Here are a few excerpts from “Aida Austin’s 1881 Diary” which mention Ridley’s, which had advertised their fall opening in the 1880 “New York Times” News article at the end of this post. Wednesday, January 19, 1881 I went out … Continue reading
My great-uncle Lon Austin (brother to Aida) never married. He loved Nell (Helena) Gillespie who lived in Brooklyn (221-14th Street). Lon may have met Nell when he visited his New York City Austin cousins or when he worked at the … Continue reading
One of the challenges of writing a history of an area or ones family is figuring out what of conflicting information is correct. In both Book I and Book 2, I identified a photo as Alonzo Eugene Austin. Shortly before … Continue reading
The recent review of Farewell to Eldred by John Conway, Historian for Sullivan County, also mentions the first two books in the Memoirs from Eldred Series. My appreciation to John for not only writing such an informative review, but also … Continue reading
Monday, November 20, Lee and Jim went to the movies at Monticello. Thursday was Thanksgiving Day. The Leavenworths feasted on a goose dinner. President Roosevelt had moved Thanksgiving to one week earlier than normal. The thinking was that it would … Continue reading
It’s been like Christmas here for several days. I did find a descendant of Justus and Mary Wells Hickok. I have been pursuing for several years and I now have a third descendant of the Eldred-Austin Cousins (children of Augustus … Continue reading
Montfaucon, France, October 12–17, 1918 McKinley’s outfit arrived in the vicinity of Montfaucon on October 12. They suffered casualties from the heavy shelling of enemy guns the next day. That evening the 11th Infantry took up a position around Ferme … Continue reading
It was a custom of families of servicemen to hang a service Flag in the window of their homes. The Service Flag had a star for each family member in the military. Living servicemen were represented by a blue star, … Continue reading
Mr. and Mrs. C.M. Austin, of Eldred, Sullivan County, on November 17th received a telegram from the War Department at Washington informing them that their son, McKinley Austin, had been killed in action somewhere in France on October 21st. “Private … Continue reading
Jennie Austin, Eldred, to McKinley Austin, France October 12, 1918 My dear Mac, Just a few lines while I have time. I see in the papers in order to send a package to the soldiers that the soldier one sends … Continue reading
