Carmi Democrat-Tribune(?)
Carmi, White County, Illinois
Thursday, June 06, 1935
Page 1

Deceased Was Widely Known

Funeral Services Are Held For Pioneer White Countian

Funeral services for Mrs. Mary Austin, 96, who died at her home near Herald on Wednesday, May 29th, were held on Friday, May 31st, at the Lick Creek Church in charge of Elder W. C. Arnold of Carmi, assisted by Elder J. D. Vandever of Carbondale. Burial was made in the Moore Cemetery.

Pallbearers were younger men of the family, Elvis Spence, Herbert, Clyde, Sylvester, Wayne and Othel Austin.

Floral pieces were carried by great-granddaughters, Armedia, Sibyl, Aliene, Doris and Almetha Austin, Mary Carolyn and Elizabeth Smith, Mary Knight, Glendola and Cleata Austin, Margaret Buttry, Pauline Hoskins, and Kathryn Boyd. I. E. Turner was in charge of funeral arrangements.

Mary Hoskins-Austin, daughter of Elder and Mrs. Coleman Hoskins, was born February 28, 1839, and attained the ripe old age of 96 years, three months and one day. She was united in marriage to Charles Austin, January, 1855. To this union seven children were born, three girls and four boys. Six of this number preceded her in death. Three in early life, Sylvester in young manhood; Washington W. in 1930 and Mrs. Maggie Spence in 1931, leaving one son, C. Smith Austin, in whose home she was given tender care during the last year of her life. Her husband died November 13, 1910.

She leaves 10 grandchildren, 15 great-grandchildren and many other relatives.

Faithful in their loving vigil until the end were the son, his wife and other relatives and friends rendering every possible aid, but old age had told the story and the earthly tabernacle crumbled and fell.

Aunt Mary united with the Primitive Baptist CHurch about 70 years ago and remained firm in the faith of the Gospel of Christ until the end of her long sojourn, expressing herself only a few days prior to her death, and being anious to quit the weary walks of this inconstant life and go on to be with Jesus. So enters another pilgrim into blissful regions of eternal day as doubtless holy angels proclaim words of welcome.

Mrs. Austin was born in Heralds Prairie Township at the spot where she died and grew to young womanhood. After an early marriage she lived many years on this farm in Heralds Prairie Township where she spun and wove cloth for the needs of her family and household.

Later, she and her husband moved to Norris City. After his death she bought a nice home hear her only daughter, Mrs. Maggie Spence.

While living there and in her early seventies, Mrs. Austin fell and broke a limb. The bones knit slowly and after many weeks she was able to go about on crutches but an indomitable spirit prompted her to walk off the attending stiffness and she persisted in walking about the yard and house despite intense pain and overcame her plight as a cripple. She owned the first sewing machine in her community and women came miles to use the time and labor saving device. She lived through a wonderful age of progress and had the benefits of many other labor saving inventions. She saw in succession the ox cart displaced by horse-drawn wagons, buggies, trains, street cars, automobiles and airplanes. She acquired much of her education during the school days of her children and after her daughter married, Mrs. Austin learned to play the organ from a book of instructions and play quite well.

When failing eyesight deprived her of her chief diversion she turned to the radio to keep abreast of the times and maintained an interest in affairs of the world. She was a woman of keen business perception and during the week of her fatal illness arranged all her business affairs with accuracy and dispatch, in the presence of her lawyer.

Card of Thanks

We wish to express our sincere thanks to our friends for their sympathy and help in the sickness and death of our mother, Mrs. Mary Austin. Also we wish to express our heartfelt gratitude for the beautiful flowers and for the song service.

C. S. Austin and Family