Grundy County IL Archives Biographies.....Preston, George 
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Author: Bio/Gen Record LaSalle/Grundy 1900

GEORGE PRESTON.

The fitting reward of a well spent and active business career is an honored 
retirement from labor in which one has opportunity to enjoy the fruits of 
former toil. Such an opportunity has been vouchsafed to Mr. Preston, one of 
the pioneer settlers and substantial citizens of Grundy county, who is now 
living retired in Mazon. He has attained the age of seventy-seven years and 
has the veneration and respect which should ever be accorded to those who have 
reached the downward slope of life. He was born September 22, 1822, in 
Tuscarawas county, Ohio, his parents being Elijah and Martha (Wheatley) 
Preston. His father was a son of William and Zuba (Sweet) Preston. The 
grandfather was a native of Vermont and by occupation a farmer. In early 
pioneer days he went to Ohio, making the journey by boat a part of the way. In 
old age he located in Tuscarawas county, on the farm owned by his son Elijah, 
and there spent his remaining days, his death occurring at the age of sixty-
three years. He was a very industrious and energetic man and belonged to that 
class of pioneers who have laid the foundation for the present prosperity of 
our country. His children were: Elijah, William, Oliver, John, James, Sallie, 
Betsey, Polly and Zuba.

Elijah Preston, the father of our subject, was born in Vermont, April 16, 
1799, and received such educational privileges as were afforded by the common 
schools of that time. He was reared upon a farm, and when about sixteen years 
of age accompanied, his father on his removal to Ohio, the first location of 
the family being made on the Ohio river, not far from Pittsburg. Elijah 
Preston early became familiar with the arduous task of developing new land and 
throughout his life engaged in the tilling of the soil. He was married in 
Virginia to Martha Wheatley, a native of the Green Mountain state, born 
October 3, 1799, and a daughter of George Wheatley. Her father was a Virginian 
by birth and for some time resided in West Virginia, not far from the Ohio 
river or from the city of Wheeling. By occupation he was a millet. In the '50s 
he came to Illinois, locating just across the river from St. Louis, and his 
death occurred in East St. Louis, when he had attained the age of seventy-one 
years. His life was characterized by marked industry. His children were: 
George, born September 22, 1822; William, November 6, 1825; Samuel, John, 
Elijah, Nancy, Ann, Martha, Mary, Sarah and Jane.

After his marriage Elijah Preston located in Tuscarawas county, Ohio, on a 
tract of one hundred and sixty acres of timber land. By hard work and close 
application he cleared his fields and made a good pioneer home, to which he 
added by additional purchase until he was the owner of one hundred and eighty 
acres. About 1834, however, he sold that property and removed to Guernsey 
county, Ohio, where he purchased an improved farm, upon which he lived until 
1851, when he disposed of that and came to Grundy county, Illinois. Here he 
secured one hundred and sixty acres of partly improved land in Mazon township, 
a small amount of the land having been broken and a little cabin erected 
thereon. A week later Mr. Preston went by canal to Chicago and purchased 
lumber with which to build a barn and also to enlarge his house. He returned a 
week later and was then taken ill with cholera and died after fifteen days. 
Both he and his wife were consistent and faithful members of the Methodist 
church in early life but afterward joined the United Brethren church. Mr. 
Preston served as a class-leader in Ohio and was actively interested in 
whatever tended to advance the cause of Christianity. His life was one of 
activity and through his enterprising efforts he acquired a good home. In 
politics he was an old-line Whig in early life and when the subject of slavery 
became the dominant issue he joined the Abolition party.

From the old family Bible the following record of the children is obtained: 
George, the eldest son, was born September 22, 1822, and was married April 30, 
1840, to Elizabeth Carnes. William, born November 6, 1825, was married May 18, 
1847, to Phebe Randal. James D., born May 7, 1828, was married March 23, 1848, 
to Elizabeth Huffman. Jane, born December 8, 1830, became the wife of William 
Keepers on the 19th of May, 1847. Sarah, born November 3, 1832, was married 
March 27, 1851, to Alexander Lotta. Elijah, born January 4, 1835, died March 
26, 1848. Finley, born March 22, 1837, died February 20, 1855. Martha Ann, 
born May 9, 1839, was married November 15, 1855, to George Paxton and died 
December 17, 1867. Asbury, born November 21, 1841, was a soldier of the civil 
war. He went to the front with an Illinois regiment and died at Vicksburg 
during the service. Albert, born July 15, 1846, was also a soldier and died in 
Streator, Illinois, December 8, 1879. The father of these children died August 
15, 1851. In the old Wheatley family Bible the following record is given: 
George Wheatley, Sr., was born September 2, 1775, and died April 22, 1845. 
Jane Nelson Wheatley, his wife, was born January 4, 1778, and died October 3, 
1829. Their children were: Ann, who was called Nancy, was born November 5, 
1797; Martha was born October 3, 1799; John, December 7, 1801, and died June 
21, 1818; Mary was born June 20, 1804; Sarah, February 3, 1806; Warren was 
born March 19, 1803, and died August 23, 1849; Samuel was born May 16, 1810; 
William, June 3, 1812; Jane, August 1, 1814; George was born November 22, 
1816, and died March 1, 1841; John Nelson was born March 23, 1819; and Eliza 
P., June 22, 1821.

George Preston, whose name introduces this review, received a limited 
education in the subscription schools. His boyhood days were spent on the farm 
and at the age of twelve years he accompanied his parents on their removal to 
Guernsey county, Ohio, driving a four-horse team on the journey. He married 
Elizabeth Carnes, of that county, and as he was only eighteen years of age and 
his bride was about the same age, their parents objected to their marriage. 
Determining, however, to unite their destinies without delay, they took the 
opportunity when their respective fathers were attending court to run away, 
and, crossing the line into West Virginia, where no license was required, they 
were there married. Mrs. Preston was born in Tuscarawas county, Ohio, her 
father, John Carnes, being one of its pioneers. He afterward removed to 
Hocking county, Ohio. His children were: John, William, Matilda, Elizabeth, 
Mary, Isabel, Caroline and Margaret. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Preston three children 
were born: William C., born April 4, 1846; Mary, born July 20, 1852; and 
George W., born June 7, 1855.

The young couple had begun their domestic life upon his father's old homestead 
farm in Tuscarawas county, where they remained for eight years. On the 3d of 
June, 1851, they started for Illinois and arrived at Coal City, Grundy county, 
on the 2d of July. Mr. Preston had two brothers, William and James, who were 
then living in the town. The journey was made with horses and the party 
numbered five different families who had been neighbors in Guernsey county, 
Ohio, and had come to the west to seek their fortunes. Elijah Preston, the 
father of our subject, with his family, was of the party, together with 
Abraham Carter and William Keepers, who were accompanied by their respective 
families. At night they would camp out by the wayside, sleeping in their 
wagons, and the trip proved a very pleasant one until the last night, when a 
hard rain and wind storm occurred. Previous to that there had been but one 
slight shower. After reaching Grundy county Mr. Preston established his home 
in Good Farm township, where he rented land for two years. He then purchased 
one hundred and sixty acres, a wild tract of prairie land upon which not a 
furrow had been turned or an improvement made, but with characteristic energy, 
however, he developed and added to it until he had four hundred and eighty 
acres of rich, valuable land, all under a high state of cultivation and all in 
Good Farm township. He erected thereon substantial buildings and made many 
excellent improvements. Indolence and idleness formed no part of his nature 
and his untiring efforts brought to him prosperity which enabled him, after 
many years of active toil, to put aside all business cares. His first serious 
trouble in his new home was the death of his wife. She was born March 21, 
1823, and passed away December 22, 1857, after fourteen years of happy married 
life, their wedding having been celebrated April 23, 1840. Mr. Preston was 
again married, in old Mazon, his second union being with Jane Johnston, who 
was born in Richland county, Ohio, April 13, 1823, a daughter of Andrew and 
Mary (Thompson) Johnston.

Both Mr. and Mrs. Preston were members of the Congregational church and in 
politics he is a Republican. He has always taken a deep interest in everything 
pertaining to the welfare and progress of the community and has always 
advocated good roads. In 1882 he purchased property in Mazon and to each of 
his three children he gave eighty acres of land. He is one of the owners of 
the opera house in Mazon and is in comfortable circumstances. All who know him 
esteem him for his sterling worth, and his career has been characterized by 
energy, perseverance and good management and above all by honorable dealing.

Additional Comments:
Source:  Biographical and Genealogical Record of La Salle and Grundy County, 
Illinois, Volume 11, Chicago, 1900, p600-603

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