Benjamin Austin

Benjamin H.
Austin Family

Arkansas, Alabama,
and California

Clyde Hollaway Austin Bainbridge
photo in collection of Elroy Christenson

Benjamin Hill Austin
b. 1 Aug 1881 Ashley Co., Arkansas
d. 6 Feb. 1919 probably in Jeff. Co., Alabama in blast furnace accident
buried: Portland Cemetery, so. of Portland, Ashley Co., Arkansas

1m. Clyde Pearl Hollaway Ashley Co., Arkansas about 1908
b. Jun 1894 Ashley Co., Arkansas
d. 1 November 1972 Oakland, California
buried - Mt Eden Cemetery, Hayward, CA
her father: Willie Lee Hollaway
her mother: Eugenia Machen

her 2m. Charles "Charlie" Bainbridge about 1922
b. about 1870 Missouri
d. abt 21 December 1957 San Lorenzo, CA
buried - Mt Eden Cemetery, Hayward, CA
(no issue)

his father: Allen Wesley Austin
his mother: Susan Jane Jones (widow of Joseph W. Austin, Allen's brother)

Children with Clyde Hollaway
Lee H. Austin	b. 26 Nov 1909 Pueblo Co., Colorado	d. 8 Jul 1988 Napa, CA*	m. unknown
Ralph "Buddy" Wesley Austin	b. 10 Jan 1911 Colorado*	d. 15 Apr 1991 South Lake Tahoe, El Dorado, CA*	m.
"Dan" Daniel Earle Austin	b. 24 June 1913 Birmingham, Alabama	d. 23 Sep 1983 San Leandro, Alameda, CA*	m. Marie Katherine Sirola (7 Sep 1917 Tracy, Mo d.19 Feb Rathrum, Idaho

*California Death Index, 1940-1997
#California Marriage Index, 1960-1985, Ancestry.com

1885- Clyde is born to Willie Hollaway in Ashley Co., Arkansas.

1910 - The oldest daughter of Willie Hollaway, Clyde gets married about 1908 and moves off to Colorado with her new husband.

Austin, Benjamin H. head m w 29 m2 2 Arkansas Georgia Georgia blower blast furnace

"    , Clyde      wife    f w    24   m1 2    Arkansas Arkansas Alabama
"    , Lee                         son    m    w 2/12   s          Colorado   Arkansas   Arkansas
                    [US Census, Colorado, Pueblo City, Enum. Dist. 18, p. 159

1914- Benjamin Austin had been working in the smelting industry in Colorado and then later in the steel mills of Birmingham, Alabama. According to my mother Benjamin fell into a vat of molden steel and was killed immediately. Clyde was made a widow with three young sons. By 1920 she seems to be managing by well enough to own her home in which she seems to be operating a boarding house. She has a couple of black servants that live in the back who I assume help her with the care of the house in the 1920 census.

1917-1918- Benjamin Hill Austin registers for the draft in Jefferson Co., Ala.

serial number 1688
Benjiman(sic) Hill Austin
permanant home address    3300-9    Ensley , Jeff. co., Ala
age 38   date of birth   Aug. 1 , 1880
white race         native born
occupation   - Asst. Blower     employer   T. C. I. RR Co.
Ensley, Jeff. Co., Ala.
nearest relative   Clyde Pearl Austin, wife
address   3300 - 9 Ensley, Jeff. Co, Ala
height medium    build medium    eyes   brown   hair    light

1920- Clyde Hollaway Austin is a widow, listed as (Mrs) Ben. H. Austin, living in Pine Bluff City, Jefferson Co., Arkansas. She seems to be running a boarding house and has four single adults and a couple living with her and calls herself a housekeeper. She also seems to have two servants living in rear.

Austin, Ben. H. f w head owner 34 wd Arkansas Arkansas Arkansas housekeeper At home

"         ,    Lee                m w son                     10 s                 Colorado   Arkansas   Arkansas
"         ,   Wesley          m w son                        8 s                 Colorado   Arkansas   Arkansas
"         ,   Dan                m w son                        6 s                 Alabama Arkansas   Arkansas

Oubrey, Garland        m w boarder               20 s                  Arkansas   Georgia     Arkansas
Pratt,      Marnie          f   w boarder              19 s                 Arkansas   Arkansas   Arkansas
Robertson, Ernest      m w head / renter     30 mar            Michigan   England   England
"               , Lucille       f   w   wife                  21 mar            Missouri    Missouri    Missouri
Montgomery, Otis    m w boarder              20 s                Arkansas   Arkansas   Arkansas
Welsh, Frank              m w boader                21 s                Arkansas   Arkansas   Arkansas
in rear
Lirric, Manuel            f b   servant/ renter    20 div    Louisiana       Alabama      Alabama
Jones, Mary    f b servant/ renter 40 div    S. Carolina not known not known
           [US Census, Arkansas, Jefferson Co., Enum. Dist. 141, sheet 1b]

1920-22 - Clyde remarries to Charlie Bainbridge.

" The marriage between Clyde and Charlie was somewhat strange. They evidently loved each other, but each maintained considerable independence. For some reason which I cannot recall, I (Ernest Lee Hollaway, Jr. ) spent several weeks at their home in Pine Bluff, Arkansas about 1930-32. Lee, Ralph, and Dan were all living at home, I shared with Uncle Charlie a bedroom that had been built onto the garage in the back yard of the house.

Charlie was skilled decorator, doing interior painting, wall papering, and hanging drapes and similarwork. I worked with him during the summer on several projects, probably being more of a hinderance than a help, and he attempted to teach me some tricks of the trade, especially in painting.

Charlie was an accomplished 'fiddler' and would often play in the evenings.
The last time I saw him was in 1949 as my family and I were on our way to Japan. He and Clyde graciously entertained us . Charlie had turned a basement room into his hobby room where he had model trains of which he was justly proud. He remained physically very active, walking briskly up and down the hill of San Leandro. "
[Report by Ernest Hollaway Jr., March, 1996 records]

1930- Ernest L. Holloway, Clyde's brother, has a family in Arkansas and has taken in Lee Austin, his sisters oldest son for a period of time.

Holloway, Ernest L.     head renter   m w 34 mar 21         Arkansas Arkansas    Alabama    lawyer    Gen-Practice
"                , Vera              wife                 f   w 33 mar 20         Arkansas    Arkansas    Arkansas    none
"                , Ernest L. jr. son                 m w 10 s                     Arkansas    Arkansas    Arkansas    none
Austin, Lee H.             nephew            m w 20 div. m at age 17 Colorado   Arkansas    Arkansas    Agent     Insurance
         [US Census, Arkansas, Clay County, Corning, enum. dist. 11-18, sheet 8A]

Clyde has remarried to Charles Bainbridge and is living in Pine Bluff, Arkansas. Note the different spelling

Bambridge, Charles     head   owner      m w 60 mar at 52     Missouri   Illinois       Missouri      painter    house
"                 , Clyde        wife                     f   w   44 mar at 23    Arkansas   Arkansas   Alabama
Austin,    Ralph        stepson               m w 18 s                   Colorado   Arkansas   Arkansas
"         , Dan                    stepson               m w 16 s                     Alabama   Arkansas   Arkansas
         [US Census, Arkansas, Jefferson, Pine Bluff, enum. dist. 35-45, sheet 12b]

1935-approximately Charles and Clyde Bainbridge move to Berkeley, California where he was a painting and paperhanging contractor. By about 1954 they move to San Lorenzo, CA probably to be near Clyde's son Dan Austin and his family.

1957- December about 21st. Charles Bainbridge dies in Hayward, California.

Bainbridge Rites on Tap Monday
San Lorenzo - Services for Charles Bainbridge, 88, 358 Grant Ave., will be at 9:30 am. Monday in Sorensen Bros. Chapel, 1140 B St. Hayward.
          Burial will be at Mt Eden Cemetery.
          A native of DeSoto, Mo. Mr. Bainbridge died yesterday at his home. he was a retired painting and paperhanging contractor who lived 20 years in Berkeley before moving to San Lorenzso three years ago.
          Survivors include his wife Clyde; step-son Dan Austin of San Lorenzo, Ralph Austin of Livermore, and Less(sic) Austin of Oakland; a sister, Mrs. Edith Hopkins of El Monte, and eight grandchildren.
              [The Daily Review, Hayward, CA. Sat. Dec. 21, 1957, p. 2]

1960's - While Cyde was living in Oakland, Sadie Hollaway Kirkland Johnson, would go to visit usually by train. On one particular trip they traveled around by car. Sadie was surprised that they had to stop so frequently at gas stations where her sister disappeared into the restroom. When Sadie went in to follow her the window was alway open. On more than one occasion she caught the smell of a burning cigarette. Clyde never admitted to smoking but it seemed appropriate behavior for the time. Clyde was known for never opening her bedroom door until she was completely dressed including her pearl necklace. [experience and story as told to Elroy Christenson in an interview with Sadie about 1964]

1972, November 1. Clyde Bainbridge dies at age 87 in California.

Bainbridge, Clyde, of San Lorenzo, November 1, 1972, wife of the late Charles Bainbridge; loving mother of Ralph Austin and Dan E. Austin, both of San Lorenzo, and Lee Austin of Napa; dear grandmother of Carol Apple, Janis Lind, Jennifer, David, Robin and Susan Austin and two great-grandchildren; dear sister of Mrs. Eddie Johnson of Cranfils(sic) Gap, Texas and E. L. Holloway of Corning, Arkansas. A member of Order of Eastern Star, San Lorenzo Chapter, No 577. A native of Arkansas; aged 87 years.
Friends are invited to attend the services at Sorensen Bros. Chapel, 1140 B. St. Hayward, Friday, November 3, at 11 a. m. under the auspices of Order of Eastern Star and Rev. Harold Hewitt officiating. Interment. Mt Eden Cemetery, Hayward.

Sorensen Bros. Mortuary, 581-1234 or 351-1451

[Oakland Tribune(Oakland, CA), Thurs. Nov. 2, 1972, 22E, Eastbay Funeral Notices]

Source:

Apple, Carol L. records and coorespondence. candpapple1@juno.com
The Daily Review, Hayward, CA. Sat. Dec. 21, 1957, p. 2
Hollaway, Ernest Jr.. records and coorespondence 1996
US Census
Johnson, Sadie Hollaway. stories from an interview with Elroy Christenson
Oakland Tribune(Oakland, CA), Thurs. Nov. 2, 1972, 22E, Eastbay Funeral Notices