Ionia County MI Archives Obituaries.....Preston, Clark Alonzo October 3, 1910 ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/mi/mifiles.htm ************************************************ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Nan Wheaton wheaton1624@yahoo.com August 10, 2019, 8:02 pm Ionia Standard - Friday, Oct. 7, 1910 C. A. PRESTON DEAD. CLOSE OF A CAREER LONG IDENTIFIED With the Business and Political History of Ionia County - The End of a Useful and Honorable Life. Clark A. Preston, one of the few remaining of the old pioneers, one of the best known and most highly esteemed passed into the mysteries of the future-the life beyond this world-at 8 o'clock this morning. He had been seriously ill for two or three months, and his recovery was not expected, but the end came with a shocking suddenness at last. On the whole, he had been feeling better of late, and was in specially good spirits on Wednesday last, which he pronounced the best day of his long and distressing spell of sickness. Thursday he was not quite so well, and Saturday was a blue day for him, but he recovered his spirits on Sunday, and had lost no apparent ground in the meantime. This morning, the nurse advised that he take breakfast in bed, but with his usual impulse to do things-to make no concession to feebleness that he could avoid, he insisted on getting up, and was placed in his easy chair. He then seemed about as usual, but all of a sudden he appeared to stiffen, and before the friends could fairly realize it, he was gone-gone without a word, the best way to go for him who is prepared-as well prepared as a man may hope to be. His son, Thad B., and his daughter Nina were with him; but the end was so sudden that his other daughter, Mrs. Thornton, whose home is just across the road, could not be summoned in time. Clark A. Preston was born in Buffalo, N.Y., May 11, 1833, of good Vermont stock, his father, Ambrose Preston, serving in the war of 1812. The father died in 1835, and in 1844 the mother with the younger children came to Ionia county, Mich., where her son, Benjamin has settled the previous year. Clark A. Preston had enjoyed fair opportunities for schooling, and when only 16 years old he was employed to teach the school at Kiddville. He then engaged as clerk in the store at that place, and remained four years in the employ of the late Jas. M. Kidd. In 1851, he went to Missouri, where he again engaged in teaching, remaining two years, and filling positions in Union, Richmond and Independence. Returning to Michigan, he again accepted a clerkship with J.M. Kidd, with whom he remained 18 months, and then engaged in the manufacture of saleratus at Saranac, by the old laborious process utilizing wood ashes. During this time he also made his first venture in dry goods trade, in company with Wesley Young, under the firm name of Preston & Young. He remained in business at Saranac two years, and then resumed teaching once more, having charge of the Lyons village school for ensuing six months. Politics always had a special attraction for Mr. Preston, and in 1858 he was elected county clerk, filling the office four years. In January, 1862, he enlisted in Co. "I." 7th Kansas Cavalry, under command of John Brown, Jr., son of John Brown, the Abolition martyr whose "soul goes marching on." After four months of army life, he was obliged to return home on account of continued disability from rheumatism, caused by the unusual exposure. During the year 1863, he was appointed county treasurer, to fill the vacancy occasioned by the death of George Ellsworth, and the next year was elected to the office. In 1866 he entered upon a mercantile career in Ionia, which he continued until 1879, when he quit trade for lumbering. The mercantile firm was first known as Stevenson, Preston & Co., later as Preston, Bentley & Brooks, and finally as Preston & Merriam. He carried on lumbering until 1882, his home during two years of that period being on a farm in Sebewa. But farm life was not all his imagination had painted, and he was glad to move back to town and do some long distance farming in Dakota, which he followed for several years. Mr. Preston was married to Sarah A. Cunningham, Jan. 1, 1855, who died nearly four years ago. Seven children were born to this union, of whom three survive, all residents of Ionia, and previously named in this article. Mr. and Mrs. Preston were charter members of the Disciples church, of which he has remained a staunch and active supporter. It was as a consistent church man, both as a worker and a worshipper, that the later years of Mr. Preston's life specially appealed for admiration. He spared neither pains nor expense in fitting himself for the spread of that faith in a living soul-saving God, in which he was so conscientiously well grounded. To his own mind and heart, as his intimate friends well know, this labor was dearest and most satisfying to him. The church had no cause to complain of his want of love or devotion. He was a Republican in politics-distinctively a Lincoln Republican, and of late years exceedingly independent. He never lost his interest in politics. He read much, and with intelligent appreciation of the new issues arising, and a keen judgment of the men prominent in Political direction, and he followed no one blindly. He had the old-time cordiality and feeling of comradeship for long-time friends. He dearly loved to gather those about him, in the observance of some special event, especially in honor of Lincoln, who was his great hero. Most of the events of this character in his home town, in recent years, have been though his suggestion and mostly through his efforts, several of them at his home, where he was most happy in his part of host. The last of these occurred on May 11 last, when he entertained a company of 68 men, largely pioneers, many of them soldier comrades, in recognition of his 77th birthday anniversary. It was one of the most delightful of social events; it may now be regarded as the living farewell to many near friends, the memory of which will not pass so long as these friends remain. His interest in the Pioneer society, of which he was secretary, and in the G.A.R., bought him in close touch with the members. His genial, social nature, his fund of reminiscence, his kindly heart, made him dear to a host of friends whose hearts are saddened in this death. _______________________ Funeral Services for C. A. Preston The funeral service for the late Clark A. Preston, at the Church of Christ, Wed. p.m., was one of the very largest attended church funerals in Ionia in many years. A concourse of people who taxed the seating capacity of the church, bowed sorrowing heads in a farewell tribute to the respected pioneer who has fallen from his place among living men, to sleep now in peace and honor, the honor that is justly his who has filled his place with sincere dignity, a genuine hospitality, and practical usefulness. As a citizen, neighbor, friend, he was choice among men. In these walks he was respected by all. The courtesies of his life were broad and generous. He was always the polite and genial gentleman, kind and tolerant. To his friends- " He seemed the thing he was, and joined Each office of the social hour To noble manners, as the flower And native growth of noble mind; And thus he bore without abuse The grand old name of gentleman." The funeral discourse was by the Rev. G. Webster Moore, pastor of deceased, and the invocation was by the Rev. Fred P. Arthur of Grand Rapids. The singing was alone by Thane Benedict, whose selections were: "There's a Land That is Fairer Than Day", "Here We Are But Straying Pilgrims", "The Home of the Soul", "The Beautiful Valley of Eden", with Mrs. Grace Cresay as organist. The carriers were from among the comrades of deceased of Wm. H. Borden Post, G.A.R.: J.L. Fowle, T.G. Stevenson, J.H. Kidd, J.C. Taylor, C.C. Eyster, D.C. Crawford There was a great profusion of floral testimonials: these were in charge of Mrs. Eugene Smith, Miss Nellie Robertson and Mrs. Nellie Snobble. Additional Comments: Age: 77 Funeral: 5 October 1910 Highland Park Cemetery #7-18 File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/mi/ionia/obits/p/preston9823gob.txt This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.org/mifiles/ File size: 8.7 Kb