Cyrus B. Austin, D.D.
Prof. Cyrus B. Austin, D.D., Dean of Women of the Ohio Wesleyan University, and professor of Mathematics and Astronomy on the faculty of that institution, was horn in Clinton County, Ohio, son of David S. and Lois (Smith) Austin. The Austin family is well and favorably known throughout Clinton County, where Prof. Austin's father was a substantial farmer and a man of large influence in civic and religious matters. He was a local preacher in the Methodist Church. His death occurred in 1886. His wife, the Professor's mother, is still living in Wilmington, Ohio. They reared a family of eight children.
Cyrus B. Austin acquired his elementary education in the schools of his native county, and subsequently entered the Ohio Wesleyan University, where he was graduated in 1879. Immediately following his graduation he was elected Tutor of Mathematics in the university. A few years later he was made a professor in the department of which he is now the head. In 1883 he was placed in charge of Monnett Hall, the home for the young women of the university, which position he still holds with the official title of Dean of Women. Since 1883 Monnett Hall has been greatly improved and its size more than doubled. Twelve teachers and 260 pupils reside in the building. Monnett Hall was formerly the Ohio Wesleyan Female College, and was founded in 1854; additional facts in regard to it may be found in another part of this volume.
Dr. Austin was married in 1884 to Mary McVay, who is a daughter of Jason McVay, formerly of Columbus, Ohio. They have three sons—Jason McVay, Raymond Brooks and Cyrus Bashford, of whom the two elder are students at the Ohio Weslevan University, while Cyrus is attending the public schools. Dr. Austin is a member of the Central Ohio Conference of the Methodist Episcopal Church, of which church the family are all members. Politically he is a Republican. His fraternal affiliations are with the Delta Tau Delta Fraternity and the Free Masons.
20th Century History of Delaware County, Ohio, and Representative Citizens, Edited and compiled by James R. Lytle, Delaware, Ohio, Biographical Publishing Co., Chicago, 1908