the value of toil, having proven 
its worth, as by it has been able to accomplish so much.

Submitted by Cathy Kubly