Indiana Historical Society - Manuscripts & Archives
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Historical Sketch
Scope and Content Note
Box and Folder Listing
Cataloguing Information
Processed by:
Paul Brockman
18 January 1991
VOLUME OF COLLECTION: 1 box, 1 oversize item, 1 photo album (.4 linear feet)
COLLECTION DATES: Inclusive, 1844-1897; Bulk, 1861-1865
PROVENANCE: Dr. Mrs. George C. Bales, Los Angeles, California, 12 December 1991, forwarded to IHS by Frances Wilhoit, IU Journalism Library, Ernie Pyle Hall, Bloomington, IN
RESTRICTIONS: None
COPYRIGHT: Held by Indiana Historical Society
ALTERNATE FORMATS: None
OTHER FINDING AIDS: None
RELATED HOLDINGS: None
ACCESSION NUMBER: 91.0155
The Austin family resided in Clifty, Decatur County, Indiana. Principal recipient of the majority of the correspondence, George Austin, moved several times and apparently spent many years in Indianapolis as well as in Hope, (Bartholomew Co.), and Danville, (Hendricks Co.). While in Clifty, George Austin was a farmer on the family farm, but he apparently moved to Indianapolis in the mid or late 1860s where he probably operated a retail store. Several of the correspondents served in the 5th Indiana Cavalry (90th Regiment), including his brother, Alfred, who died in Andersonville Prison on November 27, 1864.
Sources: Information from items within collection.
Terrell, Report of the Adjutant General, vol. 6.
Harding, History of Decatur County, p. 455.
The majority of the collection consists of letters from members of the Austin family to George Austin in Clifty (Decatur Co.), Indianapolis (Marion Co.), Hope (Bartholomew Co.), and Danville (Hendricks Co.). Included are Civil War letters from several correspondents, most of whom were members of the 5th Indiana Cavalry (90th Regiment) from Kentucky and Tennessee. Among the correspondents are George Austin's brother, Alfred, who died in Andersonville Prison in November, 1864, an uncle, John O'Byrnne (68th Regiment), and a friend, Louis Bruner. Subjects include health, family and home news, and war news. Bruner also writes about the available information and speculation about the health and whereabouts of Alfred Austin in Andersonville (January 15, 1865).
The remainder of the letters are from family and friends to George Austin and other family remembers are of a personal nature. There is a letter from William C. Wood of Whiteland, Indiana to George Austin asking him for his permission to marry his daughter, Nellie (November 30, 1889). There also are receipts, legal documents, and general items regarding the Austin family including George Austing purchasing cemetery plots at Crown Hill Cememtery in Indianapolis, and the inventory of the estate of Alfred Austin (November 19, 1864) as well as payment due from the government to his family (October 16, 1866). An unidentified family photo album is stored in Visual Collections.
BOX 1: Austin Family Papers, 1844-1897
FOLDER CONTENTS
1 Correspondence, 1856, 1859, 1861
2 Correspondence, 1862
3 Correspondence, 1863
4 Correspondence, 1864
5 Correspondence, 1865-1868
6 Correspondence, 1870-1887
7 Correspondence, 1889-1897 n.d.
8 Receipts, Legal Documents, and General Items, 1844, 1853-1880
9 (OM 252) Deed, Cemetery Plots, Crown Hill, Indpls., November 9, 1871
10 (VC) Family Photo Album
MAIN ENTRY: Austin, George, fl. 1840s-1890s
SUBJECT ENTRIES: Austin, Alfred, d. 1864--Estate
United States. Army. Indiana Cavalry Regiment, 5th (1862-1865)
United States. Army. Indiana Infantry Regiment, 68th (1862-1865)
Andersonville Prison
Marriage--Indiana--Whiteland
Prisoners of war--Georgia
Prisons, Military
Cemeteries--Indiana--Indianapolis
Decedents' estates--Indiana--Indianapolis
Clifty (Ind.)
United States--History--Civil War, 1861-1865
Indiana--History--Civil War, 1861-1865
Kentucky--History--Civil War, 1861-1865
Tennessee--History--Civil War, 1861-1865
END