Julius Augustus Caesar and Octavia Ann Austin
Information comes from Ina McMurray and Torrey L Austin in the History of Bear Lake Pioneers
Julius was descended from a long line of hardy New
Englanders and was born 7 Jan 1810 to Seth Austin and Polly Monroe. While
still a youth ye went to the city of Hartford to learn the trades of carpenter,
joiner and glazier.
He married Octavia Ann Lane 15 Sep 1835. She was the daughter of Ashbel Lane and Anna Stannard of Suffield, Connecticut.
Children of Julius Augustus Caesar Austin and Octavia Ann Lane
1. Louise Maria Austin b-21 June 1838 in
Suffield; d-26 Apr 1927 in Laketown Utah; m-Cheney
2. Edwin Nelson Austin b-5 Sep 1840 in
Farmington Conn; d-23 May 1920 in Salt Lake
City; br-Liberty Cemetery; m-Alnora Naomi Lane 17 Apr 1863
3. Newton Francis Austin b-3 July 1843 in Suffield; d-30 July 1922 in Kila
Montana; br-Salt Lake City
4. Julia Ann Austin b&d 1 May 1845 in Suffield
In 1843 two Mormon Elders, Ezra T Benson and John M Woolley came to their home with the Gospel. Julius and Octavia accepted the gospel and were the only ones in the town who joined the Church. The ice in the Connecticut River was broken for their baptism on 10 Jan 1844. They were persecuted and found it necessary to move to another place. Julius and his family sailed with Sam Brannan on the ship Brooklyn and on their way stopped at Juan Fernandez Island. The purpose of this trip was to replenish the supply of wood and water. Edwin Austin was lost on this island for one day.
They landed in San Francisco 31 July 1846, a city with less than 500 citizens. They all worked on buildings then being built in San Francisco. In Jan 1848 gold was discovered at Sutter's Mill and on Mormon Island. The Austin family paned out about $100 a day in gold until word came from President Brigham Young for all the Saints to come to the Salt Lake Valley.
After arriving in Salt Lake Valley the family lived in one of the cabins of the old fort. In 1850 Julius bought a farm in Farmington Utah and lived for a number of years. Octavia died suddenly 27 Aug 1863 in Farmington and was buried there. Her passing was a great sorrow to Julius and left a void in his life. In the spring of 1864 Julius and his two sons, Edwin and Newton were called to settle Bear Lake Valley. On July 4 Edwin and Charles Oakey went up Paris Canyon and got a flag pole and erected it on the public square. This was believe to be the first flying of the Stars an Stripes in Bear Lake Valley.
Children of Edwin Nelson Austin and Alnora Naomi Lane
1. Lida Estella Austin b-11 Jan 1864 in
Richville Utah; d-30 Mar 1894
2. Edwin Augustus Austin b-27 Aug 1866 in Liberty; d-2 Feb 1937 in Los Angeles
California
3. De Lafayette Mead Austin b-14 Oct 1868 in Liberty; d-23 Dec 1928 in Provo
Utah
4. Alnora Mary Austin b-20 Nov 1873 in Liberty; d-2 Nov 1888
5. Quincy Knowlton Austin b-14 Dec 1870 in Liberty; d-27 May 1872
6. Maud Austin b-20 Mar 1876 in Liberty; d-14 Oct 1963
7. Edith Austin b-10 Sep 1878 in Liberty; d-24 Feb 1900
8. Ray Austin b-24 Dec 1881 in Liberty; d-19 Feb 1900
9. Elaine Austin b-30 June 1884 in Liberty; d-30 May 1892
10. Hattie Austin b-17 June 1887 in Liberty; d-22 Jan 1888
11. Hyrum Lane Austin b-20 Nov 1889 in Liberty; d-19 June 1960
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In 1865 Julius married a widow, Eliza Ann Dibble Jackson and brought her and her children to his home in Paris. To own and drive good horses was a hobby with Julius and he loved children and liked to make them happy. He died 3 Mar 1903 of a heart attack at the home of his daughter Louise in Laketown Utah and was buried in the cemetery there.
Edwin Austin was elected county surveyor in July 1883 and was also appointed deputy mineral surveyor for minerals in Idaho 7 Mar 1892. The first commissioners of Bear Lake County were J C Rich, Jonathan Pugmire and Edwin Nelson Austin. In Dec 1897 he was called by Wilford Woodruff to go on a mission to California. Edwin's years in Bear Lake Valley were spent in cattle raising and a large dairy where he made cheese and butter.