"Austin, Hon. Charles, of Battle Creek, was born in London, England, April 19, 1834. His father was originally a farmer, but kept a boot and shore store in London, and was a Wesleyan local preacher. He emigrated to Wellington, New Zealand, where he now resides, engaged in farming and in the work of the ministry. Mr. Austin obtained the elements of his education in one of the schools of the British and Foreign School Society; and gained a practical knowledge of the boot and shoe business in his father's store. Believing that he would not be successful in his native city, he emigrated to New York, in February, 1852. From there he went to Albany, where he engaged as clerk in a shoe store. In the fall of the same year, he removed to Little Falls, where he remained until the following summer, when he removed to Utica. In May, 1854, Mr. Austin went to Concord, Jackson County, Michigan; and, in September, 1855, he removed to Homer, Calhoun County. After a residence to two years in Homer, he removed to Bedford, in the same county, and resided there until 1872, when he went to Battle Creek. While at Bedford, Mr. Austin engaged in general mercantile business; and, in the other places of his residence, his business was the manufacture, purchase, and sale of boots and shoes. At Bedford, he held the office of Justice of the Peace. Upon his removal to Battle Creek, he opened one of the largest dry-goods houses in the city. Three years after his removal to Battle Creek, he was elected an Alderman of his ward. In 1876, as the Republican candidate, he was elected Mayor; and, in 1877, was re-elected to the same office. Since his arrival in this country, Mr. Austin has visited England; and, from there, made a voyage to Australia and New Zealand, spending fourteen months in travel. He became a Master Mason in 1858. He is now High Priest of the Chapter, and a member of Battle Creek Council of Royal and Select Masons. Since his residence in the city of Battle Creek, he has shown great interest in Sabbath-school labor; and is now Superintendent of the Congregational and Presbyterian Sabbath-school, of which church he is a member. On the 1st of January, 1855, Mr. Austin married Miss Lucy D. Taylor, of Concord, Michigan. Of the five sons born to them, three are living." – Excerpt from "American Biographical History of Eminent and Self-Made Men, Michigan Volume," published by Western Biographical Publishing Co., Cincinnati, O., 1878.∼His father owned a boot and shoe store in London and was also minister of the Wesleyan denomination. Charles came to America in 1852 and came to Battle Creek, MI in 1872 where he founded a large mercantile and commission house called Austin, Godsmark and Durand. On 1 Jan 1855 he married Lucy D. Taylor and they had five sons. In 1876 he was elected mayor of Battle Creek and in 1882 and 1884 elected to the State Senate.
"Austin, Hon. Charles, of Battle Creek, was born in London, England, April 19, 1834. His father was originally a farmer, but kept a boot and shore store in London, and was a Wesleyan local preacher. He emigrated to Wellington, New Zealand, where he now resides, engaged in farming and in the work of the ministry. Mr. Austin obtained the elements of his education in one of the schools of the British and Foreign School Society; and gained a practical knowledge of the boot and shoe business in his father's store. Believing that he would not be successful in his native city, he emigrated to New York, in February, 1852. From there he went to Albany, where he engaged as clerk in a shoe store. In the fall of the same year, he removed to Little Falls, where he remained until the following summer, when he removed to Utica. In May, 1854, Mr. Austin went to Concord, Jackson County, Michigan; and, in September, 1855, he removed to Homer, Calhoun County. After a residence to two years in Homer, he removed to Bedford, in the same county, and resided there until 1872, when he went to Battle Creek. While at Bedford, Mr. Austin engaged in general mercantile business; and, in the other places of his residence, his business was the manufacture, purchase, and sale of boots and shoes. At Bedford, he held the office of Justice of the Peace. Upon his removal to Battle Creek, he opened one of the largest dry-goods houses in the city. Three years after his removal to Battle Creek, he was elected an Alderman of his ward. In 1876, as the Republican candidate, he was elected Mayor; and, in 1877, was re-elected to the same office. Since his arrival in this country, Mr. Austin has visited England; and, from there, made a voyage to Australia and New Zealand, spending fourteen months in travel. He became a Master Mason in 1858. He is now High Priest of the Chapter, and a member of Battle Creek Council of Royal and Select Masons. Since his residence in the city of Battle Creek, he has shown great interest in Sabbath-school labor; and is now Superintendent of the Congregational and Presbyterian Sabbath-school, of which church he is a member. On the 1st of January, 1855, Mr. Austin married Miss Lucy D. Taylor, of Concord, Michigan. Of the five sons born to them, three are living." – Excerpt from "American Biographical History of Eminent and Self-Made Men, Michigan Volume," published by Western Biographical Publishing Co., Cincinnati, O., 1878.∼His father owned a boot and shoe store in London and was also minister of the Wesleyan denomination. Charles came to America in 1852 and came to Battle Creek, MI in 1872 where he founded a large mercantile and commission house called Austin, Godsmark and Durand. On 1 Jan 1855 he married Lucy D. Taylor and they had five sons. In 1876 he was elected mayor of Battle Creek and in 1882 and 1884 elected to the State Senate.
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