Howard-Decatur County IN Archives Biographies.....McQuiston, John 1835 - ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/in/infiles.htm ************************************************ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Joy Fisher sdgenweb@yahoo.com April 14, 2006, 10:50 pm Author: Jackson Morrow JOHN McQUISTON. Among Howard county's representative citizens and most honored agriculturists is the aged gentleman whose name appears above. In outlining the brief life history of this prominent farmer and stock raiser it is believed that the many friends and acquaintances of this somewhat remarkable character will be delighted to know more of the elements going into his makeup and causing him to attain ultimate success, for Mr. McQuiston has for thirty-five years occupied a conspicuous place among the leading and influential men of his community, and it is a tribute to genuine worth to number him with the large and eminently respectable class of people who, by deeds rather than by words, do so much to advance the material interests of the country and whose sympathies are always on the side of right and for whatever tends to promote the moral welfare of those with whom they associate. John McQuiston was born in Decatur county, Indiana, January 12, 1835, the son of William and Sarah (Gullion) McQuiston. William McQuiston was left an orphan. He was brought from Tennessee to Kentucky and later to Decatur county, Indiana. Members of the Gullion family were reared upon the Ohio river. Grandfather Gullion was one of the first settlers in Switzerland county, Indiana. He married in that county but they spent the latter part of their lives in Decatur county. Grandfather Gullion was a large landowner in Switzerland county. He was a Baptist and church was held at his home for some time. John McQuiston, our subject, was reared on the farm. He was the youngest of eleven children. He remained at home until both his parents had passed to their reward. Attending the common schools for several years, he received such education as those early times afforded, which he has since added to by home reading and by coming in contact with the world. The domestic life of Mr. McQuiston dates from January 21, 1858. when he was united in marriage with Susan Julian, who was born in Rush county, Indiana, March 22, 1841. The Julian family is said to have been the first to settle Rush county. Mrs. McQuiston's father owned one hundred and sixty acres of good land there at one time and was known to be a man of industry and push. When the subject and wife were married they had practically nothing in the way of earthly possessions, but they had plenty of grit and persistency, coupled with fortitude and honesty of purpose, which never fail to win when rightly applied. This they evidently did, since today they own one hundred and thirty-nine acres of land in Liberty township, constituting one of the best farms in that section of the county, which is well worth thirteen thousand dollars. He made all of this himself unaided, which certainly shows that he has been a very active and clear-brained man. The subject came to Howard county in October, 1873, and has made his home here ever since. His farm is well drained and well fenced and his fields are kept in a high state of productivity owing to his skill in rotating crops and other modern methods of farming. He has a modern and comfortable dwelling, which is nicely furnished. Many convenient outbuildings also stand on the place, near the tracks of the interuban railway, which gives him access to the outside world and renders his place one of the most desirable in the township. To Mr. and Mrs. McQuiston five children have been born, as follows: Isaac, a farmer living in Liberty township; Lawrence, who is married and living on a farm in Liberty township; Simeon, a farmer in the same township; Florence is the wife of William Timothy, of Templin; Alice is the wife of Ira Gipson, whose residence is in Greentown. The subject and wife are members of the Christian church, the latter having been an active member of the same for forty years in 1908. In politics our subject has always been a supporter of the Republican party, having been active in local politics for many years, always using his influence to place the best men in the county offices. Mr. and Mrs. McQuiston are among the most highly respected citizens of Liberty township, where they are well known to all classes and much liked by all who know them, for their lives have been led along even tempered and useful lines, and they are regarded as unqualifiedly upright and as advocating whatever tends to promote the moral, civic and industrial affairs of the county, and they are known to be kind and hospitable to those whom misfortune of any kind has overtaken. Additional Comments: From: HISTORY OF HOWARD COUNTY INDIANA BY JACKSON MORROW, B. A. ILLUSTRATED VOL. II B. F. BOWEN & COMPANY INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA (circa 1909) File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/in/howard/bios/mcquisto173bs.txt This file has been created by a form at http://www.poppet.org/infiles/ File size: 5.3 Kb