Biographical Sketch of

Ralph M. Gustin

Transcribed by Sandra Boudrou



Source: Portrait and Biographical Album of Green Lake, Marquette and Waushara Counties, Wisconsin, 
published 1890 by Acme Publishing Co., Chicago, Pages 565 - 566 


Ralph M. Gustin, who resides on section 2, in the town of Deerfield, is accounted one of the leading farmers 
of Waushara County.  He is a native of the Empire State, having been born in Chenango County, on December 12, 
1840.  His parents, Samuel and Elizabeth (Smith) Gustin, were also natives of New York, where a family of eight 
children were born unto them.  By occupation the father was a farmer and followed that business throughout his 
entire life.  He passed to his last rest in August, 1843, highly respected by all and was buried in the cemetery 
near his old home.  Ten years later, in company with her children, Mrs. Gustin came to the West, locating in the 
then little village of Wautoma, where she resided until 1855, when she went to live with her eldest son who had 
purchased a farm in the town of Marion.  She's now in the eighty-third year of her age but is still quite well 
preserved.  For many years she has been a member of the Christian Church and is greatly beloved by all who know 
her.  Her children are David, who is engaged in farming in the town of Oasis; George, who served his country as 
a member of the 37th Wisconsin Infantry, died from disease contracted while in the army; Moses died in the town 
of Oasis in 1879; Asenath A.; James H. is engaged in agricultural pursuits in the town of Deerfield; Hatfield 
follows the same occupation in the town of Plainfield; Ralph M. is the next younger; and Freelove J. is the wife 
of J. S. Fay, a farmer of the town of Oasis.
 
The subject of this sketch began his school life in his native State, but boyhood days passed uneventfully, he 
assisting his brother George, with whom he resided, in the cultivation of the farm until the breaking out of the 
late war, when on the 21st of August, 1862, he donned the blue and enlisted as a member of Company G, 30th Infantry.  
He served exactly three years, being mustered out on the 21st of August, 1865.  The regiment marched many weary 
miles and endured the usual hardship incident to war.  He was engaged in guard duty for a considerable portion of 
the time, serving in that capacity in the North during 1861.
 
On his return from the war, Mr. Gustin went to his home in the town of Marion and in the fall of 1866, purchased 
120 acres of land on section 2 and 3 in the town of Deerfield, where he has since continued to reside.  During his 
service, on the 19th of March, 1864, in Davenport, Iowa, he was united in marriage with Miss Lizzie Medla, a daughter 
of Hiram and Isabel (Todd) Medla, who were natives of Ohio, where the father is still living.  The young couple began 
their domestic life on the farm which Mr. Gustin purchased.  Their home was a little cabin and they borrowed a cook 
stove to begin housekeeping.  The land was uncultivated and scarcely any improvements had been made thereon, but by 
the united efforts of husband and wife they have one of the most comfortable homes and farms in this section of the 
county.  In their earlier years they lived in an economical manner and by their industry and enterprise overcame all 
obstacles in their path to prosperity.  All the improvements necessary to a model farm are found at their home, 
including one of the finest steam threshers in this section of the State.  Mr. Gustin has engaged in threshing in 
the county for many years and that branch of business has yielded him no little income.  By their useful and upright 
lives they have won a place in the hearts of the people of the community and they and their family hold a high position 
in the social world.  Their children are Birch, a farmer of Clay County, Iowa; George W., Claude, Ernest and Clyde.
 
Mr. Gustin cast his first Presidential vote in 1864, for Abraham Lincoln, and has since acted with the Republican 
party.  He has filled various township offices and for five years he has been a member of the town board, for the 
same length of time was Assessor and for three years was Town Clerk.  In all his official duties he has acted for 
the best interests of the people whom he represented and was one of the most efficient chairmen Deerfield Township 
ever had.  Socially he is a member of Ed. Saxe Post, No. 135, G. A. R., and to the Relief Corps which is auxillary, 
his wife also belongs.






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