Medina County Biographical Sketches: Austin Badger, retired; Medina, was born in Chenango County New York, September 3, 1793, and lived at home until 1818, during which time he worked on the farm and in a grist mill and woolen factory. His education was confined to the district's schools. In 1812, he enlisted in the Army and served under Col. William Dobbins, of Gen. Wadsworth's command, six months. Upon the burning of Buffalo, in 1818, the militia of which he was a member was called out and fought at Black Rock. In 1814, the company was drafted, and served as guards over prisoners at Greenbush, Mr. Badger serving as Orderly Sgt. upon the close of the war he returned home and worked on a farm and in a sawmill until the spring of 1818, when he started for Ohio, walking the entire distance to Buffalo, then by water to Cattaraugus Creek, then by foot to Erie, by water to Ashtabula, and a-foot, via Cleveland to Medina, where he took a contract to clear the public square, and next to build the courthouse. It was built with hewed logs, two stories high, and the court room being in the second story. In the spring of 1819, he and a Mr. Hecox opened a hotel in the lower row of the courthouse, and entertained the first court held at the county seat. In 1820, he entered some land (now Montville Township); his and some land entered by Abraham Freese was the first land entered in that section. He cut 100 acres and put up a log cabin (round logs) and began clearing; he also started a nursery, which furnished most of the early orchards of that locality. In October, 1820, he married Miss Catherine Rouple, who was born in Pennsylvania; they were married in Cuyahoga County, Ohio; she died July 30, 1822, leaving one child- Lucia, now Mrs. Booth, of Medina. April 3, 1823, he married Miss Nancy Bell, who died March 5, 1849. October 22, 1849, he married Mrs. Wells, formerly this Mary S. Sibley; she died October 14, 1852. November 29, 1854, he married Mrs. Loring, formerly Miss Elizabeth Wheelock; she died November 17, 1878. There were no children except by the first marriage. In 1853 Mr. Badger retired from his farm and has lived in Medina cents. He was one of the first trustees of Montville Township; also served as justice of the peace, and was for three years Adjutant of the county militia. In 1816, he was commissioned by DeWitt Clinton and as captain of an independent rifle company in New York. In 1854, he took a trip to Iowa and located some land warns he received her service in the war of 1812. Being one of the early settlers he is known and esteemed by all.