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Theirs was a forbidden love. Forbidden for what reason hasn't been discovered. Some say that John William Austin, born on Nov. 14, 1839 in Georgia or Alabama stole his young bride away from her family in the middle of the night. His bride, ten years younger, was Mary Elizabeth Sutherland, Southerland, or Sutherlin, born in Nov. 1849. She gives conflicting states where she was born just like her spouse except she sometimes puts Louisiana or Alabama as her birthplace. One story states that several Austin brothers were running from a possee in Texas for horse rustling. They supposedly stopped to rest and hide for awhile in Mississippi at a relatives home. Some say that during the two months visit, John William and Mary Elizabeth fell in love and they may have been cousins or Uncle/Neice. The age difference or relationship made them hide their affections, and "they lit out for the woods one night, never to be heard from again". Her family swore to kill John William Austin if they ever caught him, and her family was of some great importance or influence. The brothers split up as they traveled to allow the couple an escape. As they traveled eastward, one went to Tennessee, one went to Georgia, and the lovers settled in mid-Alabama and raised a family and I am the great-grandson of this couple.They are mostly found in Coosa, Shelby and Talladega County.
Another reason they may have hid their past is that Mary Elizabeth Sutherland Austin looks very Native American. She was born at a critical time, when Native American removal was still taking place. They seemed to not trust anyone with the government or Census takers. When their grandchildren asked, "What is Grandma and Grandpa Austin's name"? The kids were quickly told, "None of your business, you are mean enough already, without knowing about them"!
One story says that they came down from Virginia, through the Carolinas and into Georgia. A mysterous relative showed up from Winder, Georgia to visit with them from time to time. The only name we know him by is Rock Austin. He never said much about his business, just stayed awhile, and left. He had a little neice named Gertrude Austin that he was fond of and she told of fun times when he held her on his lap. She always looked forward to seeing her Uncle Rock, but he would soon be gone again, never promising when he would return to her. Some said he was in an outlaw gang and would hide-out until the sheriff was gone. We think that Rock Austin was one of the brothers of John William, and he was returning to check on them. Rock could be a nick-name since someone told this story; one day, he was mounting his horse, when it stepped forward, he missed the stirrup, and he landed on his butt. Someone ran to assist and said, "Oh, Mr. Austin, are you hurt"? To which he said, "He** no, can you hurt a rock?" Then the name "Rock" stuck.
John William Austin may have been named William Ralph Austin, says one source. Their children; John Charlie Austin bn. 1872, m. Susan Nolen, they named their last child William Ralph Austin-because John Charlie said this WAS his fathers name, and it makes sense if your in-laws are trying to kill you, you might change your name. Mary Alice Austin bn. 1874 m. Jonathan Grant Hosey. Julia Austin ? Loucinda Austin m. Samuel Merrell, William Lawson Austin bn. 1885 m. Ludie Thornton. George Washington Austin m. Lula Bell Robinson. James Allen Austin m. ?

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