W. C. Austin, proprietor of the Excelsior livery feed and sales stables, McGregor, was born in Waterbury, Washington County, Vt., Nov. 21, 1836. His parents were David and Permelia (Wright) Austin, natives of the Green Mountain State and members of the Methodist Episcopal church. They had a family of nine children. W. C., the subject of this sketch, was the youngest. He worked at farming and attended school winters until twenty-one, when he came to Mower County, Minn., entered a claim and remained there and in Iowa one year. He then worked at various occcupations in Mitchell and Howard Counties two years, then went to Calmar, Winneshiek County, Iowa, and was engaged in the livery and hotel business eighteen months, thence to McGregor, Ia., and worked in a hotel here two years, then established his present draying, business, and in 1872 opened the Excelsior livery stable, which he has run since. He has the largest and most complete livery stable in Clayton County. Mr. Austin married Cynthia Wilcox, Jan. 3, 1864. She was born in Ohio. They had one son, Adelbert L., born Oct. 29, 1864, and died in August, 1867. Mr. and Mrs. Austin adopted Jennie Austin in January, 1880. Mr. Austin is a Mason and member of Bezer Lodge, No. 135; Chapter, No. 27, and Commandery, No. 8. In politics he is a Republican, and has ever been a supporter of that party. source: History of Clayton
County, Iowa, 1882, p. 965 |