Earliest Austin bit

This is probably the earliest bit of documented history of the Austin line. 

"The Blue Rock Riflemen was the next organization, formed in 1835 and composed of fifty able bodied men.  Joseph Starrett was their first Captain; James Millhouse was First Lieutenant; Dr. Coverdale, Second Lieutenant.  Nlillhouse (sic -- Millhouse?) succeeded Starret as Captain.  Their uniform was a blue coat, white pants, felt hat, with white plume tipped with red, and green tassel on the hat.  They were not uniformed, however, until 1838.  The musicians were as follows:  Drummer, Roderic Oston -- also Drum Major . . ."   from old Ohio county history book. 

This photo is NOT Roderick but I think it is representative of the way Roderick would have been dressed.  He wouldn't have had a fancy uniform, the Austins were as poor as church mice and the US military was issuing uniforms to the band. 

So there, there is my G.G.G. Grandfather Roderic Ransom Austin or Roderick Random Oston . . . however you spell it, he's the earliest Austin I can go back to.  And his DNA (offered up and DNA test paid for by Gary Lewis) matches other Austin lines. 

Roderick Ransom Austin was born in 1797, Connecticut or New York.  He lived later in Ohio, Illinois, Iowa and Nebraska.  He married Nancy Wear Austin and had 5 sons and 3 daughters.  Two of the boys served in the Civil War,  and one died in the War.  Another son, William, was father of R.B. Senior and grandfather to R. B. Junior and great grandfather to Forrest M Austin.  William was killed too young in Wisconsin in a logging accident. 

The elderly Roderick Austin lived with another son, Jonathon, who was homesteading in Clay County, Ne in the 1870s and 80s.  Jonathon was a widower and Roderick and Nancy Austins helped raise Jonathon's daughter, Nancy.
Nancy Wear Austin, Roderick's wife, died in 1879 and G.G.G. Granddad Roderick Austin died in 1905 in Clay County, Ne.  They are both buried in unmarked graves there. 

Nancy and Roderick don't lie here alone.  Their daughter Eliza Jane, her husband Joseph Bird and three little ones are buried here too.  Edith Bird died in 1891 at age 12, George Bird died in 1989 at age 16 and little Zoa Bird died in 1876 at two months.  They are all buried on Lot 47 with their father Joseph and beside their mother on Lot 46 and their grandparents Roderick and Nancy, both on Lot 48.  Times were tough and these folks were poor.  Although there is a nice large Grave Stone for Joseph and Eliza Jane Bird, there is no head stone for Roderick and Nancy. 

I think I should look into putting one there.