JOHN WESLEY McCUISTION

Sacramento County

Biographies

JOHN WESLEY McCUISTION

JOHN WESLEY McCUISTION--A hustling Californian of varied enterprise, who did much to place Sacramento on the map, was John Wesley McCuistion, for years the proprietor of the Original California Employment Agency. He was born at Georgetown, in Williamson County, Texas, on August 11, 1851, the son of Noah and Nancy T. (Merguson) McCuistion, worthy pioneers who braved all the inconveniences and dangers of frontier life and came out to California in 1852. They left Texas on March 14, but had the misfortune to miss the caravan they expected to accompany through Mexico, and so were among 150 people to charter a sailing vessel. On the way up, they were becalmed, and their water and provisions ran low, but they met some fishing-boats and got relief. Some of the party got out to walk and beat the boat into San Diego. Again the boat ran out of provisions, but the party finally reached San Francisco, on August 18, 1852.

Noah McCuistion and his good wife went into the mines in Mariposa County, and for two years he followed mining in various places. He then went to Oakland and became a buyer of stock for Messrs. Miller & Lux. Selling out his place in Oakland, he next went to Martinez, in Contra Costa County; and in 1857 he came into Sonoma County. The year 1859 found him in Mendocino County with a large number of cattle, and there he stayed until the Civil War. In 1861-1862, he was at Tulare, and after that he went to El Monte, near Las Angeles but he soon had to go to Lower California to get 10,000 head of cattle, and returned to Mendocino County in 1863. There he was disturbed by the Indians, but was rescued by the soldiers. Getting back to Los Angeles, he bought the block of land between Broadway and Hill, and Fifth and Sixth Streets, and located on 160 acres of land at Hollywood, becoming one of the first settlers there. Members of the McCuistion family were prominent in the various walks of life; among them was Edward McCuistion, who for many years served as mayor of Paris, Texas.

John Wesley McCuistion acquired his eduction largely in a log schoolhouse and in the school of actual experience. When a youth he learned the printer's trade. Instead of working at his trade, however, he peddled jewelry in Lower California, and with the money thus earned he bought thirty-five acres near Downey, after which he hauled freight to San Bernardino. Selling out, he came to Kernville, and next went to Sierra Gorda, where he was in the smelting works for eighteen months. His next move was to Columbus, Nev., and then to Reno; and after that he went east to Cheyenne, Wyo., where he was a scout for the government, remaining in the government service for six years. In 1875, he went to the Black Hills and established the town of Custer; and he freighted in and out of that country, returning to California in 1877. At Sacramento, he joined William Lind; and then he came to San Francisco. He did not stay there long, but went into Mendocino County and located land, which he later sold. He then crossed the border again to Nevada, and farmed there for two years. Later he came to Los Angeles, and then went to New Mexico, where he remained until 1882. He went to Chloride and there engaged in business, and then to Grant County, N.M., driving the first wagon into that place; and he took up a townsite and was made postmaster. He also engaged in mining, and sold the Percha Chief Mine for $36,000. He then went to Kingston and was postmaster there; and after that he was at Hot Springs, Ark. For six years he engaged in the cattle business in Colorado; and next he went to Billings, Mont., where he remained for two years. He bought land in Orange County, Cal., and organized the school district and built a schoolhouse at Talbert. For a year and a half, he sold and bought land at Corona. Disposing of this, he established an employment agency in Los Angeles, and then went to Santa Cruz, where for five years he continued in the business, until 1907, when he came to Sacramento and established the business here. He called it the California Employment Agency, and later on changed the name to the Original California Employment Agency. In the business he was ably assisted by his wife, who kept his books, made the reports, and aided him in every way she could. His offices were in close vicinity of Second and J Streets, for fifteen years.

In Woodland, in 1912, Mr. McCuistion married Mrs. Margaret T. Averell, a native of Philadelphia, Pa., and the widow of Isaac Seymour Averell, of New York, who was with the Southern Pacific Railroad Company until his death, which occurred in San Francisco. Mr. and Mrs. Averell's union was blessed with a son, Edward, who is connected with the United States Shipping Board in San Francisco. He is married and has three sons; Edward A., J. Vincent, and Harrison Tate. Mr. McCuistion had a daughter Teresa, now Mrs. Edgar Cox of Los Angeles, who had a daughter, Yvonne. Mrs. McCuistion is a cultured and refined woman of a pleasing personality, and presides gracefully over her home, located at 2931 S. Street, Sacramento, the scene of much hospitality and good cheer.

On October 28, 1922, since the interview from which this sketch was prepared, Mr. McCuistion passed away, mourned by his family and many friends. He was one of the best-known men in the county, being known and loved by rich and poor alike. He was especially loved and esteemed by the children, who all called him "Uncle John," and to others throughout the county he was known as "Honest John." In politics, Mr. McCuistion was a Democrat. Of good pioneer stock, he was much interested in the county's historic past, and had full confidence in its promising future. He belonged to the Fraternal Brotherhood, and the Sacramento Pioneers, in whose circles he enjoyed an enviable popularity.

Transcribed by: Jeanne Sturgis Taylor.

Source: Reed, G. Walter, History of Sacramento County, California With Biographical Sketches, Pages 632-635. Historic Record Company, Los Angeles, CA. 1923.