Oliver Austin

Born Woodhouse - 25th December 1834
Died Simcoe - 21st February 1909

The late Mr. Oliver Austin, whose death was briefly chronicled in our last issue, was for almost half a century one of the foremost men of Norfolk. He had occupied high municipal positions in the gift of his fellow citizens; of his church he had been a trusted office holder for a lengthened period, on one occasion he was the standard-bearer of his party in a close and keenly contested election; to countless needy ones he had been a generous friend in the time of trouble; a fair index of the place he occupied in the esteem of the community is found in the fact that he had been during his lifetime the executor of some dozen estates of deceased friends.

His death came with the greater shock to the people in that, although he had passed by four years the span of life allotted to man by the Psalmist, in appearance and activity he looked to be one still little beyond his prime.

The Austins of Norfolk are all descended from Solomon Austin, who with his family of four sons and five daughters, settled upon a U. E. Loyalist grant of six hundred acres in the township of Woodhouse in 1794. The descendants of the original Solomon Austin are said to constitute the largest family tracing back to any of the U. E. Loyalist founders of the Long Point Settlement. Philip, born in 1790, was the third son of Solomon Austin. Oliver Austin, who died last week, was Philip's sixth and youngest son, and at the time of his death he was the unquestioned head of his family. Of his father's six sons and eight daughters, Mrs. J. S. Dell of Welland County is now the sole survivor.

Mr. Austin was born on the farm upon which he lived up to some two years ago, when he moved into Simcoe, on Christmas Day, 1824. He received, for his time, a liberal education in the home school and in Simcoe. He was married 18 September, 1860 to Charity, daughter of the late John DeCou of Woodhouse. On the death of his father in 1876 he succeeded to the Austin homestead, then one of Norfolk's most comfortable rural homes, since his disposal of it unfortunately destroyed by fire. The first Mrs. Austin died 24th April 1903, and on Nov. 1st, 1907, Mr. Austin was married to Mrs. M. E. Yonson, who is now a second time left a widow.

Mr. Austin's older brother Isaac, was for years Reeve of Woodhouse, and upon his retirement his place in the municipal life of the township was taken by his youngest brother, Oliver, who through the usual stages of township councilor, reeve and county councilor, finally came to occupy the chair of Warden of the County.

He connection with the Norfolk Agricultural Society was a long and useful one. In looking over the records of the society his name is first found in1858 as a contestant in a plowing competition. In 1861 he was elected a director. In 1867 he was president. For fourteen years he filled the important and onerous position of General Superintendent. When he retired in 1893 he was the recipient of a handsome testimonial of plate.

In politics Mr. Austin was a Liberal of the best type, staunch in his advocacy of the principles he believed in, and ever ready to do all in his power to advance the interests of the party of his choice. He was a pleasing platform speaker, and at party gatherings of every description he was always a forceful and prominent figure.

In the general election of 1879 he was the candidate of the Liberal party for South Norfolk for the Ontario Legislature, and only failed of success by the narrow majority of 17 his opponent being the deservedly popular Major William Morgan. In 1890 he was again made the unanimous choice of the convention, but after taking a few days to consider, declined the nomination, which was finally accepted by Mr. W. A. Charlton, an acceptance that was followed by his triumph at the polls.

Oliver Austin leaves no child to inherit his good name and the traditions of his many generous deeds -- for he was a man quick to respond to the appeals of charity -- but he is survived by a wide circle of nephews and nieces and more distant relatives who will cherish through their lives as a valuable possession their interest in one whose life-time was spent so freely in the strengthening of the moral tone of the community.

Oliver Austin


Article Index
Isaac Austin
Philip Austin
Solomon Austin
W. A. Charlton
Charity DeCou
John DeCou
Mrs. J. S. Dell
William Morgan
Mrs. M. E. Yonson

 
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