“The History of Jefferson County, Wisconsin”, published: Chicago:  
Western Historical Company.   1879.


GUSTAF MELLBERG,  farmer, Secs. 9 and 16;  P.O. Busseyville; born 
in Wester Gottland, Sweden, Feb. 23, 1812; at an early age, he showed 
much taste for literary pursuits; he first attended a primary school in 
Jenkoping, Sweden, for two years; leaving there, he attended, in the 
same city, a higher school, where he studied Latin, Greek, Hebrew, 
mathematics and theology and a general classical course for five years, 
leaving there in 1831; he then began studies at the Skara Gymnasium, 
which he attended till the fall of 1835, at which time he went to the 
University of Lund in Sweden, where he attended four years, till the fall 
of 1839; he then returned to his native place, where he taught school till 
the spring of 1841, when he resigned to study at the Upsala University; 
this university is one of the oldest in the world; it was instituted in 1477; 
there he graduated with honors in 1842; he then went to Stockholm, 
where he taught school till May, 1843, at which time he started for 
Wisconsin in company with Thure Kumlien, C. G. Hammarquist, 
Reuterskiold and James Bokander; they came together to Wisconsin and 
located here in September, 1843; the latter two are deceased; the 
remaining three are still living in this township.  On Mr. Mellberg's 
arrival here, he immediately was employed at farming, at which a man 
of his culture, education and inexperience at farming of course felt 
unadapted, but in time he learned to be a thorough farmer.  Married, in 
Sumner Township, in June, 1846, Miss Juliet Devoe, who was born in 
Allegany Co., N.Y., May 7, 1819; they have four children – Amelia 
(married C. C. Rueterskiold, living on a farm in Sumner Township), 
Emma, Gustave, Edward; the last two are living with their parents.  Mr. 
Mellberg now owns forty acres of land, well improved; has the 
management of eighty acres adjoining; raises a variety of crops; takes a 
pride in raising tobacco.  He is a Republican,  In 1856, he served one 
term as Side Supervisor of the township; at the organization of Sumner 
Township in 1859, he was elected Clerk, and was re-elected and served 
every consecutive year till 1867; in April, 1869, was elected Assessor; 
served one term; in March, 1875, he was appointed to fill a vacancy as 
Town Clerk; was elected to that office in April of the same year; re-
elected each successive year since.  During the civil war, Mr. Mellberg 
was appointed by the Provost Marshal, Enrolling Officer.


Submitted by:  Linda Pingel  (LPingel@worldnet.att.net)