Legislator Details
Image Description:
Portrait of Charles Austin scanned from Men of Progress p.308.
Number of sessions served 3
Gender: Male
Age at election: 46
Vital Records Information:
Birth
Date: 4/19/1834
City: London
County:
Country: England
Death
Date: 12/3/1921
City: Battle Creek, MI
County: Calhoun County, MI
Country: US
Type of Burial: interred
Burial
Date: 12/5/1921
City: Battle Creek, MI
County: Calhoun County, MI
Country: US
Cemetery: Oak Hill Cemetery
Marital Information:
married Lucy D. Taylor of Concord in 1855. children: 3, Oliver T. (traveling salesman from Chicago, IL.), Charles J. (Grocery in Battle Creek), and Edward D. (Des Moines, IA).
Number of Children: 5
Background
Religion: Congregationalist
Military Service:
Occupation: businessman, merchant; banker, real estate
Race: Caucasian or White
Education:
school of the British and Foreign School Society
Biographical Sketch:
Son of Charles Austin, of Sibford, Oxfordshire, England and Margaret Moody of London. The senator emigrated in February 1852. Lived in New York state until moving to Concord, MI in Spring, 1854, to Homer in Fall, 1855 and Bedford, Calhoun Co., 2 yrs later. Dry goods business in Battle Creek, 1872. Elected alderman, 1875; mayor, 1876 and 1877. He was vice president of a bank in 1900 and pres. of Union Mutual Insurance Co. for several yrs. A member of the Masons and Knights Templar.
Notable Facts:
Present in Jackson, 'under the oaks' when the Republican Party was formed.
Sessions Served:
Committees Served On: Appropriations and Finance, State Normal School, Railroads , Insurance , Industrial Home for Girls
County of Residence Calhoun
Reason for Leaving Office: N/A
End of Term Status: Departed
Committees Served On: Asylum for the Insane, Education and Public Schools , Mechanical Interests , Insurance , Religious and Benevolent Societies
City of Residence: Battle Creek
County of Residence Calhoun
District Description: Calhoun County
Reason for Leaving Office: N/A
End of Term Status: Re-elected
Committees Served On: Michigan Asylum for Insane , Ways and Means
City of Residence: Battle Creek
County of Residence Calhoun
District Description: Townships of Athens, Battle Creek (city and town), Bedford, LeRoy and Pennfield
Reason for Leaving Office: See Notes
End of Term Status: Departed
Notes: Elected to the state senate for the 32nd session.
Bibliography:
Chapman (Le)p.221-222; RepDist 3:4; MIBiog 1:32-33; Manual 1881 p. 338, 438; Manual 1883 p.400, 477; USCen 1880, 1900; Find-a-Grave.com, includes portrait; Men of Progress p.308, includes portrait;
