Person:Horace Austin (5)

CENSUS: 1850 OH, Ashtabula, Geneva, p 444 ; 1860 OH, Ashtabula, Geneva, p 336 ; 1870 OH, Ashtabula, Geneva, p 145 ; 1880 OH, Ashtabula, Geneva, p 427.

MARRIAGE: Ashtabula County records, as transcribed from SLFHC films on Ashtabula Co., GenWeb site.

MARRIAGE: "History of the Western Reserve", by Harriet Taylor Upton, Lewis Publishing Company, NY, 1910. Vol II page 820.

OBITUARY: -Geneva Times October 13, 1886. "GONE TO HIS REWARD.,_ Wednesday last October 6, after a short illness, Deacon Horace Austin departed this life at the home of his son, David Austin. His health had been poor for a year or so but until quite recently he was able to get around. In fact he husked corn only Thursday before his death. ... He was born in Dutchess County, New York, May 2, 1801, and was therefore in his 86th year at the time of his death. He came to Ohio with his parents in December 1809, the family settling in Austinburg. They remained their about two years, and then removed to the lake shore in the northeast part of the township. They were living here at the time of Perry's victory, which was achieved Sept. 10, 1813. On that bright September day, John Austin was putting in his wheat and his son Horace and Harvey S. Spencer, father of C. M. and the late W. P. Spencer was assisting him. Some time in the afternoon what seemed to be great white clouds appeared in the west over the lake, and now and then, reverberations like thunder were heard. Mr. Austin, believing a fearful storm was coming up, exclaimed "Hurry up boys ! By jocks ! the rain will wash my wheat all into the lake." For a little while the oxen did hurry, but soon the sky cleared and the weather was as promising as ever. In a few days the news of Perry's victory was received. Not long after this the family again moved this time on to a tract of land, of which the present farm of Deacon Sanford Austin, Horace's brother, farms a part. This proved a permanent settlement and the place are now regarded as the "Old homestead." Here young Horace, with the rest of the children, grew to maturity. In 1817, he experienced religion and in the same year he became one of the constituent members of the first Baptist church ever organized in Geneva. It was organized on the South Ridge in Lemuel Wiard's cooper shop. ....For nearly seventy years he remained a faithful and consistent member of the church of his choice. There was no backsliding and for about fifty-one years he served the church as deacon. He was the senior deacon at the time of his death. His piety was deep and eminently practical, and his every day life was in keeping with his profession. He contributed very liberally towards the building of the old house of worship, and has always been regarded as one of the pillars of the church. About fifty nine years ago he and Nancy A. Alford of Connecticut were united in marriage, a union that proved exceedingly helpful and happy, until severed by death of the wife two years ago. Before the marriage Horace had purchased and partially cleared a tract of wild land in this township, and upon this he and his young wife settled. It continued to be their home until death came and summoned them to their heavenly home. They endured many of the privations of pioneers, and coming to Geneva in 1811, he was probably the oldest resident citizen in this place. By their own labors the farm was cleared and a fair competence secured. Their union was blessed with three sons, John, David and Isaac. Of these and of the entire family David is the sole survivor. ...