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Biography of Thomas W. Preston

From HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY
W. H. Beers [Chicago, 1883]


Page 924

THOMAS W. PRESTON, a prominent blacksmith, London, was born in Lancaster County, Ky., January 25, 1841. His father, Thomas Preston, was also a native of Kentucky, and a carpenter by trade. He resided in his native State until his death, in 1851. He married Mary Owens, of Kentucky, and our subject was the only child born to this union. Mrs. Preston died in 1841. Our subject was reared by Mrs. Polly Baker, of Lancaster County, Ky., till sixteen or eighteen years of age, obtaining a very fair education. He then went to Flat Rock, in his native State, and learned general blacksmithing, remaining there three and a half years. He then removed to Cincinnati, and two years later (in fall of 1860) located at Pittsburgh, Penn. He subsequently went to Columbus, Ohio, and in 1861 to Jefferson, in this county. Soon after, he came to London, and thence to Newport. He was there married, August 7, 1862, to Almira, daughter of Laban Willoughby, of Range Township. On May 2, 1864, he enlisted in Company I, One Hundred and Fifty-fourth Ohio Volunteer Infantry, under Capt. David Watson, and served one hundred days. He then re-enlisted in Company B, One Hundred and Ninety-sixth Regiment, March 1, 1865, and received an honorable discharge at Baltimore, Md., in September, 1865. He then returned to Newport, and in 1870 removed to London. Mr. Preston has met with fair success in his trade. His shop is located on the south side Fourth, between North Main and North Oak streets, where he does blacksmithing and general repairing. Mr. Preston is a member of Madison Lodge, No. 70 (I. O. O. F.), of London, Gilroy Lodge, No. 695, of Lilly Chapel, and London Encampment, No. 126 (I. O. O. F.). He is Republican in politics. Mr. Preston has been thrice married. His first wife died February 22, 1875. His second marriage, November 14, 1878, was to Lizzie Wilson, a native of Madison County, who died June 10, 1879. His third marriage occurred February 21, 1882, to Angie M. Fuller, a native of New York. The first and second wives were members of the Methodist Episcopal Church; the present one, of Trinity Episcopal Church, of London. Seven children have been born to Mr. Preston -- Viola, May, Katy (wife of John W. Maddux, of Lilly Chapel), Ada M., James E., Maud M., B. Frankie and Jessie M.



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