Anderson Austin was born in Greenville, South Carolina. His parents were William Anderson and Jane Nelson Austin. His siblings were Nelson Austin, Amelia "Millie" Austin Lyons, Larkin B. Austin, Elizabeth Austin Brown, Sarah Austin Nations, and William A. Austin. Anderson's grandfather was Nathaniel Austin, Jr., born about 1745 in England and died about 1832 in Gwinnett County, GA.. His great-grandfather was Capt. Nathaniel Austin Sr., born about 1720 in York, England. He died Feb 13, 1798 at Gilder Plantation, the Austin family home in Simpsonville, Greenville, SC.

It is believed that Nathaniel came from England to Virginia about 1750 with his wife Mary Manning and three boys: Nathaniel Jr., Walter Manning, and Thomas. Nathaniel and Mary would have two more sons born in Virginia, John and Francis. Mary died soon after Francis was born, and the widowed Nathaniel married Agnes Dickinson, said to be of the same Dickinson ancestry as the poet Emily Dickinson. Nathaniel and Agnes had six more children.

Nathaniel Austin, Sr. has been described as "a man of commanding personality, bold and adventurous." It was in Simpsonville, SC where he built the Austin home called Gilder. It has been described as a two-story log house, although it is referred to as a "plantation".

Anderson Austin married Martha Ann Dacus in Greenville, SC around 1834. Martha was the daughter of John W. Dacus, Jr. and Nancy Bramlett. Anderson and his brother-in-law, Lemuel Dacus, came to MS about 1840. They traveled by covered wagon in a train of 41 wagons, so has been told. Also traveling with them was Martha's mother, Nancy Bramlett Dacus, and her other brother Mansfield. Some of Anderson's siblings also came to MS, but it is unknown if they travelled in the same wagon train.

Anderson and his first wife Martha Dacus had eleven children. When she died and where she is buried is unknown. The eleven children were: Mary Dickerson, John Harrison, Susan Doyle, Elizabeth Caroline Gray, Berry Austin, Sarah Eliza Carwile, William, Virginia Dacus, Andrew, Bob, and Mary Alice Austin who died young. After the death of Martha Dacus, Anderson married Martha Bramlett who was born in GA. She was the daughter of Henry and Martha Bramlett who were originally from SC. To Anderson and Martha Bramlett were born ten children: Thomas who died as an infant, Belle Love, Rosie Pearson, Anderson "Bud", Lilly who died as an infant, Henry Milbin, Mattie Austin who never married, Joseph who died young, Bettie Austin who never married, and Frances Mildred "Duck" Box .

Anderson was well educated and wrote letters and legal documents for others. He served as Supervisor in Choctaw County and was the first Supervisor for Montgomery County when it was established in 1871. He donated the land for Bethel United Methodist Church. It has been told that he acted as a peacemaker to settle disputes between citizens of the community.

Bio contributed by Pat Dacus