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Below is a family biography included in Biographical and Historical Memoirs of Desha County, Arkansas published by Goodspeed Publishing Company in 1890.  These biographies are valuable for genealogy research in discovering missing ancestors or filling in the details of a family tree. Family biographies often include far more information than can be found in a census record or obituary.  Details will vary with each biography but will often include the date and place of birth, parent names including mothers' maiden name, name of wife including maiden name, her parents' names, name of children (including spouses if married), former places of residence, occupation details, military service, church and social organization affiliations, and more.  There are often ancestry details included that cannot be found in any other type of genealogical record.

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Dr. Harvey N. Austin is an eminent physician and surgeon of Silver Lake Township, but his practice is not alone confined to this locality, but extends over a large area where his skill and talent have been the means of restoring many to health and happiness. He was born in Oxford County, of Canada West, March 9, 1837, and is a son of Henry Austin, a native of New York, who was born in 1790 and died about 1877. He resided in his native State until about fifteen years of age, then removed with his parents to Canada West, and there attained manhood, and made his home until his death, being the owner of a handsome property, which he had accumulated by farming, at the time of his death. His wife, whose maiden, name was Mary J. Ross, was born in the Emerald Isle in 1800, and when a child of seven years, was brought by her parents to Canada, where she was reared, educated and married. Her death occurred at Woodstock, Canada, in 1875. They became the parents of four sons and four daughters: William W. (a resident farmer of Oxford County, Canada), Helen (the wife of David Hulet, a farmer of Canada), Harvey N., Edwin (a farmer residing near Niagara Falls, in New York), Minnie (wife of J. W. Buckley, a resident of New York City), John H. (a real estate agent of St. Augustine, Fla.), Elizabeth (the deceased wife of John Combs), and Harriet (the deceased wife of Henry Taylor). Dr. Harvey N. Austin attended the common schools of Canada, but completed his education in the University of Michigan, at Ann Arbor. He began the study of medicine in Canada with Dr. J. W. Smith, and for two terms attended lectures in the University of Michigan, after which he graduated from the Albany Medical School. At a still later period he attended the College of Physicians and Surgeons of New York, of which noted school he is also a graduate, taking his degree in 1865 He has begun practicing, however, in 1860, after graduating at Albany in 1859, his labors in the “healing art” being first carried on at Lancaster, Mo., where he remained until the Civil War broke out. In June, 1861, he joined the Confederate army as regimental surgeon of the Third Missouri State Militia, and was on hospital duty the most of his service. After the war he settled at Stiles, Iowa, but in 1870 came to his present location, where he has since made his home with the exception of three years, which were spent in the northern part of the State, one year spent at Mulberry and two at Eureka Springs. He is doing an exceptionally fine practice, and holds an enviable place in the estimation of all who know him, both professionally and socially. His wife was born in Arkansas County, Ark., in 1850. Her union with the Doctor was consummated April 29, 1880, and both are active members of the Episcopal Church. The Doctor is a Democrat and a Master Mason.

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This family biography is one of 80 biographies included in Biographical and Historical Memoirs of Desha County, Arkansas published in 1890.  For the complete description, click here: Desha County, Arkansas History, Genealogy, and Maps

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