Austills in Oregon

The exodus of Austills to the far West was begun by me, Juanita Austill Allen. After I taught high school English at Tonganoxie, Kansas, for one year I was discouraged about teaching. I inquired about several other kinds of work, such as professional girl scouting, but nothing seemed to work out just right. In the fall, I received an offer of a teaching job in Torrington, Wyoming. One of the things I liked about teaching was the possibility of working in any part of the country I might choose.

I taught school in Torrington for two years, and found that I did, indeed, like the work and felt that I could become a good teacher. So I left this friendly and pleasant little town and accepted a graduate teaching assistantship at the University of Wisconsin to earn my Master's degree.

The next move was about as far West as I could go - to Eugene, Oregon, which I grew to love and which became my home for the rest of my life. I was so enthusiastic about the great Northwest that Margaret left her job in Kansas City and moved to Eugene. In 1948 I married Elden Riddle Allen; in 1949 we had our wonderful son, but unfortunately, he was the only child I could have. In 1955 we adopted our daughter, Susan. Both of our children have brought us uncounted joys and happiness.

Margaret met and married Kenneth Walker and in 1954 her son Paul was born. Our parents, Joseph and Ida Austill, moved to Eugene in 1954, and lived here the remainder of their lives. Margaret died of cancer in 1963 and the three are buried in Rest Haven Cemetary in Eugene.

Paul Walker is not married; Susan Allen in May of 1987 married Timothy Petersen, but they will not have any children. David Allen married a very lovely girl, Suzanne Grimes, and they have two small sons, John David Allen and Joseph Charles Allen.

We hope that Austills, no matter what the surname, continue to live and to flourish in this beautiful part of our great nation, and in this little book we have followed the trail of the family from the great South-East to the great North-West!