Herman Austin (no middle name) was born Apr 10, 1898 to Delancy Thomas (Sr) and Virginia Bowler Austin. He was the 4th of their 5 children. 1900 census he is living on Lester St, Henrico, Va with his parents, siblings and step sister, Georgie Austin. In the 1904 Richmond, VA City Directory his mother is widowed and living at 6 Orleans St. On 1 June, 1905 Virginia married John Franklin Barlow and they have a child, Lenard W. Barlow born in 1907 (died 1919). John Franklin dies in 1907. On 2 Apr 1910 Virginia married John H. Cornwall. In the 1910 census Herman is about 12 and listed as stepson to John H Cornwall, living with him, his mother and 4 of his Austin siblings along with his half brother, Lenard W. Barlow; in the Varina District, Henrico, VA. Herman is not attending school at this time. His highest grade completed was 5th grade. These early years after his father's death were financially hard and he told stories of working on a dairy farm and standing in cow piles to keep his feet warm in the winter. A half sister, Ruby H. Cornwall is born in 1910. On 5 June, 1917 he lied about his age on his WWI draft card (claimed he was 21 instead of 19) so he could join the Army. He listed himself as a Farmer, working for W.D. Whiteside in Henrico, VA; medium weight and height, grey eyes and light hair. His military career consisted of: Private, Infantry, 745-Rifleman, 80th Infantry Division/318th Infantry Regiment, Service Years 1917-1919, Basic Combat Training: 1917, Camp Lee in Virginia, Combat and Operations History: 1918-1918 World War I/Meuse-Argonne Campaign and 1918-1918 World War I/St. Mihiel Campaign. He was wounded and received a Ribbon Bar with the Purple Heart. After returning from the war he met and later married Minnie on 13 Nov, 1922. Living at 2706 Hull Street, Richmond, VA in 1924, have a daughter, Virginia Mae, working as an auto mechanic. By 1929 they have another child, Herman, Jr. and living at 4500 Decatur St, Richmond, Va. He is working as a Machinist. On the 1930 census they are still on Decatur St, own their home (valued at $3000) and own a Radio set. He is an automobile repairman and works at Mervine's Garage around this time. Around 1938 they bought property and build a home at the corner of Midlothian Turnpike and Ruthers Rd, Chesterfield County, VA. In the 1940 census they are on Ruthers Rd and have both children living with them. Herman is working at the Rayon Plant (Dupont) as a Mechanic making $1892 a year. During the next years they sold parts of their property for neighbors (and their daughter) to build on and in the late 1950's sold their home and corner lot to a commercial developer which became 60 West Shopping Center and an early Ukrops was there. They build further down Ruthers Rd on part of their remaining property and next door to their daughter. Herman passed away in 1964, at their home, after a long battle with lung cancer. He was survived by his wife, Minnie; children, Virginia Anderson (Ben), Herman Austin, Jr (Florence) and 6 grandchildren, Bruce Reed Anderson, Carol Ann Anderson, Dianne Lynn Austin, Keith Austin Anderson, Jane Marie Austin and Gary Wayne Austin.