Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 38, Number 44, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 16 February 1906 — OBITUARY OF MRS. S. J. AUSTIN. [ARTICLE]

OBITUARY OF MRS. S. J. AUSTIN.

Sarah Jane Austin was born at Xenia, Ohio, August 7th, 1824, and died at the home of her son, William B. at 17 Scott Street, Chicago Feb. 11th 1906, age 81 years, 6 mos. and 4 days. Her maiden name was Webb, and her ancestors emigrated from Wales, and settled in Connecticut, in the early part of the 18th Century, several of the Webbs in her family bore conspicious parts i n the Revolutionary War. Her father, Frederick Webb, re moved to Warren County, Ind., in an early day, where Mrs. Austin's girlhood days were spent, and and where, in 1845, she was united in marriage to John M. Austin, Who died July 18th 1877. Five children were born to her, Charles C., who died in 1856, Ella Austin Spitler, who died in 1873, and Mary C. Hopkins, of Rensselaer. Mrs. 8. L.|Ensminger, ol Crawfords ville, and William B. Austin of Chicago. She had two own sisters, both now deceased, Mrs. Catharine Harrington, and Mrs. Lydia Starr White, both of County also two half sisters, and one half brother still living, Mrs; Rebecca Bassick of Bridgeport, Conn., and Mrs. Maggie Snow of Maine, and Edward Webb of Colorado.

The deceased is survived by five grand children, Mrs. Geo. K. Hollingsworth, Louis F. Hopkins, Senior Hopkins of Chicago, Dr. Leonard A. Ensminger of Indianapolis, and Mrs. Boy Menweather Shayne of Chicago, and four great grand children, Donald and Thomas Hollingsworth and Sarah Louise and Stanley Webb Hopkins. She settled in Rensselaer in 1857, and always had a high appreciation of her town and its welfare, and kept thoroughly abreast of the tim s by reading the daily news pap rs and latest books. 8 .ehad all those qualities which make up a true mother and will be thoroaghly missed by her family and acquaintances. She was a firm beliver in the tenets of Christainity and only a short time before she died, recited firn:’y and correctly the poem commeiA ing. Vi'nl spark of Heavenly flame, Q ait, oh quit, this mortal frame, Tr nbling, hoping, lingering, flying, Ch, the pain, the bliss of dying.

The remains, accompanied by a considerable party of friends, arrive! on the two p. m. train today and vere taken at once to the Pre'i'vterian church, where the funeral was immediately held. The services were conducted by Bevs. J. C. Parrett and D. T. Halstead, in the presence of a large assemblage of old friends and neighbors.. A striking feature of the funeral and one which could occur but in few cases, was that the pall bearers were all either grandsons, great-grandsons or grandsonsin- law. Thev were Louis F. and Senior G. Hopkins, and Leonard Ensminger grandsons, Donald G. Hollingsworth, a great grandson, and Roy Shane and G. K. Hollingsworth, grand sons in laws.