The History of Knox County
pub. in 1912 by S. J. Clarke Pub. Co. 

   CHARLES AUSTIN.

     Charles Austin is profitably engaged in general farming and stock-raising in Knox, his native county, his birth having occurred on the old homestead in Walnut Grove township on the 29th of May, 1857. He represents a family which, long established in America, came originally from England. His grandparents, James and Beulah (Jennings) Austin, were both natives of Ohio, the former born in Preble county, September 5, 1798, and the latter on the 30th of April, 1798, and both lived to a ripe old age, the father's death occurring on the 28th of October, 1886, and the mother's on the 30th of September, 1888. Their son Allen, the father of our subject, was also born in Ohio, on the 17th of February, 1823, and in early life learned and followed the carpenter's trade. On the 2d of March, 1854, he came to Knox county, Illinois, making the journey on horseback. Subsequently he returned to Preble county, Ohio, and later again came to Knox county, the second trip being made on foot. Taking up his abode on a farm near Altona he there established what is now known as the old Austin homestead, and there he engaged in agricultural pursuits until about nine years prior to his death, when he removed to Altona and lived retired until called from this life on the 14th of May, 1898, when seventy-five years of age. He was a faithful and consistent member of the Presbyterian church and was deeply interested in the public life of the community in which he resided, giving stalwart support to the party of his choice although not a politician in the sense of office seeking. He was twice married. On the 18th of May, 1856, he wedded Miss Louisa Gehringer, who was born on the 1st of May, 1839, a daughter of Levi Gehringer, who was born on the 14th of September, 1806. He married Catherine Reynard, who was born March 2, 1805, and died May 15, 1889. Her father, Henry Reynard, was a representative of a family that came to Knox county, Illinois, in 1855, from Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania. In the family of Mr. and Mrs. Allen Austin were seven children, of whom five still survive, as follows: Charles, of this review; Emily, at home; Albert, a resident of Douglas, Illinois; John, living in Burlington; and Harry, of California. On the 22d of April, 1878, the wife and mother passed away and for his second wife Mr. Austin chose Miss Emily Gehringer, a sister of his former wife. Unto the second union of Allen Austin there were born two children: Olive, the wife of William McClure, of Altona; and Ida. yet at home. The Gehringer family is of German origin and its representatives were numbered among the early settlers of Knox county, Illinois, whence they came from Pennsylvania at an early day. They ever took a deep interest in the work of the Presbyterian church.
     Charles Austin, whose name introduces this review, was reared amid the busy activities of rural life, spending the period of his boyhood and youth on his father's farm, and after securing a good education in the district schools of Walnut Grove township he assisted in the cultivation of the fields until after the death of his mother, which occurred when he was about twenty-one years of age. He then carried on agricultural pursuits independently on the old homestead for a number of years, and in 1898 took up his abode on his present farm, since which time he has concentrated his efforts upon the further development and improvement of this place. He carries on general farming and stock-raising and in both lines is meeting with excellent success for his methods are practical, his ideas progressive and his well directed efforts and intelligently applied labor productive of good results.
     On February 14, 1884, Mr. Austin was united in marriage to Miss Grace McGaan, who was born October 21, 1860, a daughter of William and Agnes (Andrews) McGaan, both of whom were natives of Scotland, the father's birth there occurring on the 1st of January, 1817, and the mother's in the year 1819. Mrs. Austin's grandfather, William McGaan, Sr., was born in Scotland and there passed his entire life. He married a Miss Hunter. Their son William came to the United States with his family in 1857 and here took up farming near Altona, Illinois, following that line of activity throughout his active career. He is living at the old home farm at the remarkable age of ninety-five years. In his family were three sons and one daughter, the brothers of Mrs. Austin being: William, an attorney of Clarke, Dakota; Hugh, operating the home farm; and James, living retired in Altona. With the passing of the years four children were added to the household of Charles Austin and his wife, as follows: Edgar and Perry, aged respectively twenty-five and twenty-two years, at home; Grace Ethel, who at the age of nineteen years is teaching school; and Charles
R., fourteen years of age, who is also under the parental roof.
     Reared in the faith of the Presbyterian church, Mr. Austin has long been an active and helpful worker in the church of that denomination in Altona and for the past twenty years has served as elder. At the polls he gives loyal support to the men and measures of the republican party although he has never sought nor desired public office for himself, and feels a deep interest in all matters which have to do with the welfare of the community at large. His life, which has been an active one, has been lived to good advantage, a fact which is attested not only by the material gain which has come to him as the reward of well directed efforts in agricultural lines but also by the high place which he occupies in the esteem, good-will and confidence of his fellowmen. (pages 606-608, submitted by Janine Crandell)