Page:The Biographical Dictionary of America, vol. 01.djvu/166

AURINGER.AUSTIN. Vincennes, and later of the East India squadron. He was retired in 1861, and in the following year was placed on the retired list with the rank of commodore. He died April 27, 1873. AURINGER, Obadiah Cyrus, clergyman, was born at Glens Falls. N. Y., Jan. 4, 1849. He received his preparatory education in the public schools, and afterwards extended his study in science and literature. For some years he served on a United States man-of-war in the tropics of America; engaged in farming 1875-89, and in the meantime fitted for the Presbyterian ministry under private tutors. He was ordained in 1890, and was pastor at Northwood, N. Y., 1889-’91, and of the Third Church, Troy. N.Y., from 1892. He published Scythe and Sword poems (1887); Heart of the Golden Roan (1890); Book of the Hills (1890); The Christ (1900); and contributed poems to periodicals. AUSTIN, Benjamin, statesman, was born in Boston, Mass., Nov. 18, 1752. He was a frequent contributor to the newspapers, writing principally articles opposing the administration of John Adams, which subjected him to much criticism. Under the pen names of "Honestus" and "Old South" he wrote numerous articles for the Independent Chronicle, some of which were published in book form in 1803. He was appointed commissioner of loans for Massachusetts by President Jefferson, and was elected at different times to both houses of the state legislature. He died in Boston, May 4, 1820. AUSTIN, Jane Goodwin, author, was born at Worcester, Mass., Feb. 25, 1831, daughter of Isaac Goodwin, lawyer, antiquary and genealogist. Her mother was a poet and song-writer, and a lover of traditions and anecdotes, and many of the stories embodied in Mrs. Austin's later works were first heard at her mother's knee. Both of her parents were descended from Mayflower pilgrims. Possibly no other writer has done as much as she to keep fresh in the minds of succeeding generations the customs and traditions of the Pilgrim Fathers. How thoroughly she understood the Puritan character is shown in her four latest works: "The Nameless Nobleman" (1881, 1889); "Standish of Standish" (1899); "Dr. Le Baron and His Daughters" (1890). and "Betty Alden" (1891), which cover the period from the landing of the pilgrims in 1620 to the revolution in 1775. At the time of her death she was working on a fifth volume, which was to complete the series. The "Nameless Nobleman" in the book bearing that title was Francois Le Baron, the great-grandfather of her mother. Other books of her composition are: "Fairy Dreams" (1859); "Dora Darling" (1865); "Outpost: a Novel" (1866); "Tailor Boy" (1867); "Cypher" (1869); "The Shadow of Moloch Mountain" (1870); "Moon Folk: a True Account of the Home of the Fairy Tales" (1874): "Mrs. Beauchamp Brown" (1880); "Nantucket Scraps" (1882), and "The Desmond Hundred," Round Robin Series (1882). In addition to these works she wrote a great number of stories and some poems for the leading magazines and newspapers. She died in Boston, Mass., March, 30, 1894. AUSTIN, Jonathan Loring, statesman, was born in Boston, Mass., Jan. 2, 1748. He was graduated from Harvard college in 1766, going then to Portsmouth, N. H., where he entered upon a mercantile career. He was appointed major in Colonel Langdon's regiment at its organization, served on General Sullivan's staff, and until October, 1777, was attached to the Massachusetts board of war as its secretary. He was sent to France with despatches for the American commissioners, remained with Dr. Franklin as his private secretary, and was sent by him to England as his agent. Upon his return he carried despatches from the commissioners to Congress, arriving in Philadelphia in May, 1779. The following year he returned to Europe to obtain a loan for the state of Massachusetts. He was captured on his vessel, and upon his arrival in England was released. Failing to negotiate the loan, he returned to America in 1781. He was selected as the orator at the Boston Fourth of July celebration in 1786. He afterwards was elected to the Massachusetts senate, serving a number of terms. He also held the offices of state treasurer and secretary of state. He died in Boston. May 10, 1826. AUSTIN, Samuel, educator, was born in New Haven, Conn., Oct. 7, 1760. He was graduated at Yale college in 1783, and, entering the Congregational ministry, officiated as pastor of the churches at Fair Haven, Conn., and Worcester, Mass. In 1815 he was chosen president of the University of Vermont. He resigned this position in 1821, and from that time until 1825 had charge of a small congregation at Newport, R. I. Yale and the College of New Jersey made him A. M. in 1783 and 1785, respectively, and Williams gave him the degree of D. D. in 1807. His published writings include, beside occasional sermons and addresses, "A View of the Church." "Controversial Letters on Baptism" (2 series, 1805-'06),