Samuel Charles Eustice was a successful lumberman, closely identified with building operations in Cuba City, Wisconsin for 40 years. He owed his success to a force of character, which is developed from battling with difficulties. He was born in Lafayette County on March 12, 1860 to John Eustice and Jane Oatey both natives of Cornwall. His father died when he was only three months old. Left with four small children under the age of ten, Mrs. Eustice moved the family to Shullsburg where she married James Liddle in 1865. Five more children were born to that marriage.
Samuel Charles Eustice, the youngest of the Eustice family, had a very limited formal education, which amounted to about one year of actual schooling, but he learned much in the "School of Hard Knocks" and profited by the lessons learned in life. Leaving home when he was thirteen, he went to Dubuque, Iowa, but a few years later, he returned to Wisconsin. He became a farmhand and also earned a livelihood by working in the mines of southeastern Wisconsin, continuing along those lines until he reached manhood.
Following his marriage to Elizabeth Lindsay in January 1887, he leased lands, which he cultivated until the death of his wife on the 19th of April 1892. He removed to Cuba City in 1895 and in association with Edward McCormick & John Jenkyn purchased a warehouse. At first they bought and sold cattle, grain and farm implements and were thus engaged until 1897, when they established a lumberyard in Cuba City. After a short time, Mr. McCormick sold his holdings in the firm to his partners who continued the enterprise until the death of Mr. Jenkyn in 1920. At that time, Mr. Eustice became the sole owner of the business, and with the capable assistance of son Russell conducted the undertaking until his death on the 4th of April 1932, materially increasing its scope. In 1926 he bought out his competitor, the owner of the Hoskins Lumber Company, thus becoming the only lumber dealer in Cuba City. In addition to a full line of building material, he carried paint and oil, and created one of the largest and best equipped commercial institutions of the kind in this part of Grant County. His patronage gradually increased, due to his wide experience in the retail lumber trade, his straightforward dealing and business capacity. Formerly he had figured in financial affairs for many years as a director of the National Bank which was absorbed by the Cuba City State Bank in 1928.
Two sons were born during Mr. Eustice’s first marriage. Albert, the older, became a Ford dealer in Cuba City and married Edith Riege, by who he had two daughters, Helen and Mary. Russell, the second son, became associated with his father in the lumber business, He. Married Pearl Harker and had three children; Maclay, who is a student in the State Mining School at Platteville and Phyllis and Priscilla at home. For his second wife, Mr. Eustice chose Laura Gill to whom he was married at Cuba City in January 1900, and they were the parents of a daughter who died in infancy. On July 17, 1919, death deprived Mr. Eustice of his second wife and on December 20, 1920, he was married in Des Moines, Iowa to Mrs. Alice (Andrews) Collins, who survived him. She was a daughter of Bennett Andrews, a Wisconsin pioneer, and was born in Hazel Green, Grant County, Wisconsin. One brother, Dave Eustice of Livingston, Wisconsin; a sister, Mrs. George Miller of Cuba City and 5 grandchildren also survived Mr. Eustice.
Mr. Eustice enjoyed travel and made a tour of the Northwest. Fraternally, he was an Elk, identified with the lodge, at Platteville. Closely observing trade conditions, he kept in touch with the latest developments in his line through membership in the Wisconsin Lumberman’s Association. In politics he was a Republican with independent views, and was considered one of Cuba City’s most active, forward-looking men. He always took a lively interest in all public affairs, especially those affecting the progress of his community and the welfare its citizens. He served as a councilman of the city for a number of years, and as president of the fire department and a member of the County Highway Commission, and at the time of his death was a member of the County Board. He was charitable by nature, generous to a fault, and never turned down a worthy project. A man of steadfast purpose, self-reliant nature and tireless energy, Mr. Eustice overcame adverse circumstances, bending them to his will, and his success was well merit, for it was honorably won. |
