John Augustine

John Augustine, treasurer of Andrew County, Missouri, and one of the prominent citizens of Savannah, was born in Stark County, Ohio, on February 17, 1845, and is the son of Joseph and Julia A. (Unkerfer) Augustine, both of whom were natives of Maryland.

From Ohio the parents immigrated to Missouri, reaching St. Joseph on April 20, 1850, and settled in Buchanan County, eight miles east from St. Joseph, near Platte River. While living in Ohio the father followed milling and farming, but in Missouri turned his attention exclusively to farming. The father died in 1864, and the mother in 1876.

Our subject was reared on the farm, and attended the schools of Buchanan County.

He remained on his father’s farm until the breaking out of the late war, when, on August 15, 1861, he enlisted in Company E, of the Thirteenth United States Regiment of Missouri Cavalry. After the battle of Lexington, the company was mustered out, and, in 1862, he enlisted in Company E, of the Fifth Regiment of Missouri Cavalry, Missouri State Militia. This regiment being mustered out in the fall of 1863, he again enlisted in Company L, of the First United States Regiment of Missouri Cavalry, with which he served until the close of the war, and was mustered out at St. Louis about July 15, 1865.

At the close of the war he made a trip across the plains into Montana, where he remained about six months, when he returned to Missouri, and settled in Andrew County, where he began farming, which occupation he continued until 1872, when he engaged in merchandising in Buchanan County for two years.

He then returned to Andrew County, and continued merchandising until his election in November, 1886, to the office of county treasurer.

He was married, in 1866, to Sarah E. Castle, daughter of John D. Castle, of Andrew County. To their union two children were born, one of whom survives.

Sarah died in 1872, and in 1874 he was married to Julia A. Hines, daughter of Aaron Hines, of Buchanan County. She died in 1876, and in 1880 he married Sarah A. Carter, daughter of Alexander Carter, of DeKalb County, Missouri. Four children have blessed this union, three of whom are living.