| 5. | Charles Austin  (1.Sarah1) was born on 13 Feb 1869 in Eganville, Bonnechere Valley Township, Renfrew County, Ontario, Canada; died on 24 Aug 1967 in Chatham, Chatham-Kent Municipality, Ontario, Canada; was buried in 1967 in Maple Leaf Cemetery, Chatham, Chatham-Kent Municipality, Ontario, Canada. Other Events and Attributes:
- _FGLINK: https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/242969330
- _FGRAVE: 242969330
Notes:
Died:
?b?CHARLES AUSTIN?/b? (Chatham Daily News Article at Age 90)
Charles Austin is one man who probably never worries about having too much time on his hands.
Mr. Austin, who will be 90 on Friday, has been a leader in community affairs, a former mayor and a successful businessman. On the threshold of becoming a nonagenarian, Mr. Austin can look back on a lifetime crammed with rewarding experiences.
Although he has retired from most of these activities, Mr. Austin, who lives with his wife, Nina at 8 Ellwood Ave., is still an ardent lawn bowler and expects to enjoy daily games at the Chatham Lawn Bowling Club next summer.
He is honorary president of the club and is the oldest active member of the lawn bowling club of St. Petersburg, Fla., where he spends most winters.
Born in Eganville on Feb. 13 1869, the son of William Austin and Sarah McNiece, Mr. Austin launched his business career at the age of 19 when he operated a general store in Schreiber, on the north shore of Lake Superior.
In 1895 he moved to Chatham and established the Charles Austin Co. Ltd., a clothing and dry goods store which he expanded until 1928 when it was sold to Canada Department Stores and later taken over by T. Eaton Co.
He has vivid recollections of the Riel Rebellion and remembers a schoolmate telling him about a cousin by the name of Edison who was working on the invention of an electric light.
Mr. Austin learned to be thrifty when he was employed at a general store in Eganville in his youth. "One morning while opening up the store, I threw a basin of water out the back door," said Mr. Austin. "The basin went with it and the proprietor charged me $1 to replace it. This was a substantial reduction in my months wage and it taught me to be more careful."
Before coming to Chatham, Mr. Austin married the former Mary E. Chapman, the daughter of a retired Methodist minister, He has two daughters, Mrs. C. F. Wright of Chatham and Mrs. James Endicott of Toronto.
In 1910 Mr. Austin was elected mayor of Chatham after serving five years on town council. He was on the Hydro Commission for 12 years, serving as chairman for eight terms. During this time substations 1 and 2 were built.
Mr. Austin, as a result of attending the annual conference of the Methodist Church in Chatham in 1910, was elected a representative to the general conference of the church. He was superintendent of the Park Street United church Sunday School for 17 years, was church treasurer for 40 years and for 20 years was representative of the London Conference on the General Board of Home and Foreign Missions.
During World War I he devoted his time and energy to war effort projects and was president of the Patriotic Fund, created as a supplement to the pay issued to families of service men.
LIFE MEMBER
A Rotarian for many years, Mr. Austin is a life member of Wellington Lodge and a few years ago celebrated 50 years in Masonry. He is a Shriner, a past president of the Children's Aid Society, and served several years on the Mother's Pension Board.
After retiring from commerce Mr. Austin and his first wife travelled extensively in Europe and Asia, They spent six months in China where their daughter, Mrs. James Endicott and her husband Dr. James, were United church missionaries.
At the time the Methodist and United churches united, Mr. Austin served on various committees which worked on the union. In polities, Mr. Austin was president of the Conservative party group in this area.
A curling enthusiast, he was a member of the Chatham Curling Ciub when it was quartered in part of the Chatham Armories, and still enjoys watching local bonspeils.
Mr. Austin was one of 10 Chatham citizens who formed a committee to secure the establishment of Canada and Dominion Sugar Co. "We spent about $40,000 out of our own resources to obtain this industry," said Mr. Austin, "but I don't suppose there are many people who know about that."
BEETS FROZE
"We rented a plot of land and grew sugar beets to show the company that beats could be raised successfully in this area. The first year the beets froze in the ground but our crop the second time was a success."
In 1936 Mr. Austin returned to business life, and with his son-in-law, Charles F. Wright established the Austin and Wright Agencies. He retired from this venture 10 years ago.
Mr. Austin married Mrs. Nina Trotter in 1938. His step daughter is Miss Jem Trotter of Chatham and stepson is Albert E. Trotter of Chatham.
After watching Canada's phenomenal growth for more than half a century, Mr. Austin says he can't foresee what the future will hold. "All one can do is wonder just what will be achieved in the next 10 or 20 years."
But whatever develops. you can be sure that Charles Austin will be more than a little interested.
Family/Spouse: Mary Elizabeth Chapman. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]
Charles married Mary Elizabeth Chapman in 1892. Mary (daughter of Rev. William Chapman and Jane Poole) was born on 22 May 1860 in Warwick, Lambton County, Ontario, Canada; died on 16 May 1937 in Chatham, Chatham-Kent Municipality, Ontario, Canada; was buried in 1937 in Maple Leaf Cemetery, Chatham, Chatham-Kent Municipality, Ontario, Canada. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]
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1834 - 1873 (39 years)
