gripsack in hand until he reached Mount Morris, Illinois, where he learned from the landlord of the hotel that a railroad had been built through to Rockford, Illinois. He accordingly went to Rockford, from which point he was enabled to journey by rail to Chicago and by the Lake Shore road to his destination, which was in Lagrange county, Indiana. On the 25th of September, 1855, five families set out from Lagrange county with the object of locating in Iowa, the heads of the families being the subject of this review, his brothers, C. P. and William, his mother and a brother-in-law, Samuel Guthrie. The travelers arrived in Jasper county, October 26, coming through with five wagons and ox teams, the trip requiring one month. Upon reaching the last stopping place Mr. McQuiston counted up his earthly possessions and found that his total cash resources amounted to twenty-five cents. For two years he worked by the day at whatever he could find to do. Times were hard for several years before the Civil war and there was little money in the west, Mr. McQuiston recalling the fact that the total amount of money he received during the entire year of 1857 was two dollars. Deer and wild turkeys were plentiful and he kept the larder well supplied with meat. After two years he and his brother C. P., purchased a farm of seventy-eight acres in Jasper county on the Story county line and divided the land, cultivating it separately. Two years later he sold this property and for about five years lived near Greencastle, cultivating rented land. In 1865, having attained a measure of prosperity, he purchased forty acres in Collins township, to which he removed the following spring, this land costing him five dollars per acre. Subsequently he acquired fifty acres adjoining at eighteen dollars per acre and later bought eighteen acres, but disposed of a portion of his land, leaving a farm of one hundred acres, which he cultivated to excellent advantage for many years. He recently disposed of this farm at one hundred dollars per acre and will soon move to Maxwell, where he will live retired. There is an old log house on the farm in a good state of preservation which originally stood in Jasper county. It was purchased by Mr. McQuiston and removed to his farm in 1876.
On the 27th of April, 1855, Mr. McQuiston was united in marriage to Miss Susanna Kester, a daughter of Louis and Mary (Keiser) Kester, both natives of Westmoreland county, Pennsylvania. They removed to Lagrange county, Indiana, and in 1856 came to Story county, where they continued during the remainder of their lives. Seven children were born to Mr. and Mrs. McQuiston, five of whom are now living, namely : Ellen, the wife of Thomas Holmes, of Collins; Julia, now Mrs. O. C. Cunningham, of Stuart, Iowa; Emma, the wife of Oscar Shellberg, of Enterprise Iowa; Dollie the wife of Bert Edwards of Des Moines; and Wesley, of Collins township.
Mr. McQuiston, ever since arriving at manhood has given his support to the republican party and although he has not sought public office he has served with recognized ability as a member of the school board and as road supervisor. He and his wife are connected with the Methodist Protestant church and are earnest followers of the Great Master. Mr. McQuiston is