(original source unidentified)
Thomas J. Austin, and industrious and thrifty farmer residing in the Ninth district of Bledsoe Count, is a native of Tennessee, born in Sequatchie County August 4, 1849, and is a son of Elijah F. and Phoebe (Minton) Austin. The father was born in Powell Valley, Claibourne County, TN, in 1818, and was a son of Jonathan Austin, who was very likely a Virginian by birth. Our subject’s great-grandfather was an Englishman, who came to America and joined Washington’s army, serving through the Revolutionary war, after which he located in Virginia and there spent the remainder of his life. Elijah F. Austin was the owner of a fine farm in the Ninth District of Bledsoe County, just above Mt. Airy, and was a most successful farmer and stock raiser. He was a Jeffersonian Democrat in political sentiment, and both he and his wife were earnest and faithful members of the Primitive Baptist church. She was born about the same year in which her husband’s birth occurred, and is still living.
(listed on the 1880 Bledsoe County Census as: Elijah Austin 64, farmer; Phebe 60, Joseph B 36, James H. 25, John B 22, Joel B. 21, John L. 18)
In their family were nine children, namely: Joseph B., a farmer living in the upper part of Sequatchie County; Rebecca, wife of Henry Cagle, of the Ninth district of Bledsoe County;
(listed on the 1880 Census of Bledsoe County: Henry Cagle 39, Rebecca A 38, Phebe E. 18, William J. 14, Lenora J. 11, Elijah A. 8, Henry L. 3)
William T., of the upper part of Sequatchie County; Thomas J., of this review; John B., James H. and Joel B., all farmers of the Ninth district of Bledsoe County; and J.L., who was born in 1861, and died at the age of twenty-nine years.
Reared upon the home farm, Thomas J. Austin received his education in schools of the neighborhood, and early in life became familiar with all the duties which fall to the lot of the agriculturist. On the 22nd of July, 1869, at the age of twenty years he was united in marriage with Miss Sarah Hale, who was born near Pikeville, in Bledsoe County, October 17, 1849, and is a daughter of Reverend James Hale. Of the ten children that blessed this union, eight are still living. They are as follows: J.L., a successful teacher of Johnson County, Texas; E.F., a merchant and barber of the same county; Frances A, wife of J.t. Southerland, a farmer of the first district of Bledsoe County; O.S., who died at the age of fourteen years; Leona E., Walter Cleveland, Melvine, Mabel and Monroe; all at home; and Joseph, who died in Childhood.
At the time of his marriage Mr. Austin commenced farming upon his father’s place, and in 1885 removed to his present farm, where he has two hundred acres of valuable and well-tilled land, under a hight state of cultivation and improved with an elegant residence and substantial out buildings. By his Ballot he always supports the men and measures of the Democratic party, and is one of the most public-spirited and progressive citizens of his district. His estimable wife holds membership in the Missionary Baptism Church.
Listed as follows on the 1880 Census of Bledsoe County:
Thomas J. Austin, 30 farmer; Sarah E. 30, James L. 9, Elijah F. 7, Frances A. 5, Opha S. 3