Brooks-Dougherty-Thomas County GaArchives Biographies.....Austin, Frank M. 1854 - living in 1913
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Joy Fisher http://www.genrecords.net/emailregistry/vols/00001.html#0000031 October 21, 2004, 2:28 pm

Author: William Harden
p. 882-883

   FRANK M. AUSTIN. Heredity and environment, says Dr. Newell Dwight Hillis of
Brooklyn, are but half truths and the part they play in determining a man's
career are as nothing compared with the influence he can himself exert if he so
prepares himself that he is ready when opportunity knocks at his door, and this
statement of the noted divine is well borne out in the life history of Frank M.
Austin, one of the foremost farmers of Brooks county. He was born in Dougherty
county, Georgia, March 26, 1854, being the youngest child in a family of sixteen
boys and girls born to John and Catherine Austin.

   Mr. Austin was but seven years old when the war between the states occurred,
and during the ensuing four years chaos reigned supreme. His opportunities for
advancement in any direction were of the most meager, hard work, only, being in
store for him. He had learned to read when quite young, and though he scarce saw
the inside of a schoolhouse, he acquired a practical business education, and by
extensive and intelligent reading has added to his store of knowledge until now
but few are better informed in regard to the topics of the day than Mr. Austin.
Inheriting a rugged constitution and an inclination for work, he entered the
employ of the A. & G. Railroad Company, and for a number of years was connected
with its roadway department. Resigning that position in 1882, Mr. Austin located
in Dixie, Brooks county, where he was engaged in mercantile pursuits for
seventeen years. Buying land in 1900, Mr. Austin embarked in farming, an
occupation with which he has since been prominently identified, in addition to
the care of his farm running a farm commissary. Mr. Austin owns 446 acres of
rich and productive land, which he operates by tenants, cotton, corn, melons,
and pindars being his principal crops, and bringing him a good annual income.

   Mr. Austin married, at the age of twenty-four years, Mary Daniel. She was
born in Thomas county, Georgia, a daughter of Aaron and Martha (Ivey) Daniel,
arid is of pioneer stock, her grandparents on both sides having been among the
earlier settlers of southwest Georgia. Of the eleven children born to the
marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Austin, three have passed to the life beyond and eight
are now living, namely: Guy Leslie, Regina Frank, Frederick Lyle, Roy Coleman,
Olah Matell, Mary Nadine, Elra Marion, and Annie Leone. Guy Leslie, a well-known
physician of Berlin, Colquitt county, married Opal Elizabeth Smith, and they
have one son, Philip Leslie. Regina Frank is successfully engaged in teaching.
Frederick L. is in the employ of the Railroad Terminal Company at New Orleans.
Roy, living in Brunswick, Georgia, is an employee of the Southern Railroad
Company. The other four children are still in school. Mr. and Mrs. Austin are
both identified by membership with the Methodist Episcopal church, South.
Fraternally Mr. Austin is a member of Dixie Lodge, No. 242, Free and Accepted
Masons. He cast his first presidential vote in 1876, for Samuel J. Tilden, and
has since been a stanch supporter of the principles of the Democratic party. He
has never been an office seeker, but has served as tax collector in Brooks county.


Additional Comments:
From:

A HISTORY OF SAVANNAH AND SOUTH GEORGIA
BY
WILLIAM HARDEN

VOLUME II
ILLUSTRATED
THE LEWIS PUBLISHING COMPANY
CHICAGO AND NEW YORK
1913

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