Pueblo County, Colorado
John G. Austin

Contributed by Jean Griesan.

John G. Austin. The deserved reward of a well-spent life is an honored retirement from business in which to enjoy the fruits of former toil. To-day, after a useful and beneficial career, Mr. Austin is quietly living at his pleasant home in Rye, Pueblo County, surrounded by the comfort that earnest labor has brought him. He is one of the honored pioneers of the state, and for many years was actively identified with its mining, farming and stock-raising interests. Mr. Austin is a native of Illinois, born in Fulton County, April 12, 1839, and is a son of H. T. Austin, who is still living at the ripe old age of eighty-nine years, and makes his home near Rye, Pueblo County. He was one of the first settlers of Illinois, and came to Colorado in 1865.

Throughout his active business life he followed the occupations of farming and stock-raising, and is quite well preserved for one of his years, appearing much younger than he really is. He was a soldier in the Black Hawk war and is honored and respected by all who know him. The mother of our subject, whose family name was Collins, died during his boyhood.

In the county of his nativity John G. Austin was reared and educated in much the usual manner of farmer boys of his day. On attaining his majority he went to Missouri and located in Macon County, where he engaged in farming and stock-raising for a short time. The year 1860 witnessed his arrival in Colorado, and he located first in California Gulch, near Leadville, where he engaged in mining for about five years. He then went to Denver, and for two years followed mining in the mountains near that place. In 1867 he went to Boulder, where for two years he was engaged in the same occupation, and in 1870 came to Pueblo County, settling upon a ranch on Graneros Creek, about four miles from Rye. This place, which he still owns, consists of three hundred and twenty acres that he has transformed from a wild tract into one of the most desirable ranches in the locality. There he made his home until his removal to Rye two years ago, his attention being devoted to farming and stock-raising. He built a good residence in Rye and is now spending his declining days in ease and quiet, having laid aside all business cares.

In 1877 Mr. Austin married Mrs. Jane C. Frink, nee Convers, who was born at Waterford, Pa., about fifteen miles from Erie, and is a daughter of George Convers, a native of Vermont and a farmer by occupation. Her first husband was Alonzo Frink, a soldier of the Civil war, who enlisted in the Second Iowa Infantry and served all through the struggle. He died leaving a family of six children, namely: James A., a farmer and stockman, of Montezuma Valley, Colo.; Mrs. Jane Walters, whose husband is a farmer living seven miles from Rye; Harry C., who is represented elsewhere in this work; Hattie C., wife of John Thomas, a merchant of Rye; Mrs. George Haynes; and Helen C., wife of Clayton Colvin, a railroad man living at Colorado Springs. Like her husband, Mrs. Austin is also a pioneer of this state, and both crossed the plains with ox-teams before any railroads were built through this section, and during their early residence here they experienced all of the hardships and privations incident to life on the frontier. Denver at that time was a mere hamlet, containing only a few small houses, and almost the entire state was in its primitive condition, inhabited principally by Indians.

In early life Mr. Austin was a supporter of the Democratic party, but for the past few years has been identified with the Populists, and takes an active interest in political affairs, though never an aspirant for official honors. He affiliated with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows at Rye for some years, until the lodge was moved to Pueblo. He is quite a student and a well-read man and is very pleasant in manner.

Extracted from “Portrait and Biographical Record of the State of Colorado,” published by Chapman Publishing Company in Chicago in 1899.


Contributed by Jean Griesan.

Austin, John G. (arrived in Colorado in 1860)

John G. Austin was born in Fulton County, Illinois, April 12, 1839, a son of H. L. Austin. The family name of his mother was Collins.

John G. was reared and educated in much the usual manner of farmer boys of his day. On attaining his majority he went to Missouri and located in Jacon [sic] County, where he engaged in farming and stock raising. The year 1860 witnessed his arrival in Colorado and he located first in California Gulch, near Leadville, where he engaged in mining for about 5 years. He then went to Denver and for 2 years followed mining in the mountains near that place. In 1867 he went to Boulder, where for 2 years he was engaged in the same occupation. In 1870 he went to Pueblo County, settling upon a ranch on Graneros Creek, about 4 miles from Rye. This place consists of 320 acres that he transformed from a wild tract into one of the most desirable ranches in the locality.

In 1877 Mr. Austin married Mrs. Jane C. Frink, nee Convus [sic], who was born at Waterford, Pennsylvania. She was a daughter of George Convers [penciled in], a native of Vermont. Her first husband was Alonzo Frink, a soldier in the Civil War. He died, leaving a family of six children: James A.; Mrs. Jane Walters; Harry C.; Hattie C., wife of John Thomas; Mrs. George Haynes; and Helen C., wife of Clayton Colvin.

Like her husband, Mrs. Austin is also a pioneer of this State--both crossed the plains with ox teams and, during their early residence here, experienced all of the hardships and privations incident to life on the frontier. Denver at that time was a mere hamlet, containing only a few small houses. Almost the entire “State” was inhabited principally by Indians.

Extracted from "The Real Pioneers of Colorado," by Maria Davies McGrath, published in 1934 by The Denver Museum, retyped with added notes by Jane P. Ohl, in October 2001.



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