My Genealogy Hound

THOMAS R. AUSTIN, M. D., was born in what is now Schuyler County, N. Y., April 27, 1842, being the fourth in a family of six children born to David R. and Lydia (Rhodes) Austin, who were natives, respectively, of New York and Pennsylvania. His parents dying when he was quite young, our subject was raised to manhood by an uncle, securing a good English education. In August, 1862, he became a volunteer private in Company G, One Hundred and Ninth Regiment, New York Infantry, and serving under Gen. Grant through the entire campaign, from the Wilderness to the reduction of Petersburg inclusive, he was honorably discharged at the close of the war. He taught school some before and after the war, and November 29, 1867, married Frances Parshall, by whom he is the father of three children: George H., Annie and Fannie (deceased). Two years subsequent to his marriage, Mr. Austin removed to Iowa, and for a number of years was superintendent of a large farm belonging to his father-in-law. In 1873 he began reading medicine, and the winters of 1875-76 and 1876-77 attended the Eclectic Medical Institute of Cincinnati, which graduated him January 23, 1877. Dr. Austin was engaged in the practice of his profession at various places until 1880, when he located at Chrisney, where he has an established and constantly increasing practice. He is a Democrat, and Mrs. Austin belongs to the Reformed Church.