Guston P. Alston was born on Oct. 14, 1841 in Wake County, North Carolina. He moved to Tipton County with his family as a child.

He served with the Confederacy, enlisting in the Company C, 9th Infantry on May 1, 1861 as a corporal. He mustered out on April 26, 1865 at Durham Station, North Carolina.

He married M. J. Burlison on June 18, 1882 in Tipton County, Tennessee

He died Nov. 28, 1912 at his home at Detroit, Tipton County and is buried at Ravenscroft Cemetery.