He was born about 1841 in Jefferson County, New York. He and his family migrated to Whiteside County, Illinois about 1854.

The following is taken from his military service record that was obtained from the National Archives in Washington, D. C.:

Austin Martin enlisted as a Private on August 5, 1862 in Company "C", 8th Illinois Calvary. He died October 14, 1862 in a "General Hospital Frederick City, Maryland". Hwas buried in "Area O, Hospital Cemetery, Frederick, Maryland". "Name and number of person interred - Austin Martin 167". "Number and locality of the grave: Hospital Cemetery, Frederick, Maryland, 31". "Hospital number of the deceased: 5043". Cause of death: "Vulnus Sclopeticum". Translated this means: "Relating to a wound caused by a gunshot wound".

The cemetery where Austin Martin was buried does not exist. From our research, it is believed he was buried in a mass grave. From the information on Antietam National Cemetery, many of those buried in mass graves were exhumed and reburied Antietam National Cemetery. The reburial process continued until September 1867. " Of 4,776 Union remains buried at Antietam, South Mountain, Monocacy and other action Maryland, 1836 or 39% are unknown. At the battle of Antietam, or Sharpsburg, on September 17, 1862, more than 23,110 men were killed, wounded or listed as missing. In the following days, many more died of wounds or diesease. The peaceful village of Sharpsburg turned into a huge hospital and burial ground extending for miles in all directions (Source: Ranger Notebook: Antietam National Cemetery)"