From the book History of Walworth County Wisconsin, by Albert Clayton Beckwith, 
publ. 1912 - Pages 618 - 619
 
GUSTAVE MEISTER.  Another of the progressive Germans who, coming to Walworth 
county in the days of its ascendancy, cast his lot with us and thereby has 
benefited himself, his neighbors and acquaintances, is Gustave MEISTER, of 
Lyons township, a man who, owing to his commendable traits of character and his 
persistent habits, would succeed in any community.
 
Mr. MEISTER was born in Pommern, Germany, August 11, 1857, and is the son of 
Christlieb and Charlotte (KUGER) MEISTER.  He grew up on a farm in his native 
land, and there he married, in 1882, Lena SCHMIDT, daughter of William and 
Frederica (FREITAG) SCHMIDT, and three children were born to them in the old 
country, Herman, Anna and William.  In 1887 the family emigrated to the United 
States and located at Lyons, Walworth county, Wisconsin.  Mr. MEISTER worked on 
the railroad for about two years, then worked four years as a farm hand for 
James BRETT, then for fourteen years he rented Judge BUCKBEE's farm, then began 
farming for himself.  In 1902 he purchased a farm in section 19, Lyons 
township.  He is now the owner of an excellent farm of one hundred and forty 
acres, which he has kept well improved and where he carries on general farming 
and stock raising successively.  He has a pleasant home and keeps an excellent 
grade of stock.  There were no improvements on the place except the house, and 
he built barns, outhouses, fences, and in many ways improved and beautified the 
place, and there is no more attractive place than his between Geneva and 
Springfield.
 
Three children have been born to the subject and wife since coming to America, 
namely: Frank, Ida and Carl.  The subject's children are all married except 
Carl.  Herman married Bessie MORGAN and they live a short distance north of the 
village of Lyons, where he rents a farm and operates it for himself; they have 
three children, Clarence, Dorothy and Gladys.  Anna married Andrew BARTELSON 
and lives on a rented farm near the subject, and they have five children, 
Herbert, Frances and Frank (twins), Ailleen, and Walter.  William married 
Amelia DORN and lives on the BUCKBEE farm near his father's home, which he 
rents.  He has one son, Gustave.  Frank married Freda PAGEL, has one daughter, 
Florence, and lives on a rented farm a short distance west of the village of 
Lyons.  Ida married Walter A. PAPENFUS and they rented the home farm and are 
living with her parents.  Carl works for them on the farm.  The MEISTER family 
belongs to the German Lutheran church at Lyons.
 
The subject is deserving of a great deal of credit for what he has accomplished,
having started in life with nothing and having a large family to support.  He 
has been frugal, industrious and economical and is now well-to-do.

Submitted By:  Carol
(carolann612@charter.net)