McQuiston Family

THE McQUISTON FAMILY were among the pioneers of Venango county. The progenitor of the Venango county McQuistons was a native of Ireland, whence he emigrated to Delaware. Three of his sons, David, John and Alexander, subsequently settled in Westmorelaud county, Pennsylvania, and in 1802 John and Alexander came to Venango county and located upon the land now occupied by C.E. McQuiston, in the northwest corner of the township, upon the Allegheny river. The tract originally contained four hundred and forty-four acres. Alexander McQuiston was twice married; his first wife was a member of the Crawford family, and his second, Abbie Sloan. He had two sons: Clark, who died in the West, and Alexander, a resident of Butler county. He sold his interest in the farm in Scrubgrass township and removed to Butler county, where he spent the remaining years of his life.

JOHN McQUISTON was born in 1776, in Delaware, and remained upon the land settled by himself and brother in Venango county. He married Nancy Harper of Westmoreland county, Pennsylvania, May 4, 1802, and died April 4, 1849. His widow survived him until June 27, 1865, and died in her eighty-first year. They reared a family of nine children: Peggy T., who married David Davison; Polly, deceased wife of John McMillin; David H., deceased; Rachel, wife of George Dickson; Jane M., deceased wife of Elijah Williams; Nancy, deceased; Betsey, wife of Hiram Gheer; Martha, wife of John Gordon, and Sarah B., wife of James Cranmer. Mr. McQuiston was a carpenter and cabinet-maker by trade, and carried on that business in connection with farming. He was an elder in the Scrubgrass Presbyterian church for many years.

DAVID H. McQUISTON, his only son, was born September 25, 1805, and received such education as the common schools afforded. His early life was spent on the farm, upon which he subsequently erected a tannery, and for many years carried on that business. In 1837, in connection with George Dixon, he built a grist mill on the lands of William Burns, which they operated about eight years and then sold to William Brown. He was married January 13, 1826, to Mary, daughter of William Davidson, of Irwin township, by which union eleven children were born to them: Reverend John, of Kansas; William, of Mercer county; James, deceased; David H., deceased; Alexander, of Kansas; Joseph, of Scrubgrass township; Davidson; Ira, of Kansas; Robert, a resident of the same state; Cyrus E., and Hiram G., deceased, who served in the Sixteenth Pennsylvania Cavalry during the late Rebellion. Mrs. McQuiston died in 1862, and he was again married June 13, 1863, to Martha Ramsey, who bore him no children. He died July 1, 1877, and his widow February 23, 1888.

CYRUS E. McQUISTON, the tenth son of David H. McQuiston, was born upon the homestead where he now resides, received a common school education, and has always been engaged in farming. He was married May 19, 1870, to Miss Hannah A., daughter of William Parker of Scrubgrass township. Politically he is a Republican, and both he and wife are members of the Church of God of this township.