The independent-reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1909-1955, 1922-07-06
Nureh. Austin Farm

Situated on the direct road from
! New Portland sillage To North An
son. namely. north Arson Valley. is
what was originally TWO farms. The
first known in days gone by as the
! Lewis Murich farm, the other as the
Josephf Austin farm.
Mr.. Murch also owned and operat-
cd. at one time. churn factory at
New Portland village. which was To-
Gated on what is now the vacant lot
between the store Of Charles T.. Hoyt
and the residence of Mr.. and Mrs.
j. A. Hoyt. This was later destroyed
by fire.
Joseph Austin moved his family to
New Portland from Ambrose in No
yember of 1855. He was the son of
Cyme Austin. He had been married
to Miss Abbie McKeen on Jan. 21,
1861. To this union were born three
/ children, Fred, Frank and Anna.
On The 18th of August 1862 Joseph
| Austin was mustered into the service
of the United States with Co. d, 18th
! Regiment of Maine Volunteer Infan-
! try by Major J. w. r Gardener Of
| the Second United States Dragons.
/ Interesting. indeed. is it 10 read about
THAR journey from Portland, Me-, to
the scene Of their first battle which
/ has gone down in history as the Bat
tie of fredericksburg. but space will
not permit writing it in detail. On
through the entire war they fought
and on June 10. 1865, the regiment
/ was paid by Major George b. Dudley
! and the 18th Maine ceased to exist"
| Mr.. Austin was wounded several
different times but never seriously
and never was he once absent from
roll call He died at the home Of his
daughter, Jan. u, 1904
! Mrs. Austin was the daughter Of
Robert and Mary Cannon McKeeh.
! There were nine brothers and sis
tiers only one of whom. James of Saco,
| is now living. Mrs. Austin's death
occurred August %, 1919 at Auburn.
One half brother, Cyrus of Man
chester, n. H., is the only remaining
member of Mr. Aust.ns family.
Fred, the eldest son Of this couple,
married Addie Alexander of Auburn,
and they now reside in that city.
Their only child, lIaidee, who was
married to Philip Rowley Of Dorches-
ter. Mass, died a few years ago.
Frank Austin was united in mar
rage n 1894 to Miss Myrtle Jackson,
daughter Of Joshua and Amelia jack
son. They had two children, Hazel,
who is now married and lives near
Delaware, Calf, and Matte. also
married and living in Sacramento,
Calf. 1t may also be of some inter
est to note That Frank Austin also
owned the Lewis Murch farm at one
time, having purchased the property
of Otis HutchinS, administrator of the
Dagget estate. it having, previous to
his demise. been owned by Asa Dag
gett. After having sold the farm to
| Eugene Young, he moved to Virginia,
where he lived about -four years. He
! then went into business N Boston.
! Later. he owned store in West Au-
burn and from there he went to Del
aware. Calf. He later leased his
ranch there and moved to Willows
whore he became engaged in the real
estate business.
b., Ann Austin was married to Orrin
w. Williamson in 1895. One daugh-
ter, Josephine. now Mrs. Cephas
7, Walker of North New Portland, was
born to them.
For several years they lived on the
farm owned by Joseph Austin but
these buildings were consumed by
fire in the spring of 1909 They then
purchased the buildings where they
now live of Eugene Young.
On the two farms, which are now
classpd as one. are about 100 apple
trees of winter fruit and nearly all
are in bearing.
Mr. Williamson was born Feb. H.
1870. on what was known as the Rob
ert Drummond farm on Millay Hill
I His parents were Elbridge and Bet
eey Winter of kinglield. He has one
brother Elbridgc. who now lives In
Kingfeld. One brother. John, died a
few years ago at his brother in laws
d. w lmery's and then resided or
Millay Hill Another brother, Will
liam, went to Walla Walla, Washing
ton, then to California whore he was
engaged in the cattle bus ness. He
later died in Pasadena, Calf. One
sister, Cora. married George Will
liams, who was engaged In the sheer
business in Nevada Her death oc-
CURED in that state, and another sis
ter, Eta, wife of Daniel Emery. OF
East New Portland. passed away In
1917 There are also three grand
children. Harland Malcolm and Law
renee Walker.