For
Muscatine County Iowa
1911
| Biographies For Muscatine County Iowa 1911 | |
Source: History of Muscatine County Iowa, Volume II, Biographical, 1911, page 607
WILLIAM McQUESTEN....William McQuesten, president of the McQuesten & Sawyer Company of Muscatine and one of the prominent business men of the city, was born here, January 11, 1869. He is a son of William Wirt and Elizabeth Frances ( Webb ) McQuesten, natives of Washington, New Hampshire, and Brooklym, New York, respectively. The father went to Canada after arriving at manhood and engaged in the foundry business there but later came west and was one of the early settlers of Muscatine. He was connected with the hardware business in this city for some forty years and sold the first hard coal burner that was disposed of in Muscatine. He also handled the first carload of hard coal that arrived in this community and was a pioneer in his business. He departed this life at seventy-two years of age in 1905, but his wife is still living in Muscatine. Five children were born to them : Ella, the wife of E. J. Richie, of Little Falls, Minnesota ; William, our subject ; Sarah W.; Frederick, who died at the age of thirteen ; and Harriet S.William McQuesten was educated in the public schools of this city, graduating from the high school in 1888. He began his business career in his father's store by learning the tinner's trade and later became head clerk downstairs, his father and S. P. Sawyer being partners in the establishment. In 1894 Samuel F. Sawyer, a son of the senior member of the firm, and the subject of this review, decided to go into the hardware business at Springfield, Missouri, but were persuaded by their parents not to do so. The older men withdrew from the firm and the younger ones continued in the business together until the death of Samuel F. Sawyer. The firm is now inporporated under the same title that prevailed originally, with Mr. Mcquesten at its head. It is recognized as one of the leading hardware establishments in this part of the country and attracts a large patronage from many points outside of Muscatine.
On the 28th of September, 1898, Mr. McQuesten was united in marriage to Miss Bertha Kulp, a daughter of Dr. J. S. Kulp of Muscatine. Her parents were born in Pennsylvania and settled in Muscatine, where Dr. Kulp became a leading dentist. One son, Joseph, has been born of the union of Mr. and Mrs, McQuesten.
Mr. McQuesten and his wife are both members of the Congregational church, to which they are liberal contributors. Politically he is identified with the republican party, believing that its candidates and principles are those best adapted to advance the prosperity of the country. In the midst of an active and successful career Mr. McQuesten has gained an enviable reputation as a man of sound business judgment and one whose word is as good as his security. He is always ready to extend any assistance possible to deserving aspirants for places of responsibility and is known as an intelligent and progressive gentleman, who could have succeeded in anything he undertook, for he never has known the meaning of the word fear, and he never bowed to any obstacle that threatened to interfere permanently with his progress. Such men are the natural leaders in any community, having earned the title by their innate ability.
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