Part of an old map of the San Jacinto area from the Texas Revolution

Veteran Bio

Texian Location:  Participant

The Kemp Sketch

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GUSTINE, DR. LEMUEL -- Dr. Lemuel Gustine, subject of this sketch, was born in Carlisle, Pennsylvania in 1816, a son of Dr. James Gustine who moved to Natchez, Mississippi in 1817. He came to Texas in January, 1836 and was a member of Captain Henry W. Karnes' Cavalry Company at San Jacinto. He evidently returned home shortly after receiving his discharge and the Land Office records do not disclose that he applied for the headright bounty and donation lands due him. He was twice married. His first wife was Jane McCreary. By this marriage there was but one child, James, who died at the age of eighteen years. Next he was married to Sophia Thompson and their children were Richard, Mary, Lemuel, Stephen Duncan, Samuel, Ella Sophia and Sarah Blanc Gustine. Dr. Gustine died in New Orleans May 22, 1852. The date of the death of his widow has not been ascertained. Their place of burial is not known. No information has been received concerning their first child, Richard. Mary Gustine, m. Captain Robert Buckner. Mrs. Buckner died in 1864. Their only child Mary, m. Dr. J.W. Allen of Shreveport, LA.

Lemuel Gustine, II m. Mary Ann Walters, he died in 1901. His children were: (1) Saidee, who died in 1911; (2) Lemuel, who lived in Shreveport; (3) Harry, who lived in Houston; (4) Richard, who married Elizabeth Deas and lived in Shreveport. Stephen Duncan Gustine, m. Marie Louise Barnett in 1863. ISSUE: Carrie Bell, Lou Ella, Daisy Inez, who married Alfred Lionel Greenwood and lived in Bayou Goula, LA., Stephen Duncan II, and Ernest Gustine. Samuel Gustine, m. Carrie Clark in 1880, he died at Colorado, Mitchell County, Texas. Ella Sophia Gustine, m. W.B. Hamilton in 1874. their daughter Mary Virginia was married to Dr. J.W. Allen. Sarah Blanc Gustine married a Mr. Buckner of New Orleans.

Much information regarding the family of Dr. Gustine was furnished by Mrs. Marion Gustine Allgeyer of New Orleans, daughter of Dr. F.J. Gustine, noted eye specialist and inventor, Dr. Lemuel Gustine was a first cousin to Dr. Frederick William Gustine, the first eye specialist in the south. Dr. Frederick W. Gustine was the father of Dr. F.J. Gustine. Other information was supplied by Mrs. Clifford Weaver of McKinney, Texas, author of the "Gustine Copendum".

The name appears on the San Jacinto rolls printed in a booklet in 1836 as LEM GUSTINE, M.D., a member of Captain Henry W. Karnes' Cavalry Company. On page 29 army rolls in the General Land Office the name is listed as Lem Gustun, M.D. Some time after the battle of San Jacinto Dr. Gustine was transferred to Captain William H. Patton's Company. On page 232 of the army rolls is a "Return from the Muster Roll of the Columbia Company attached to the 2nd Regiment of the Texas Army in 1836, said Company being commanded by Captain William H. Patton, and comprising a list of the men in it who were engaged in the Battle of San Jacinto on the 21st April A. D. 1836." The roll was compiled by Colonel Jesse Benton, Jr., and was sworn to at his home in San Augustine June 21, 1856. It was sent to the Land Office by Governor E.M. Pease on September 10, 1856. The roll contains a total of 122 names arranged in numerical order. Dr. Leml. Gustine of Natchez is No. 60 and following his name is the notation: "Attended on Genl. Houston, after he was wounded". The roll is endorsed on the back by Colonel Bentonas follows: "Note: The principal part of the men on pages Nos. 1 and 2, up to No. 63, and some others were mostly discharged about June 15, 1836, by Captain Patton and General Rusk. The remainder was discharged by myself and the Col. of the Regiment. They served out their time in the army and in the fall of 1836 I discharged the last man, and returned home to my family. About the 5th of August Captn. Patton, ordered by the General, took ten men of the company and proceeded to Columbia on Brazos to take charge of President Santa Anna, which he did."

Dr. Gustine came from a family of doctors. A tombstone standing in the old cemetery in Natchez, Mississippi bears inscriptions for four brothers buried nearby. On the south face: "Dr. Lemuel Gustine, M.D., born in Carlisle, Pennsylvania October 19, 1783; died July 6, 1845." On the east face: James Gustine, M.D. born in Carlisle, Pennsylvania, January 27, 1786 Died Oct, 1, 1814." On the north face: "Lemuel Parker, M.D. May 9, 1794; died October 3, 1833."



Written by Louis W. Kemp, between 1930 and 1952. Please note that typographical and factual errors have not been corrected from the original sketches. The biographies have been scanned from the original typescripts, a process that sometimes allows for mistakes in the new text. Researchers should verify the accuracy of the texts' contents through other sources before quoting in publications. Additional information on the veteran may be available in the Herzstein Library.


Battle Statistics

  • Died in Battle: No
  • Rank: Cavalry Physician
  • Company: Capt. Henry Wax Karnes

Personal Statistics

  • Alternate Names: Gustun, Lem
  • Date of Birth: 1816
  • Birthplace: Pennsylvania, Carlisle
  • Origin: Mississippi, Natchez
  • Came to Texas: 1836 Jan
  • Date of Death: 1852 May 22
  • Profession: Doctor
  • Wife: 1. Jane McCreary; Sophia Thompson
  • Children: James Gustine; Richard Gustine; Mary Gustine Buckner; Lemuel Gustine; Stephen Duncan Gustine; Samuel Gustine; Ella Sophia Gustine Hamilton; Sarah Blanc Gustine Buckner