Robert W. Austin rendered valuable service to his country in the World war and is now numbered among the enterprising young business men of Amsterdam, concentrating his attention upon the automobile trade. He was born June 21, 1890, in Central Bridge, Schoharie county, New York, and is a son of Henry and Ella (Sprong) Austin, prominent residents of that locality. He received his elementary instruction in his native village, afterward attending the high school at Cobleskill, in Schoharie county, and completed his education in Cornell University, from which he was graduated in 1913, with the degree of Civil Engineer. He was engaged in engineering work on the New York state barge canal from 1913 until 1916 and in the latter year enlisted in the United States army, joining the Engineers Corps. He gallantly defended the nation on the battlefields of France, enduring the many hardships, privations and dangers incident to that memorable conflict, and never faltered in the performance of his duties. He spent two years in that country and merit won him promotion to the rank of captain. He received his honorable discharge in 1919 and in that year entered the employ of the General Motors Export Company of New York city, exporters of Cadillac cars. Mr. Austin remained with that corporation for two years and in 1921 came to Amsterdam, where he has since resided. He has the local agencies for the Cadillac and Reo cars and maintains a garage and well equipped service station at No. 333 West Main street. He has an expert understanding of the mechanical phases of the business, combined with executive force, initiative and keen sagacity, and is meeting with well deserved success in his undertaking.
Mr. Austin takes a keen interest in politics and in 1922 served as a delegate from Montgomery county to the state convention of the democratic party. He is an Elk and also belongs to the Antlers Country Club and the Rotary Club of Amsterdam and to the Cornell Club of New York city. Loyal, patriotic and public-spirited, Mr. Austin embodies in his character all that is most desirable in American manhood and citizenship and enjoys to the fullest extent the respect, confidence and esteem of his fellowmen.