Martin T. Austin Biography


	This biography appears on pages 155-156 in "History of Dakota 
	Territory" by George W. Kingsbury, Vol. V (1915) and was 
	scanned, OCRed and edited by Maurice Krueger, mkrueger@iw.net.

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				MARTIN T. AUSTIN. 

	Martin T. Austin, an agriculturist residing in Taopi township, 
Minnehaha county, is widely recognized as one of the well known, 
esteemed and representative citizens of his community. His birth 
occurred in Iowa on the 12th of January, 1865, his parents being Thomas 
and Esther Austin, who came to this state in 1885. The father, who 
followed farming throughout his active business career, died February 
18, 1915, at the venerable age of ninety-five years, while the mother 
has reached the age of ninety-one. She is well known and highly 
regarded in the community which has now been her home for three 
decades. 

	Martin T. Austin attended the public schools in the acquirement 
of an education, but his advantages in this direction were very 
limited, for he and his three brothers were obliged to provide for 
their own support early in life. However, he studied diligently when 
opportunity offered and thus secured a good practical education. 
Previous to his removal to South Dakota he was engaged in farming in 
Minnesota for a time. In 1885, when a young man of twenty, he came to 
this state, purchasing and locating on a quarter section of land which 
he cultivated for seven years. On the expiration of that period he 
removed to Baltic, Minnehaha county, and for two years was employed as 
clerk in a farmers, cooperative store. Subsequently he again turned his 
attention to agricultural pursuits, buying a tract of school land in 
the first year that such property was offered for sale. He later spent 
three and a half years in Tennessee, and in 1901 returned to South 
Dakota, purchasing the farm which he had disposed of in 1898. Mr. 
Austin had sold the property for eighteen hundred dollars, and paid 
thirty-six hundred dollars for it on again taking possession. He has 
retained the place to the present time, but rents the land and devotes 
his attention to threshing. Success has attended his undertakings, and 
he is numbered among the substantial and enterprising citizens of his 
community. 

	On the 3d of January, 1885, Mr. Austin was united in marriage to 
Miss Annie Johnson, a daughter of John Johnson. He is a republican in 
politics, has been a nominee for the legislature and has ably served in 
a number of township offices. His religious faith is that of the 
Lutheran church. He is well known in Minnehaha county, and in all of 
his dealings with his fellow men has demonstrated his right to their 
regard and confidence.