Berrien County MI Archives Obituaries.....Preston, Mary King December 21, 1930
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Deanna West ladydeanna_2000@yahoo.com January 26, 2009, 4:16 am

Newspaper - News Paladium; December 22, 1930
Rites Tuesday for Mrs. Preston, Local Pioneer
Prominent St. Joseph Woman, 81, Dies Early Sunday Morning

Funeral services will be at the Firt Congregational church in St. Joseph, at 2
o'clock afternoon for the late Mrs. Mary King Preston, widow of the late Wallace
A. Preston, pioneer lumberman, banker and mayor of St. Joseph.

Mrs. Preston's death early Sunday morning ended a life that for three
generations had been devoted to every form of community service in her home city
of St. Joseph. Mrs. Preston was 81 years of age and had been in failing health
for some time.

The Rev. George Horst, pastor of the First Congregational church, where she had
worshipped for nearly half a centruy, will conduct the funeral rites. Interment
will take place in the St. Joseph City cemetery. 

Attend Funeral In A Body
  Members of Logan circle, Ladies of the G. A. R. have been requested to meet
Thursday at 1:30 o'clock to attend the funeral of Mrs. W. A. Preston in a body.
The circle's flag service will be conducted at the church.

Leaves Seven Children
  Mrs. Preston is survived by six sons and a daughter, all of whom reside in St.
Joseph. They are William A. Preston; Attorney Loomis K. Preston, former state
representative; Mrs. F. C. Palenske, Arthur C. Preston, present owner of the
Preston Lumber and Manufacturing company, and a former mayor of St. Joseph;
Nathan E. Preston, John D. Preston and Calvin H. Preston. There are 11
grandchildren.

  A brother, Alexander King, resided in Benton Harbor, and two sisters, the
Misses Nellie and Laura King make their home at the old King family homestead in
Benton township. 

  Through church affiliations, civic leadership and her activity in Algonquin
chapter, D. A. R., in which she was a charter member and past regent, Mrs.
Pretson's manifold interests extended to affairs of her city county, state and
nation

  Mrs. Preston's friends were legion, and there is hardly a resident of her
community, young or old, rich or poor, who had not in one way or another been
aided or touched by the influence of this public spirited woman. 

this obituary goes on to state many of Mary King Preston's achievements and
then....

Married in 1874
  The marriage in January 1874, of Miss Mary E. King to Wallace A. Preston
united tow of Berrien county's best known pioneer families.

The bride was a daughter of William Pierce and Jane King, who were among the
first settlers in Benton township. Mr. Preston's parents were 
Fowler J. and Antoinette Loomis Preston and their home was on the corner lot at
720 State street where the W. A. Prestons later built the present family home. 

Both W. A. Preston and his bride were of native American stock 
dating back to the Revolutionary war days, and on their honeymoon they took a
trip east to visit Mr. Preston's relative in Whately, Holyake and Northampton,
Mass. 
  The wedding was performed at the home of the bride in Benton township, and old
residents here recall how, when the couple, came to St. Joseph to take a train
east, their many friends had a brass band down at the station to serenade them.
........




Additional Comments:
Obituary may be read in its full length by Obtaining Dec., 12, 1930 News
Paladium, page 6 columns 1 & 2. 

File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/mi/berrien/obits/p/preston712nob.txt

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