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    Mrs. Keeler joined the Beloit Chapter D. A. R. Dec-
ember 6, 1897. She is now 85 years of age, ouroldest
surviving member. Until the infirmities of her age pressed
upon her, she was active in Church and social affairs.
She is a liberal dispenser of bounty.
    She is passing the days of her declining years in her
beautiful home, tenderly cared for. Her husband has
passed on before.
  ....................................................................................................................a,,,
-           ABIGAIL AUSTIN DOTY
-           Author-Mrs. Charles Fifield
                      Janesville
E.
    Abigail Austin Doty was one of the pioneer women
of Rock County, Wisconsin.
    Abigail Austin, daughter of Ira and Permelia Austin,
was born at Lee Corners, Ontario County, New York,
September 6, 1833. Later the family moved to the town
of Canadaigua.
    Mrs. Austin died in 1843, leaving Abigail, aged 11,
and another daughter, Ann Eliza, aged nine years. A
Captain and Mrs. Pratt of the same town, having decided
to locate in the West, persuaded Mr. Austin to take his
two little girls and to move westward also. They started
overland in a covered wagon, stopping at taverns at
night and after several weeks of tedious travel, finally
reached Janesville, in the Fall of 1843. Their household
goods were shipped by boat from Buffalo to Chicago.
Mr. Austin and his daughters decided to remain in Janes-
ville, but Captain and Mrs. Pratt continued their journey
and located at Whitewater, Wisconsin.
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