Los Angeles
County
Biographies
JESSE WALTER McCLUSKEY
Founder
and president of the Alhambra Mortgage Company at 5 South First Street, in
Alhambra, one of the oldest and most respected of its kind in the area—Mr. McCluskey
began his Alhambra business career almost forty years ago when he opened the
doors of the Alhambra Mortgage Company in 1923 and is still located at 5 South
First Street, Alhambra.
He
was born on December 2, 1889, in Iowa City, Iowa; is one of four children of
John P. McCluskey and Eldora (Fesler) McCluskey. Mr. John
McCluskey was a mortician. Young Jesse
Walter McCluskey attended elementary school and graduated from high school in
Cedar Falls, Iowa. He continued his
education at Iowa State Teachers College in Cedar Falls.
In
1922 he came to California where he was employed and was on the Board of
Directors of the First National Bank of Alhambra. The First National Bank was later sold to the
Bank of America and he is still on the Advisory Board of the Bank of America.
During
the First World War, Mr. McCluskey served as First Lieutenant and Instructor
and was stationed at Fort Sheridan.
Mr.
McCluskey married Miss Grace Dickover on August 22,
1927. The wedding took place in the home
of the bride’s parents in Santa Barbara.
Mrs. McCluskey was Art Supervisor in the Alhambra Public Schools for
many years. She is listed in the last
issue of Who’s Who of American Women for her
contribution in the field of art. Their
daughter, Gwen (Mrs. Melvin) Swinney, is a graduate
of South Pasadena High School and of Pomona College. Her husband, Dr. Melvin Swinney,
is also a graduate of Pomona College and received his Doctorate at Stanford
University and taught there as a professor of geology for a number of years. He is now with the Richfield Oil
Company. The Swinney’s
have three boys: Stephen, Richard and
Brian.
Mr.
McCluskey is a member of the Alhambra Elks Club B. P. O. E. No. 1328 and has
the distinction of being the third oldest member in seniority in the San
Gabriel Country Club, where he enjoys a good game of golf when business
pressure permits. He has made gardening a hobby and has a large collection of rare
camellias which give him a great deal of pleasure and plenty of exercise.
Transcribed by
V. Gerald Iaquinta.
Source:
Historical Volume & Reference Works Including Alhambra, Monterey Park,
Rosemead, San Gabriel & Temple City, by Robert P. Studer,
Pages 481-482, Historical Publ., Los Angeles, California. 1962.
© 2013 V. Gerald Iaquinta.
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NUGGET'S LOS ANGELES BIOGRAPHIES