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from Past and Present of Mahaska County, Iowa by Manoah Hedge The S. J. Clarke Publishing Co. 1906
ALBERT J. AUGUSTINE. Albert J. Augustine, who is engaged in real-estate speculations wherein his keen business discernment has enabled him to make judicious and profitable investments, was born in California in the year 1858, and is of German lineage. His father, Albert Augustine, born in Germany, came to the United States with his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Michael Augustine, about 1830, the family home being established in Pennsylvania, where they resided for about five years, the father devoting his energies to farming upon a tract of land which he had purchased there. About 1835 he removed with his family to Washington county, Iowa, and thus settled upon the frontier, entering a tract of land from the government and carrying on farm work until he became a prosperous citizen of his adopted state. Albert Augustine, the son, was reared to manhood amid the wild scenes and environments of frontier life in Washington county and attended school there, while in the summer months he assisted in the arduous task of developing a new farm. About 1842 he came to Mahaska county, settling upon a farm a mile and a half west of Oskaloosa, where be carried on general agricultural pursuits until after the discovery of gold in California, when, with the hope of rapidly realizing a fortune on the Pacific coast, he started, in 1849, accompanied by his wife and two children, with a party traveling with n wagon train of several wagons. They left Mahaska county in May, 1849, starting on their way to the gold fields, after seven long and weary months of travel across the sandy stretches and through the mountain passes of the west they were gladdened by the sight of the green fields of California. They had remarkable experiences, owing to the Indians, to climatic conditions and to privations incident to travel across the plains in those days. Indians stole their cattle and otherwise harassed them, but in December, 1849, they reached Sacramento. Mr. Augustine was at that time practically penniless,but in six months had accumulated seven thousand dollars, which he invested in town property. The town, however, after enjoying a season of booming, lapsed and left him again without money. He finally established a store in a mining camp and his wife was the only woman in the camp of five hundred souls. He remained there for about eighteen months and in 1852 returned by way of the water route to Oskaloosa. In 1856 he again took his family across the continent with a wagon train of ninety wagons, of which he was captain, making the overland journey to Oregon and thence proceeding southward to California, where he once more went into the mines. He remained there until 1861, during which time he accumulated about twelve thousand dollars. He then settled in Washington county, Iowa, where he purchased a farm, making his home thereon until 1867, when he sold that property and removed to Missouri, where he purchased land, on which he lived for a year. He then returned to Mahaska county and purchased a farm in Monroe township, near Rose Hill, living thereon until 1894, in which year he retired to Rose Hill, his death occurring there in 1896, when he had reached the age of seventy-two. Although he met reverses, obstacles and difficulties at different times, he was a man of good business ability and eventually won prosperity. He was a member of the Christian church for thirty years, served as one of its elders and was held in high esteem. His fraternal relations were with the Masonic lodge, and he voted with the republican party. His wife, who in her girlhood was Dorothy Meyer, was born in Germany, in 1828, and died in June, 1904. She came to the United States in her girlhood days with her parents, Mr. and Mrs. William Meyer, who settled upon a farm in Pennsylvania, when that section of the state was still largely unimproved. They afterward came to Mahaska county, Iowa, taking up their abode about a mile and a half west of Oskaloosa, where the father secured claims, entering land until he owned one thousand acres at one time. He became one of the extensive and prosperous farmers of the county and remained upon the old homestead property up to the time of his death; which occurred in 1856. His daughter, Mrs. Augustine, was a member of the Baptist church and was a remarkable lady, whose many good qualities of heart and mind endeared her to those with whom she came in contact. By her marriage she had thirteen children, eight of whom reached adult years, namely: Mary Jane, the wife of R. T. Spates, a farmer of Monroe township; Daniel, a retired farmer living at Rose Hill, Iowa; Michael G., who has retired from farm life and resides in Delta, Iowa; Albert J., of this review; Frank T., who died in 1892; John H., a real-estate broker of Oskaloosa; Dora M., living at Rose Hill; and Jennie V., who died in 1894. Albert J. Augustine, born in California during the temporary residence of his parents in that state, was largely reared in Monroe township, Mahaska county, where he spent his youth upon a farm and attended school through the winter seasons. He remained upon a farm until 1890, when, retiring from agricultural pursuits, he removed to Rose Hill and there engaged in merchandising and dealing in livestock, making his home at that place for six years. In 1896 he came to Oskaloosa, where he now resides and continued to deal in livestock until 1901, since which time he has been speculating in real estate and has handled considerable valuable property, his sales therefore bringing him a good financial return, so that he is now numbered among the capitalists of his city. In November, 1880, Mr. Augustine was married to Miss Ellen Moore, who was born in White Oak township, Mahaska county, in 1860, a daughter of William and Adeline Moore. The father was a pioneer farmer of Mahaska county, who died in 1886, at the age of seventy-two years, while his wife passed away in 1903, at the very advanced age of eighty-seven years. Mr. and Mrs. Augustine have become the parents of five children: Dorothy Adeline, a teacher in the Grant school, in Oskaloosa; Josephine M., who is bill clerk in the wholesale hardware store of Huber & Kalbach; Marjie L., who is employed in the Central book store; Grover, who died at the age of seven years; and Arthur L. Mr. and Mrs. Augustine hold membership in the Christian church, and his name is also on the membership rolls of the Masonic and Elks lodges. He is recognized as one of the leaders in democratic circles in Mahaska county and was mayor of Rose Hill and a school director of Monroe township, while at the present writing he is serving for the third term as councilman from the fourth ward in Oskaloosa. In the field of political life and business activity he has won distinction and is today numbered among the leading, influential and honored residents of Mahaska county where he has steadily worked his way upward until, having long since left the ranks of the many, he stands among the successful men of the county. from Past and Present of Mahaska County, Iowa by Manoah Hedge The S. J. Clarke Publishing Co. 1906
Past and Present of Mahaska County, Iowa
Mahaska County, Iowa Genealogy