Biographical Sketch of

Lewis Guptil

Transcribed by Sandra Boudrou for the Marquette Co WI Pages


Source: Portrait and Biographical Album of Green Lake, Marquette and Waushara Counties, Wisconsin, 
published 1890 by Acme Publishing Co., Chicago, Page 677


Lewis S. Guptil, the efficient Sheriff of Marquette County, who now resides on section 19 in the town of 
Newton, was born in the town of Harris, April 4, 1855, and is the youngest in a family of eight children, 
whose parents were Benjamin and Lucy (Sheldon) Guptil, natives of Vermont.  They are numbered among the 
honored pioneers of this country.  Having located in the town of Harris in 1851.  The mother died in the 
fall of 1856, and the father the following year, thus leaving a family of children to the mercy of strangers.  
Freeman E., their eldest child, who now resides in Eldorado, Fayette Co., Iowa, served his country during 
the late war as a member of a Minnesota regiment; Eli B., the next younger, enlisted in the 16th Wisconsin 
Infantry, served three years, re-enlisted and served until the close of the war and is now living in Wabasha 
County, Minn.; Clayton C., who defended the stars and stripes in an Iowa regiment, has not been heard of for 
some time; Francis, who enlisted in Company E, of the 7th Wisconsin Infantry, was killed in the battle of 
the Wilderness; Lucinda is living in Decorah Iowa; Roena is the wife of Charles G. Hershaw, of Milwaukee; 
Almira died at the age of fifteen years; and Lewis completes the family.
 
When our subject was a babe of sixteen months his mother died and the following year he was left an orphan.  
Being thrown upon the charities of a cold world, he received cruel treatment until taken into the home of 
Walter King, who made him one of the family and cared for him until he was able to provide for himself.  
He was educated in the district schools and when he had attained a sufficient age began working as a farm 
hand.  On April 29, 1883, he led to the marriage altar Miss Libbie Hamilton, a daughter of Alexander and 
Helen (Crombie) Hamilton, who were natives of Scotland.  Two children grace their union--Nellie and Charlie.
 
Mr. Guptil resides on his farm which is situated on section 19, in the town of Newton, and in addition to its
cultivation and improvement devotes his time to the duties devolving upon him as Sheriff, to which office he 
was elected in the fall of 1888.  Notwithstanding the fact that he is a thorough Democrat and the county has 
a majority of 114 Republican, he was elected over his opponent by 208 votes.  Previous to that time he had 
served four terms as Chairman of the Town Board and declined a re-election.  His election to the office of 
Sheriff certainly indicates his popularity, and his fidelity to duty shows that the confidence of his 
constituents was not misplaced.  He is a member of I. O. O. F., Pioneer Lodge, No. 37, of Westfield, and 
one of the valued citizens of Marquette County.






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