History of Michigan, / by Charles Moore. [Vol. 3]

HISTORY OF MICHIGAN

1331

old country, he came to America with very slender resources, was employed as a journeyman for a number of years, by thrift and hard work
got together the capital which enabled him to start in business for himself at Flint. As a painting contractor, he has long enjoyed a fine business, and has filled many of the largest and most important contracts in
that line in this part of the state.
James S. Austin was born in Old Devonshire, England, September
15, I86I. He was the eighth in a family of fourteen children, born to
William and Frances (Sanford) Austin. The father was a Devonshire
farmer, and died in England in 1883 at the age of sixty-six. The mother
is still living in Devonshire, and is now eighty-eight years of age.
Mr. Austin had his early training on a farm in Devonshire, was educated in the common schools, and beginning an apprenticeship worked
seven years in learning the trade of painter. In order to secure the better
opportunities which the new world offered he came to America and spent
several years as a journeyman in various states and cities. He finally
located in Detroit, where he became connected with the F. Binford
Paint Company. He remained with that concern for eight years, and
after one or two other changes moved to Flint in 1888. He here established himself in the painting business, and has operated on a contract
basis during most of the time. Mr. Austin owns the store at 120 East
Kearsley street, but his sons have active charge of that branch of the
business.
In public affairs he has always been a Republican, and served as alderman for two years from I906 to I908. In the Masonic Order he has
taken thirty-two degrees in the Scottish Rite, and also affiliates with the
Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, the Independent Order of Odd
Fellows, the Knights of the Maccabees, and the Loyal Guards.
At Detroit, in I883, was celebrated his marriage with Miss Harriet
Zugar, whose parents are now deceased, and who at one time lived in
Crystal Falls, Michigan, and later in Detroit. The three children of Mr.
and Mrs. Austin are: William H. Austin, born at Detroit, in I884, is
now married and lives in Flint, being associated with his father in business; Lee James Austin, born at Saginaw, in I886, was married in October, I913, to Miss Catherine Burke; Sylvester Austin, born at Flint, in
I894, is a graduate of the Flint high school. Mr. Austin in the course
of his business activities at Flint has acquired some valuable real estate.
He is the owner of what is known as Austin Place on North Saginaw
Street, a property very highly improved with modern residence buildings.
HON. EDWARD WILMOT BARBER. Now eighty-six years of age, Mr.
Barber has attained, not only the distinction of long years, but of prominent and useful activities that have crowded his lifetime from the decade
of the fifties down to the present, when he is still performing his functions as editor of the Jackson Daily Patriot. Perhaps no citizen of Michigan has more extended recollections of the old times than Mr. Barber.
He knew and was personally associated with many of the influential men
in the years before and during the Civil war, and for a number of years
after the war, was himself at Washington engaged in public service. Mr.
Barber has experienced much of life, and is a man whose venerable years
have been crowned with the fruit of a varied ability, and a kindly personal
Edward Wilmot Barber was born at Benson, Vermont, July 3, 1828,
and his home has been in Michigan since I839. His father was Edward
Hinman Barber, and the mother's maiden name was Rebecca Griswold.
The father who was a farmer by occupation, was born at Benson, Vermont, in I794, and died at Vermontville, Michigan. The Barber family