Samuel L. Austell came to Pickens County, Alabama, in 1837 from Spartanburg Dist., South Carolina and located at Carrollton; he formed a legal co-partnership with Gov. Samuel B. Moore, which continued until 1845, when they dissolved and Mr. Austell and Lemuel A. Gilkey entered into a partnership in the practice of law. In the latter part of 1845, Mr. Austell left Pickens and moved to the state of Arkansas, St. Francis County. He was twice elected State Senator for the districts composed of his county and several counties surrounding. When he lived in Pickens he was a candidate for the Legislature in 1843, but lost the election by a very few votes. He was a Democrat while in Pickens County, but became a member of the American Party in Arkansas.
Mr. Austell was the brother-in-law of Walter W. Gilkey, having married his sister, and was the uncle of Lemuel A. Gilkey, one of the former Probate Judges of Pickens.
"The History of Pickens County, Alabama
1540-1920"
by J.F. Clanahan, Clanahan Publication, Carrollton, Alabama.
(page 353)
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It seems likely that many of the Austells in Arkansas are descendants of Samuel L. Austell, at least the ones around St. Francis County.
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