My Genealogy Hound

JAMES M. AUSTIN, M. D. The medical fraternity of the Buckeye State embraces many men of marked talent, and among them may be properly numbered Dr. Austin, who since 1881 has been pursuing a profitable and extensive practice throughout the city of Springfield and vicinity. His native place was near Wilmington, Clinton County, this State, and the date of his birth December 24, 1848. His immediate progenitors were William R. and Elizabeth (Darby) Austin.

The father of our subject was born in North Carolina, in 1808, and removed with his parents to Clinton County, Ohio, in 1812. The paternal grandfather, William Austin, Sr., was one of the early pioneers of Ohio, and a local preacher in the Methodist Episcopal Church. He spent his last years in Clinton County. The mother of Dr. Austin was born in Maryland, in 1809, and is still living, making her home with her daughter in Clinton County. Her father, William Darby, became a resident of Clinton County in 1820, where his daughter was reared to womanhood and married. Of her union with William Austin there was born a family of seven children, three sons and four daughters. Five of these are still living, the youngest being James M., our subject.

Dr. Austin spent his boyhood and youth on his father’s farm, in his native county, pursuing his early studies in the district school. Later he attended a graded school for two years and afterward occupied himself as a teacher. He at an early age decided upon the profession of medicine, and commenced his studies with this end in view, in the office of Dr. Jonas Watkins, of Blanchester, Ohio. When sufficiently advanced he repaired to the Eclectic Medical Institute of Cincinnati, from which he was graduated in 1874. Returning then to his native county he commenced the practice of his profession in Westboro, remaining there eight months. Thence he removed to North Hampton, Clark County, where he conducted a successful practice from 1874 until 1881.

In the above mentioned year Dr. Austin decided upon another change of location, and accordingly established himself in Springfield, where he formed a partnership with Dr. Reynolds, which continued two years. Since 1883 he has practiced singly and alone. He has fully established himself in the confidence of the people, and enjoys a liberal patronage in a city where good physicians are the rule instead of the exception. The Doctor belongs to the Ohio State Eclectic Medical Association and the Central Ohio Eclectic Medical Association. He occupies with his family a neat and comfortable residence at No. 76 Yellow Springs Street. Politically, he affiliates with the Republican party, but is too much interested in the matters pertaining to his profession to become an office seeker.

The marriage of Dr. Austin and Miss Florence Hodson was celebrated at the bride’s home in Westboro, in 1874. Mrs. Austin was born in September, 1853, in Clinton County, and is the daughter of Simeon and Mary L. (Cunningham) Hodson, who were natives of Ohio, and are now at Westboro. The Doctor and his estimable wife are the parents of three children, one of whom, a daughter, Pearl, died at the age of two years. The survivors are Grace D. and Howard H. Dr. Austin, socially, belongs to Clark Lodge, No. 101, A. F. & A. M. He stands high in both business and social circles, and may be properly classed among the representative men of Springfield, one who is contributing his quota to its material welfare, and who may be uniformly found on the side of the enterprises calculated to promote the best interests of the city.