Person:John Austin (99)

CENSUS: 1800 NY, Dutchess Fishkill ; 1810 NY, Dutchess Fishkill, 124; 1820 OH, Ashtabula, Geneva, p 14 ; 1830 OH, Ashtabula, Geneva, p 166 ; 1840 OH, Ashtabula, p 274.

OCCUPATION: Farmer in Geneva, OH.

MARRIAGE: GENEVA PIONEERS III (Ashtabula Times March 25, 1896), page 58; Geneva Pioneers. III.

BIOGRAPHY-CHILDREN: "History of the Western Reserve", by Harriet Taylor Upton, Lewis Publishing Company, NY, 1910. "John Austin first located in the northeast corner of the township, on the bank of Lake Erie. but later bought the farm now owned by E. D. Humphrey, on the North Ridge, a mile and a half east of Geneva. Clearing off a large part of the heavy timber, he was there a tiller of the soil until his death, about 1831. He reared three sons and two daughters, namely: Horace, who settled in Geneva township; Lester moved to Indiana about 1854; Sanford succeeded to the owner-ship of the farm, and there spent his life of seventy years; Maria married Davis Montgomery; and Sally became the wife of Laban Waterman. John Austin, the great grandfather of Milo A., came with his family from Cattaraugus county, New York, to the Western Reserve in 1811, journeying in an ox cart, making his way through the almost pathless woods by a trail marked with blazed trees. Between 1806 AND 1811, a small portion of what is now Geneva township had been cleared, but the settlers were very few in number, and long distances apart."

BIOGRAPHY: From the Alice Bliss' collection (1972) at the Geneva Library, Ashtabula, OH. "In the year 1811, John Austin of Cattaraugus County, N.Y., came to the wilderness called at that time, 'The Connecticut Western Reserve.' He came, as many did, in an ox cart, making his way through the almost trackless forest, along a trail only marked by the Indians for their use. However, he arrived safely in Geneva where earlier pioneers had cleared a very small portion of the land, being few in number and living some distance apart. John Austin located first in the northeast corner of Geneva township close to Lake Erie's shores. He did not find the land to his liking and soon purchased a farm on the North Ridge road, one and a half miles east of Geneva, and soon cleared all the heavy timber off this parcel of land, and farmed there until his death in the year of 1830 or 1831."

"John Austin's family consisted of three sons and two daughters: Horace who settled in Geneva township at first; removed to Indiana in 1854. Sanford became the owner of his father's farm, dying there at age seventy. Maria, married Davis Montgomery, and Sally married Laban Waterman. Horace Austin was only ten years old when he came with his father to Ashtabula County, and grew up on the farm. When he was twenty-six he married Nancy Alford, who died at age eighty. After his marriage he purchased land northeast of Geneva and lived there until his death at eightyfive. Horace and Nancy (Alford) Austin, had three children; Alfred, David and Isaac. The first born served in the Civil War as capatain of a Pennsylvania company of volunteers. At one time he was principal of the Waterford Pennsylvania Academy, where he died at the age of sixty-two. Isaac Austin went to Madison, Wisconsin and died there at the age of fifty-five years. David Austin was born on the old homestead northeast of Geneva, March 11, 1831, and he was the one who cared for his parents in their old age. He was heir to the old home on this farm, and lived there until his death on July 16, 1900. David Austin taut pacing in school and for 40 years was chorister in the Geneva Baptist Church. When he was 21, he married a Mandanna A.Todd, a pioneer women of Geneva, who came with her parents to Geneva, from Granby, Conn., when she was 3 years of age. They spent one year in Michigan before coming here. Mandana was the daughter of Amos and Harriet Pratt Todd. The 1910 Biographical History of the Western Preserve, published in 1910, tells that the Todd family moved to Michigan from Homer, New York in 1833, and came from Michigan to Geneva."

"Mandana A. Todd was 18 years old when she married David Austin, and lived most of her life in Geneva. They only had two children, a son Milo A. Austin, and a daughter Hattie F. Austin. Milo married Fanny A. Butler, born in Geneva, a daughter of Samuel and Martha Tye Butler, both natives of England. Milo and Fanny were married December 24th 1874. Milo A. Austin served many years as a Geneva Township Trustee. He was born January 12, 1853, in Geneva township on the old Austin form, and owned by his grandfather Horace Austin. When he was 18 years of age, he left the old farm and worked on the road for nine years, one year as operator of a stationary engine as his forefathers had done. He returned to the old homestead to raise stock and do general farming. In 1901, he went to live in Geneva, but still retained management of his farm. In Geneva he dealt in agricultural implements. Milo and Fanny had one child, whom they named Bertha, and who became the wife of Roy A. Fuller, but Roy only lived about one-and-a-half years after their marriage, dying suddenly."

WILL: John Austin Will; No 0345, VOLUME ISO, PAGE 206 . WILL of JOHN AUSTIN Estate of JOHN AUSTIN In the name of GOD Amen I John Austin of Geneva in the County of Ashtabula and State of Ohio being of sound mind and reason but conscious of the uncertainty of life and the certainty of death, and desirous of settling and arranging any mildly interest do hereby make and ordain this to be my last Will and TESTAMENT making all former Wills and Testament or parts thereof I give and bequeath to my will beloved son, Horace Austin the sum of One Hundred dollars I give and bequeath to my well beloved daughter Anna Marie (wife of Davis Montgomery) the sum of One Hundred dollars I give and bequeath to my well beloved son Joseph M. Austin the sum of One Hundred dollars I give and bequeath to my well beloved daughter Sally (wife of Laban Waterman) the sum of One Hundred dollars and I give and bequeath the like sum of One Hundred dollars to my well beloved son John L. Austin which several sums are to be paid in money or its equivalent to the said Horace, Anna Marie, Joseph M., Sally and John Lester (within a reasonable time after my decease and the decease of my dearly beloved wife and companion Peggy) within at one payment or two or annual payments to each, as may best comport with the condition of the estate and at the election of my legal executor or administrator. And I do further give and bequeath unto my well beloved son Harvey S. Austin, all my Estate effects and property whether real or personal, now and any of the above names bequest to be to his sole ownership and, enjoyment when I (his father) and my beloved wife (his mother) shall be done with things. But it is my Will and I do hereby direct and order in that should my beloved Companion and wife Peggy [survive?] me, no division of property shall take place until after her death nor shall any of the above named bequeath be paid except by the voluntary act of my legal Executor or administrator during her natural life And I do hereby solemnly order constitute and appoint. my well beloved son Harvey S. Austin my true and lawful executor to carry into effect and consummate this my last Will having full confidence in his integrity as well as his filial affection and regard. Signed with my hand, sealed with my seal at Geneva of me said this 24 day of October 1842. Witnesses John Austin James Morrison Jr. Hiram Goff Mirian West.

On the matter of the last will and testament of John AUSTIN late of the township of Geneva in the County of Ashtabula and State of Ohio. We the undersigned being duty sworn do say that we were Present when said John AUSTIN signed said will and that he was at the time of sound and disposing mind and memory and more than twenty one years of age and that he presented the same freely and voluntarily being under no restraint at the time and that we attested said will in the presence of said Testator and of each other. James Morrison Hiram Goff The State of Ohio Ashtabula County.

I Harvey S. Austin Executor and residuary Legatee of the Estate of John Austin late of Geneva deceased being duly sworn depone and say that I have paid all the Debt legacy charges and demands against said Estate of what was kind or mature that there were no debts against said Estate that I have paid the Expense of the decedents last. sickness and funeral and that the above contains a true statement of the Legacies paid by me and which are all the legacies contained in said will and ask that this may be received as his final account. Harvey S Austin Sworn to & Subscribe before me this 7th day of September 1847 A C Hubbard clk.

KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS THAT WE, Harvey S. Austin as principal and Platt R. Spencer I James Morrison Jr. as sureties of the County of Ashtabula, in the State of Ohio, are held and firmly bound unto the State of Ohio, in the penal sum of One Thousand Dollars, lawful money of the United States, to which payment will and truly to be made unto the State! of Ohio, we bind ourselves, our heirs, executors and administrators, and every of them, jointly and severally, firmly by these presents. Sealed with our seals and dated at Jefferson, the 2nd day of April A.D. 1845 The Condition of the above Obligation is such that whereas the above named Harvey S. Austin has been duly appointed Executor of the last Will and testament of John Austin late of the County and State aforesaid, deceased. Now therefore, if the said Harvey S. Austin shall first pay all debits and legacies of the said John Austin second then this Obligation to be null and void. Otherwise,to be and remain in full force and virtue. Signed and Sealed in presence of Harvey S. Austin VOL 150 PAGE 206 Platt R. Spencer James Morrison Jr. ESTATE of John AUSTIN late of GENEVA, deceased in account with Harvey S. Austin Executor and residuary legatee By Acct. paid Anna M. Montgomery wife of Davis Montgomery being her legacy due from said Estate as per voucher No. 1, $100.00 Acct. paid! Horace Austin being his legacy due from said Estate voucher No. 2, $100.00 Acct. paid Sally Waterman wife of Laban Waterman being her legacy due from said Estate voucher No. 3, $100.00 Acct. paid Joseph Austin being his legacy due from said Estate voucher No. 4, $100.00 Acct. paid John L Austin being his legacy due from said Estate voucher No 5, $100.00 Received Geneva September 29, 1845 of Harvey S. Austin Executor of the last Will and Testament of John Austin late of Geneva deceased, the sum one Hundred Dollars the amount of a legacy made in and by said Will, to Anna Marie Wife of Davis Montgomery and in full of all claims upon said Estate, which we in right of said Anna Maria as heir of the said John Austin may have thereto. I Davis Montgomery Anna M. Montgomery $100.00 Received.Geneva August 31, 1847 of Harvey S. Austin Executor of the last Will and Testament of John Austin late of Geneva deceased the sum one Hundred Dollars the amount of a legacy made in and by said Will to H! orace A ustin and in full of all claims upon said Estate which I in right of said Horace Austin as heir of the said John Austin may have thereto. Horace Austin $100.00 Received Madison June 27, 1848 of Harvey S. Austin Executor of the last Will and Testament of John AUSTIN late of Geneva deceased the sum one Hundred Dollars the amount of a legacy made in and by said Will to Sally Wife of Laban Waterman and in full of all claims upon said Estate which I in right of said Sally as heir of the said John Austin may have thereto. Laban Waterman Sally Waterman $100.00 Received Madison June 27, 1845 of Harvey S. Austin Executor of the last Will and Testament of John AUSTIN late of Geneva deceased the sum one Hundred Dollars the amount of a legacy made in and by said Will to Joseph M. Austin and in full of all claims upon said Estate which I in right of said Joseph M. as heir of the said John Austin may have thereto. Joseph Austin $ 100.00 Received Hart Warrick County, Indiana March 28, 1846! of Har vey S. Austin Executor of the last Will and Testament of John AUSTIN late of Geneva, Ohio Deceased the sum of one hundred Dollars The amount of a legacy made in and by said Will to John L. AUSTIN and in full of all Claims upon said Estate which I in rights of the said John L. as heir of the said John AUSTIN may have there to. John L. AUSTIN