My Genealogy Hound

S. L. Austell, farmer, Wittsburg, Ark. This successful agriculturist owes his nativity to Cross County, Ark., where his birth occurred in 1848, and is the son of Samuel and Mabel Caroline (Wofford) Austell, natives of South Carolina, but who came to Arkansas at an early date. The Woffords were early pioneers, and Grandfather Isaac Wofford built the first house in Wittsburg. He opened a large farm, and there passed his last days, his death occurring in 1849. Samuel L. Austell at first settled on Crowley’s Ridge, near the present city of Wynne, but removed to the bottoms, about one mile from Wittsburg, where he cleared about 100 acres. Mr. Austell was for many years one of the leading spirits of that section. He took a prominent part in politics, and was elected the first county judge of Cross County. He was also quite prominently spoken of as Governor of Arkansas. He died in 1866, and the mother in 1870. At one time he owned nearly all the land around Wynne, and speculated largely in real estate. S. L. Austell was reared principally to farm labor, and received his education in the public schools. After the death of his father, he, with his brothers, managed the farm until 1880, when he bought out the only remaining heir. This farm consists of about 1,100 acres, with 140 under cultivation. Mr. Austell also owns about 100 acres near Wittsburg, and in 1884 he bought the old home of the widow of Maurice Block, at Wittsburg. Mr. Austell owns, aside from this, 500 acres on Crowley’s Ridge, 175 of which are under cultivation. This land he rents out, but farms the principal part of the balance himself. In 1860 his father built a cotton-gin, and this our subject still runs. In the early days of the country, Grandfather Wofford started a ferry across the St. Francis River, at Wittsburg, and this descended by inheritance to S. L. Austell, having been in the family for many years, as may be seen. In 1877 Mr. Austell married Miss Page Johnson, a daughter of Thomas Johnson, who moved to Cross County, Ark., in 1864, and here followed farming until his death, which occurred in 1875. The mother is still living. Mr. and Mrs. Austell became the parents of five children, three of whom are deceased: Blanche (deceased), Samuel (deceased), Pearl and Thomas (living) and Clay (deceased). The family are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church at Wittsburg. Mr. Austell is only moderately active in politics, but takes a deep interest in school matters, being at present one of the directors. He is an active, energetic citizen.