Orleans County

AUSTIN, Orlo Henry

Men of Vermont: an Illustrated Biographical History of Vermonters and Sons of 
Vermont. Ullery. Brattleboro, VT: Transcript Pub. Co., 1894, Part II, pp 10-11

Orlo Henry AUSTIN, late of Barton Landing, was born 13 August 1838 in Eden 
[Lamoille County, Vermont], son of Asa and Nancy (GREGG) AUSTIN, and died at 
Barton Landing [now Orleans, Orleans County, Vermont] on 15 September 1893. 
Mr. AUSTIN acquired his education first in the public schools of Eden. On 
removing to Craftsbury [Orleans County, Vermont] in 1848, he attended the 
Essex Classical Institute. He was admitted to the class of 1863 in the 
University of Vermont and was a teacher until the breaking out of the Civil 
War, when, in the spring of 1862, he enlisted in Company F, Eleventh 
Regiment, Vermont Volunteers, was chosen second lieutenant and successively 
promoted to first lieutenant and captain of Company A, 02 September 1864, 
while in active service under SHERIDAN in the Shenandoah Valley. He was in 
every action engaging his regiment except the assault of Petersburg. Captain 
AUSTIN came of patriot stock, his father having joined the Vermont Volunteers 
in 1814, was in the battle of Plattsburg.

At the close of the war [the Civil War officially ended 09 April 1865], 
Captain AUSTIN built a store in Barton Landing and became a dealer in general 
merchandise. He entered into partnership in November 1869 with C. E. JOSLYN, 
and together they built up a large trade. J. C. PARKER and I. D. R. COLLINS 
joined the firm in the fall of 1873, adding to its business an extensive 
lumber trade. Decline in prices, losses by fire, increased through defective 
insurance, caused a suspension of the firm in the spring of 1877. Captain 
AUSTIN suffered a second time by fire, and then built the present large 
business block, which is an ornament to the village, entered into partnership 
with A. C. PARKER, studied law and was admitted to the Bar in 1880. In 
November of the following year he was appointed judge of probate to fill the 
vacancy caused by the death of Hon. I. N. CUSHMAN and held that office until 
his death. In politics he was a Republican, and held important town offices. 

Submitted by Cathy Kubly