GUSTIN-L Archives

From: <>
Subject: Francis M. Gustin of Vermilion Co., IL
Date: Sun, 01 Nov 98 17:37:05 GMT

Hi, everyone! We found 2 separate books which featured an article on
Francis M. Gustin. Since there is different info in each, we'll send you
both and let you decide what you think is correct.

>From the book, "THE PAST AND PRESENT OF VERMILION COUNTY, ILLINOIS", pub
by The S.J. Clarke Publishing Co., Chicago, in 1903

p. 1068-1069
F. M. GUSTIN.
F. M. Gustin, who is proprietor of a boarding and livery stable in
Danville, was born in Butler county, Ohio, August 22, 1849, and is a son
of J. B. and Elizabeth (Dearth) Gustin, both of whom were natives of Ohio,
the father's birth occurring in Warren county, that state. He died in
Miami county, Indiana, in 1884, while the mother is living in Peru, that
state, with her children: William H., Elbert Rush, and Edward C. The
other member of the family and the eldest is Mr. Gustin of this review.
The fourth child, Cassius O., who was also a resident of Peru, Indiana,
died December 13, 1902.
F. M. Gustin pursued his education in the district schools of Miami
county, Indiana, to which place his parents removed during his early
youth. He engaged in farm work upon the old family homestead and after
starting out in life on his own account devoted his energies to the same
pursuit, being a well known agriculturist of Miami county for twenty-one
years. He owned one hundred and eighty acres of rich land in Miami and
Howard counties and its cultivation resulted in bringing to him rich
harvests. In 1889 he purchased a half interest in a livery barn here and
in 1892 became sole proprietor. In 1900 he erected a new addition to his
barn. His lot has a frontage of seventy-four and a half feet. He removed
to the city in 1891 and resided here continuously since. His home is at
No. 15 Franklin street and he also has property at No. 915 Vermilion
street.
Mr. Gustin was married in Peru, Indiana, in 1873, to Miss Alice C.
Ausfahl, who was born in Miami county, Indiana, in 1852, a daughter of
Joseph Ausfahl, a retired farmer of Howard county, Indiana, now deceased,
who was born in Germany and came to America when thirteen years of age.
He received an excellent education in his native land and took up the
study of English in the United States, acquiring an excellent education.
He settled in northern Ohio and about 1845, removed to Miami county,
Indiana, where he turned his attention to farming, becoming one of the
large landowners of that part of the state. He was quite prominent in
public affairs, was progressive and enterprising and his labors proved of
value in promoting the general welfare. In his political support he was a
stalwart Democrat, deeply interested in the success of his party. He died
March 13, 1903, and he and his wife are both interred in the Paw Paw
cemetery, Miami county, Indiana. Mrs. Gustin has three sisters and one
brother, namely: Joseph R., Mrs. Addie Mattox, Mrs. Emma Woodworth and
Mrs. Mary Main. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Gustin have been born three children:
Louis V., who married Dorothy Hanna, is now connected with an undertaking
firm of Chicago. Ralph E., who is engaged in a similar business, married
Myrtle Clapp of Chicago, in which city they reside. Clarence M. is his
father's assistant in business.
In his political affiliations Mr. Gustin is a Republican and in 1880
he served as assessor of Richland township, Miami county, Indiana. In
1884 he was re-elected to that office, the first time in the history of
the state that any one was ever chosen to that position for four years,
the law just having been passed giving the assessors a four years' term.
He belongs to the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, has filled all the
chairs in the local lodge; belongs to Marsh Encampment; to the Militant
Rank, Canton No. 11, and to Mercy Lodge, No. 72, Order of Rebekahs. His
name is also on the membership roll of the Modern Woodmen Camp, No. 254;
Protective League, No. 147; Loyal American League, No. 144; and his wife
is identified with the Royal Neighbors, the Protective League and the
Rebekahs. He also belongs to the Methodist Episcopal church, and is a
citizen who manifests a deep interest in everything pertaining to public
progress and the general good.

--------
>From the book, "HISTORY OF VERMILION COUNTY ILLINOIS, VOL II", pub. by
Pioneer Publishing Co., Chicago, in 1911

p. 762 & 763 (There is a photo of him.)
FRANCIS M. GUSTIN
Among the well known fraternal men of Danville, also a business man
of aknowledged ability, is Francis M. Gustin. He is a native of the
Buckeye state, born in Butler county, Ohio, in 1849, a son of John B. and
Elizabeth (Dearth) Gustin. The former was born in Warren county, Ohio, in
1824 and his father, Benajah Gustin, was one of four brothers who came
from England at an early day and settled in Vermont. The mother was born
in 1829 in Butler county and was married in Ohio, coming to Indiana with
her husband and family in 1852. Their children were: Francis M., our
subject; Mary Theodosia, who died in infancy; Charles Elwin, who died at
ten years of age; William Horace, who married Fannie Lamb and is the
father of one daughter; Elbert Rush, who married Caroline Duckwall;
Cassius O., who married Emma Crise and is now deceased; Emma J., who died
at eighteen years of age; Edward C., who married Carrie Shepler and has
three sons living.
The subject of this review came with his parents to Indiana when he
was three years of age and has but a dim recollection of the overland trip
to the new home in the west. He was reared upon the home farm and
educated in the common schools, becoming thoroughly acquainted with the
various details of agriculture and stock-raising as he grew up. At twenty
years of age he began working by the month for State Senator Miller, of
Miami county, this state, and after taking unto himself a partner for
life, he rented the same farm upon which he had been working and
cultivated it independently for a number of years, gaining a great deal of
experience in business affairs that has assisted him very materially in
other lines. Removing to Danville in 1890, he entered the livery business
and for ten years leased the place he now occupies. At the expiration of
that period he bought the building which he has remodeled and transformed
into one of the most attrative structures of the kind in this part of the
country. He has now been in the livery business in Danville for twenty
years and, being a man who keeps up-to-date in anything with which he is
connected, the horses and vehicles of his establishment are recognized
anywhere in the county by their attractive appearance. His business has
shown a growth from year to year which indicates liberal returns upon the
investment.
In 1873, at Paw Paw, Miami county, Indiana, occurred the marriage of
Mr. Gustin and Miss Alice C. Osfall, who was born in 1853 in that county,
a daughter of Joseph and Barbara Osfall. Of the children born to Mr. and
Mrs. Gustin two died in infancy. Lewis V., born in 1875, was married in
1901 to Dorothy Hanna and is now engaged in the undertaking business in
Chicago. Ralph E., born in 1877, was married in 1902 to Myrtle Clapp, and
they had two children, Raymond, deceased, and Harold, now at home with
parents in Rockford, Illinois, where his father is engaged in the
undertaking business. Clarence M., born in 1880, married Mamie Hine in
1904, and one child has been born to them, Marjorie. The father is
engaged in the livery business a few doors south of our subject's
establishment on Walnut street in Danville.
Mr. Gustin is a valued member of the Methodist church and a stanch
believer in the Bible. He was reared a republican and has always adhered
to that party. Although not a seeker for public office he served as
assessor in one of the largest townships of Miami county, Indiana. Up to
the time of his election two years had been the length of term for an
assessor but the period was then extended to four years. He was reelected
for a term of four years and after serving eight years in office, on
account of a change in the law, he was a holdover for another year, making
a continuous period of nine years during which he served as assessor of
his township.
Fraternally Mr. Gustin is one of the prominent men of the state. He
is now past representative of Danville Lodge, No. 69, Independent Order of
Odd Fellows; Marsh Encampment, No. 46, also a member of Canton Danville,
No. 11, and Mercy Rebekah Lodge, No. 72, all of which organizations are
identified with Odd Fellowship. He has passed through all of the chairs
from the lowest to the highest in the subordinate lodge of Odd Fellows,
and at the present time is serving as grand senior warden of the Grand
Encampment, I.O.O.F., of the state of Illinois. He is also a
thirty-second degree Mason and holds membership in Olive Branch Lodge, No.
38; Vermilion Chapter, No. 82, R.A.M.; and the Oriental Consistory of
Chicago. In addition to the various lodges named he is a member of
Vermilion Camp, No. 254, Modern Woodmen of America; Paughcaughnaughsinque
Tribe, No. 73, I.O.R.M., and Loyal American Lodge, No. 144. Mr. Gustin is
a man of strong social characteristics and has a host of friends in the
organizations with which he is connected. He has never, however,
neglected his business affairs and is known as one of the energetic and
successful business men of Vermilion county, whose word is as good as his
bond and who is ever ready to assist in forwarding the best interests of
his state, his county or his town.

------------That completes what we have on F. M. Gustin. Sandy & Bill

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