retired from the force in 1904 and lived in the U.S.A. Returned to Canada and engaged in the blacksmithing business at Whitewood. On the formation of the 16th Light Horse took over the Whitewood troop under Major Hill. At the outbreak of the European war volunteered and went over with the 10th Brigade C.F.A. as staff sergeant. Served continuously with them until the armistice, Ypres, Somme, Vimy Ridge, Hill 70, Paschendaele, Arras and Amiens and was with first artillery in Mons. Awarded the M.S.M. President G.W.V.A. (1923). Member of the Eagles, Elks, Yukon Order of Pioneers. Etc.

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Known to many old timers in both Alaska and the Yukon as the Father of the Yukon and Alaska and to many as Alaska Jack. He was born in Portland, Oregon in 1836. When a young man headed for the gold fields of the Fraser River in British Columbia. Gradually working his way north he arrived at Fort Yukon on the Yukon River in Alaska with Al Mayo and Arthur Harper whom he met on the way. McQuesten worked for the Alaska Commercial Company for many years.
He finally built a trading post at Fort Reliance which was 8 - 10 miles down the Yukon from the present day Dawson. It was from this point that measurements were made on the river hence Forty Mile was 40 miles below Fort Reliance. When gold was found on The Forty Mile he moved to this new gold field and helped build up the town of Forty Mile. It was here on December 1st, 1894 that he helped organize The Yukon Order of Pioneers and was elected the first President. The original of this diary was left in the care of The Yukon Order of Pioneers, it and many other valuable records were lost in a disastrous fire in the spring of 1966 when the Y.O.O.P. hall in Dawson went up in flames.

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