The History of Hendricks County (Chicago: Interstate Publishing, 1885)--Center Township, page 535
Gustavus L. Spillman, Prof. of Languages in the Central Normal College at Danville, was born in Zurich, Switzerland, Nov. 6, 1855. His parents emigrating to America in 1856 he was left in his grandmother's charge till May, 1867. He then came with his grandmother to the United States and joined his parents at Tell City, Perry Co., Ind., remaining with them till reaching his majority. He attended school in the old country, and afterward the schools of Tell City. In January, 1877, he entered the Normal School at Valparaiso, Ind., attending it till the summer of 1878. He then taught the German language in the schools of Rockport, Ind., until the summer of 1880, when he entered the Central Normal College as a student, and teacher of German. He graduated from that institution in the scientific class of 1881 and in the classic course in the class of 1882, since which he has held the position of teacher of the languages. Nov. 13, 1882, he was married to Miss Lottie Peterson, of Tipton, Ind. She is a native of Sweden, and came to America in 1869 with her parents, Gustavus and Gustava (Gabrialson) Peterson. She graduated from the Tipton High School in the class of 1878. Mr. and Mrs. Spillman have one child named Stella Cornelia. He is a member of Tell City Lodge, No. 206, I.O.O.F., and a member of the Evangelical church at Tell City, and his wife belongs to the Presbyterian church of Danville.