William G. & Sarah
(Fosdick) Austin
Greenwood, Eaton, Clark County, Wisconsin
William G. Austin was born November 1,
1837 in Herkimer, Washington Co., New York. His parents moved to
Wisconsin to farm and developed the first "improved" farm in the La
Crosse Valley.
At one time William had a cooper's shop in Galesville, Wisconsin
and in 1854 was living in Sparta and were located there at the time
of the 1860 Census.
March 4, 1857, William
married Mary Sarah Emeline
Fosdick in Kenosha, Kenosha Co.,
Wisconsin. She was the daughter of Lyman and Bestsy Fosdick who
settled in Kenosha in 1842. William and Mary Sarah Emeline were the
parents of Ida/Ada E., Catharine M., William Irving, Vinona E.,
Alma E. and Sarah Jane Jennifer.
When he was 26 years old, William left his wife with three small
children to enlist as a private with Company C, 19th Wis. Infantry
in Madison, WI, 8 Dec 1863. According to his military
records, he had blue eyes, brown hair, a light complexion and stood
5 ft., 11 in. tall. The township of residence listed for him
on the 1885 Special Veterans Census was Eaton, with a Greenwood
Address.
In January of 1870, William began working as a
foreman in W. Davis' Cooper's shop in Galesville, a profession he
claimed on both the 1870 and 1880 Census.
William was an officer in the Galesville Lodge,
#238 of the I.O.O.F which was organized October 30, 1874. He
was the "District Deputy" of that organization.
William
died 16 Jun 1919 at Mabton, Yakima County, Washington, and is
buried in the Mabton Cemetery, Yakima County, Washington - Lot 71,
grave 2.
The family of William & Mary
Austin.
Census
Records
1850 Federal Census, Wheatland, Kenosha,
Wisconsin
Household Members│Name│Age│Nativity│Occupation
Lyman Fosdick
45 NY Farmer
Betsey Fosdick 35
NY
Caroline Fosdick 16 NY
James Fosdick 13
NY
Emeline Fosdick
11 NY
William Fosdick
8 NY
Elizabeth Fosdick 5 WI
Leroy Fosdick
2 WI
1860 Federal Census, Sparta, Monroe,
Wisconsin
Sex│Household
Members│Name│Age │Nativity│Occupation
M William G Austin
22 NY Farmer
F Sarah E
Austin 21 NY
(Sarah Emeline
Fosdick?)
F Ida E
Austin
2 WI
F Catharine M
Austin 1 WI
M Jas E Fosdick
23 NY
Farm Laborer
F Sarah J
Austin
9 NY
M Wm P
Austin
16 NY Farm Laborer
| 1880
Federal Census, Galesville, Trempealeau, Wisconsin |
| Name |
Relation |
Marital |
Sex |
Race |
Age |
Nativity |
Occupation |
F-Nativity |
M-Nativity |
|
Wm. G.
Austin |
Self |
M |
Male |
W |
43 |
NY |
Cooper |
NY |
NY |
|
Sarah F. Austin |
Wife |
M |
Female |
W |
42 |
NY |
Keeping House |
NY |
NY |
|
Ada Austin |
Dau |
S |
Female |
W |
22 |
WI |
At Home |
NY |
NY |
|
Irving Austin |
Son |
S |
Male |
W |
18 |
WI |
Cooper |
NY |
NY |
|
Vinona Austin |
Dau |
S |
Female |
W |
16 |
WI |
At School |
NY |
NY |
|
Alma Austin |
Dau |
S |
Female |
W |
13 |
WI |
At School |
NY |
NY |
|
Jennie Austin |
Dau |
S |
Female |
W |
11 |
WI |
At School |
NY |
NY |
Military
Records
Civil War Service
Residence: Sparta, Wisconsin
Private, Company C, 19th Regiment, Wisconsin
Infantry
Enlisted: December 8,
1863
Mustered Out: August 9, 1865 at Richmond,
VA.
Family
Notes of William George Austin
Born: 1 November 1837 in Herkimer, Herkimer, New York (Military
Record says Washington Co., NY)
Died: 16 June 1919 at Mabton, Yakima County, Washington.
Buried: Mabton Cemetery, Yakima County, Washington - Lot 71, grave
2
Married: 1856, William married Mary Sarah Emeline
Fosdick in Kenosha, Kenosha Co., Wisc.
March 4, 1857, William married Mary Sarah Emeline
Fosdick
Spouse: Sarah Emeline Fosdick b. May 1838, New
York
Daughter of Lyman and Betsey Marie (Garrett) Fosdick
Mother of 6 children (1900 Census: 6 of 6 children living)
Died: 16 June 1906, at Mabton, Yakima County, Washington
Buried: Mabton Cemetery, Yakima County, Washington - Lot 71, grave
3
Children:
Ida
Blanche
b. 2 January 1858, Sparta, Monroe, Wisconsin
d. 22 May 1917, Mabton, Yakima, Washington, buried Mabton
Cemetery
Catharine Marie b. 27 November 1859,
Sparta, Monroe,
Wisconsin
m. Albert B. BARTLETT, 3 Nov 1877, Galesville, Trempealeau,
Wisc.
d. 28 September 1921, Mabton, Yakima, WA, buried Mabton
Cemetery
William
Irving b. 28
February1862, Little Falls, Monroe,
Wisconsin
d. 9 April 1922, Mabton, Yakima, Washington, buried Mabton
Cemetery
Vinona
Ellen b. 24 January
1864, Sparta, Monroe, Wisconsin
m. Virgil W. HATCH, 25 Sept 1888, Bangor, S. Dakota
d. 1 July 1935, Mabton, Yakima, Washington, buried Mabton
Cemetery
Alma
Edith
b. 2 April 1867, Sparta, Monroe,
Wisconsin
m. Louis B. COOK, 24 October 1885, Greenwood, Clark,
Wisconsin
d. 10 Oct 1934, Belma, Yakima, Washington, buried Mabton
Cemetery
Sarah Jane "Jennie" b. 7
November 1868, Galesville, Trempealeau, Wisconsin
m. George B. M. WARNER, 31 Dec 1884, Clark Co., WI
d. 10 April 1942, Mabton, Yakima, WA, buried Mabton
Cemetery
Austin, Jennie (Marriage - 31 DEC
1884)
Married, in Greenwood, Clark County, Dec. 31st, 1884, by the Rev.
G. C. Andrews, Mr. George Warner to Miss Jennie Austin. The
ceremony which united the destinies of this happy couple was
performed at the residence of the bride's father, W. G. Austin, at
11 o'clock a.m. in the presence of a small circle of relatives and
friends, from whom they received the warmest congratulations. A
goodly display of presents from friends betokened the universal
wish for their prosperity and happiness. After partaking of a well
spread repast and receiving the parting congratulations of those
present, this newly wedded pair started on their wedding tour to be
absent a short time. May happiness attend them, not only on this
journey, but throughout the journey of life. CLARK COUNTY REPUBLICAN PRESS (Neillsville, Wis.)
01/08/1885
Residence
1837 November - born in Herkimer, New York
1857 March - married in Kenosha, Kenosha,
Wisconsin
1858 January - daughter, Ida, born in Sparta, Monroe,
Wisconsin
1860 Census - as of June 1 - Sparta, Monroe,
Wisconsin
1863 December - from Sparta, enlisted in Wisconsin
Infantry, Co. C, 19th Regt.
1865 August - mustered out of military at Richmond,
Virginia
1868 Nov - daughter, Sarah Jane "Jennie", born in
Galesville, Trempealeau, WI
1870 Census - as of June 1 - Gale, Trempealeau,
Wisconsin
1880 Census - as of June 1 - Galesville, Trempealeau,
Wisconsin
1885 Special Veterans Census - Eaton, Clark, WI
1900 Census - as of June 1 - Mabton, Yakima,
Washington
1910 Census - as of April 15 - Belma, Yakima,
Washington
Military
Records
[1]
[2] [3] [4]
William Austin is also
featured in the book, "Civil
War Soldiers in the heart of Clark Co.,
Wisconsin"
Sources
Newspaper
Clippings, History of Northern Wisconsin (Vol. II), Trempealeau
County Section; Census Records, Family Information & Courthouse
documents.
Contributors
Clark Co. History Buffs, Paul Forster, Marsha Hosfeld & Janet Schwarze.
