He was born in 1834, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. [sources: date: 3, 5 (6 in 1861), 7 (15 in 1850), 9 (33 at death in 1868). place: 5, 9]
In 1850, he was living in Kensington, Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania, with Mary Ann Austin and others. If so, he was a brass founder. [source: 7]
In 1857, he was apparently a lampmaker, at 3 Hazel Street, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. [source: 13]
In 1859, he was apparently a lampmaker, at 1106 Hazel Street, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. [source: 13]
In 1860, he was aparently a lamp or chandelier maker, living at 1107 Ogden, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. [source: 13]
In 1861, he was apparently a brass turner, living at 1107 Ogden, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. [source: 13]
When he enlisted, he was a brass turner. [source: 5]
When he enlisted, he was 5 feet 4 inches tall, and had a dark complexion, hazel eyes, and dark hair. [source: 5]
He enlisted and was mustered into service on 21 August 1861. He was enlisted for three years at Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, by Colonel Reiff. He was a private in company A. [sources: 1, 5, 14, 15]
In April 1862, he signed a death certificate for Gustavus Bernstein. He was then a corporal. [source: 10]
He was discharged, at Convalescent Camp, on 31 January 1863 on surgeon's certificate of disability, by order of General Martindale. He was a corporal in company A. [sources: 1, 2, 4, 5, 14, 15]
In 1863, he was apparently a brass manufacturer, at 608 E Thompson Street, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. [source: 13]
In 1864, he was apparently a brassmoulder, at 608 Thompson Street, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. [source: 13]
In 1865, he was apparently a brassturner, living at 1107 Ogden, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. [source: 13]
In 1867-8, he was apparently a brassturner, living at 1107 Ogden, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. [source: 13]
He died on 21 or 26 January 1868, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, of phthisis pulmonalis. He was a brass turner then. The funeral was held on 29 January, at 10 AM, from 1107 Ogden Street (his parents' residence). On 29 January, he was buried in West Laurel Hill Cemetery, Bala Cynwyd, Montgomery, Pennsylvania. [sources: 3 (21 Jan), 8 (26 Jan, Odd Fellows), 9 (26 Jan, Odd Fellows), 11, 12]
1 Bates, Samuel Penniman. History of Pennsylvania volunteers, 1861-5. Harrisburg: B. Singerly, state printer, 1869-71. 5 volumes. 'Ninety-first regiment', volume 3, pages 186-233. (In the roster)
2 consolidated morning report, 12 February 1863
3 West Laurel Hill cemetery records, on http://www.thefinalwalt.com (thanks to Amy Waltz!) [note: this website is not available (attempted to access 26 February 2011)] (Samuel Austin)
4 Register of men discharged, co.A (Samuel C Austin)
5 descriptive roll, company A, number 1 (Samuel C Austin)
6 1860 US census, Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, ward 14, division 1, microfilm series M653, film 1164, page 373 = 373 handwritten [I have removed references to this above, because identification is unlikely; see the 'note on identification' above]
7 1850 US census, Pennsylvania, Philadelphia County, Kensington, 6th ward, microfilm series M432, film 807, page 448 recto = 897 handwritten to 448 verso = 898 handwritten (Saml Austin)
8 [death notice], Philadelphia Inquirer 27 January 1868, page 5 (Samuel C Austin)
9 death certificate, 26 January 1868 (Samuel C Austin)
10 death certificate, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Gustavus Bernstein, buried 15 April 1862 (Saml C Austin)
11 Find a grave, memorial 45712651, created by Eugene Glenn Stackhouse, added 22 Dec 2009, accessed 25 February 2011 [the memorial mentions his service, but does not include a photograph of the tombstone] (Samuel C Austin)
12 Pennsylvania veterans burial records, available on Ancestry (transcribed 25 February 2011) (Samuel C Austin)
13 Philadelphia city directories, 1850-1885
14 index to compiled service records of volunteer Union soldiers who served in organizations from the state of Pennsylvania (Samuel C Austin)
15 index to compiled service records of volunteer Union soldiers who served in organizations from the state of Pennsylvania (Samuel C Austen)
There seem to be two Samuel Austin's who worked with brass in Philadelphia in the relevant time period; I have found one in the 1850 census (7), and the other in the 1860 census (6), and have highlighted entries from the city directories (13) below to separate the families.
The only evidence I have linking one to the 91st is references on Find A Grave (11) and a now-defunct website (based on West Laurel Hill Cemetery records) (3). These sites state that the Samuel Austin who died in 1868 and was buried in West Laurel Hill served in the 91st. The addresses in the city directories, and in the death notice (8), make clear that this Samuel is the Samuel in the 1850 census (7).
The Pennsylvania Veterans Burial Cards also state that the Samuel Austin who served in the 91st was buried in West Laurel Hill, but since they do not have a date of death, they do not make clear it was the Austin who died in 1868. Note that according to his death certificate and death notice, the Samuel Austin who died in 1868 was buried in Odd Fellows Cemetery. Was he later reburied in West Laurel Hill? Or was the other Samuel Austin buried in West Laurel Hill, and the Austin who died in 1868 buried in Odd Fellows?
I have presumed below that the Samuel Austin in the 1850 census, who died in 1868, served in the 91st. But I am not confident that I am right.
line | 41 | 42 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 |
Dwellings visited | 659 | 659 | ||||
Families visited | 782 [sic] | 783 [sic] | ||||
Name | Mary Ann Austin | John Austin | George Austin | Saml Austin | Edward Blacker | Catherine Austin |
Age | 49 | 21 | 17 | 15 | 20 | 18 |
Sex | F | M | M | M | M | F |
Color | ||||||
Occupation of males over 15 years | Brass founder | Potter | Brass founder | " | ||
Real estate owned | 1500 | |||||
Birthplace | Penna | " | Penna | " | " | " |
Married within year | ||||||
Attended school within year | ||||||
Over 20 & can't read/write | ||||||
Deaf, dumb, blind, etc. |
line | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 | 26 |
Dwelling number | 2413 | |||||||||
Family number | 2703 | |||||||||
Name | Chas Austin | Ann | Saml | Edwin | Miriam | Annie | Chas | Geo | Samuel | Eliza |
Age | 50 | 47 | 25 | 20 | 18 | 16 | 13 | 11 | 9 | 6 |
Sex | M | F | M | M | F | F | M | M | M | F |
Color | ||||||||||
Occupation | Carter | Brass Turner | do | Bonnet Framer | ||||||
Value of real estate owned | ||||||||||
Value of personal estate | ||||||||||
Place of birth | N. Jersey | Penna | " | " | " | " | " | " | " | " |
Married within year | ||||||||||
Attended school within year | 1 | 1 | 1 | |||||||
Cannot read & write | ||||||||||
Deaf, dumb, blind, etc. |
AUSTIN.--Fell asleep in Jesus, on Sunday, the 26th inst., SAMUEL C. AUSTIN, in the 34th year of his age.
The relatives and friends of the family; also, the members of Purity Lodge, No. 525 [??], I.O. of O.F., are respectfully invited to attend his funeral, from the residence of his parents, No. 1107 Ogden street, on Wednesday morning, 29th inst., at 10 o'clock. To proceed to Odd Fellows Cemetery.
[I suspect she is the Maria Austin who died on 12 January 1868, was buried in Monument Cemetery, was 68 years old, born Philadelphia, and died at or was buried from 1232 Howard St, 17th ward, Philadelphia, PA]
[see 1860 US census, Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, ward 17, eastern part, microfilm series M653, film 1167, page 588 = 85 handwritten (George [brass spicket maker], Ann, Jas Hamilton (3), John, George, and Emma)]
Austin John, founder, 1227 N Front, h 720 N 3d[see 1860 US census, Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, ward 12, division 2, microfilm series M653, film 1162, page 291 = 71 handwritten (John [brass founder], Catherine, Albert, and Maria [55, presumably the mother])]
Austin Samuel, founder, 1227 N Front, h 1226 Palmer[see 1860 census above (Chas, Ann, Saml, Edwin, Mariam, Annie, Chas, Geo, Samuel, Eliza)]
[see 1870 US census, Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, ward 14, district 42, microfilm series M593, film 1398, page 268 recto = 149 handwritten (Charles, Ann, Charles, George, Lemuel, and Eliza)]
Austin Charles, Jr., laborer, h 1107 Ogden[see 1870 US census, Pennsylvania, Philadelphia ward 17, district 52, microfilm series M593, film 1402, page 147 recto = 125 handwritten (John, Catharine, Albert, Idella, Samuel [39 years old, brass founder])]
Austin Samuel, finisher, h 1230 Howard[see 1880 US census, Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, ward 14, supervisor's district 1, enumeration district 245, microfilm series T9, film 1174, page 586 = 1 A handwritten (Anna, Lemuel, and Eliza)]
Austin Lemuel (Quick & Austin), h 1107 Ogden[presumably she is the widow of the Samuel Austin who died on 20 July 1884, and was buried in Mount Peace Cemetery; he died at or was buried from 1223 [?] Jefferson St, 20th ward; this is therefore the Saml Austin 42, tobacconist, with Caroline (39) and Therisa, at 1210 Jefferson Street, ward 20, 1880 US census, microfilm series T9, film 1179, page 194]
Austin Lemuel, plumber, 515 N Broad, h 1107 Ogden