California Biographies Transcribed by Peggy Hooper This file is part of the California Genealogy & History Archives http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~cagha/index.htm Source: History of the state of California and biographical record of the San Joaquin Valley, California. An historical story of the state's marvelous growth from its earliest settlement to the present time. Prof. James Miller Guinn , A. M. The Chapman Publishing Co., Chicago 1905 Notes: Missing Page: 865-866,983-984,1175-1176 FRANCIS MARION PRESTON. Among the prominent and enterprising business men of central California is Francis Marion Preston, who is actively engaged in agricultural pursuits, which he follows according to the most approved scientific methods. He makes a specialty of dairying, having a well stocked ranch, and raising large quantities of alfalfa for feeding his cattle. A son of C. J. Preston, he was born January 23, 1861, in Troy, Bradford county, Pa. His grandfather, Colburn Preston, the descendant of an old and honored New England family, was born in Vermont, and served in the war of 1812. He subsequently settled in Bradford county, Pa., and assisted in clearing the site of the present city of Troy. A native of Pennsylvania, C. J. Preston grew to manhood on the home farm. Sailing by way of Panama in 1865 he came to California, and the following year took up one hundred and six- ty acres of land in Contra Costa county. Succeeding well as a farmer, he sent for his fam- ily, who joined him in 1870, and he is still there employed in general farming and stock- raising, now having three hundred and twenty acres of land in his home ranch. He married Melissa Woodard, who was born in Bradford county, Pa., where her father, Daniel Woodard, settled on removing from Vermont. Of the five daughters and two sons born of their union, all are living with the exception of one daughter, Francis Marion, the special subject of this bi- ography, being the oldest child. But nine years of age when he came to California to join his father, Francis Marion Pres- ton was educated in the district schools of Contra Costa county. Choosing the free and inde- pendent occupation to which he was reared, he came to Merced county in 1886, settling near Newman, where he bought eighty acres of land on the Middle road, below the canal. With char- acteristic industry and thrift, he at once began its improvement, soon having it planted to al- falfa. He also enlarged his operations, from 1892 until 1900 raising grain on the Crittenden ranch, which consists of eight hundred acres of land, located above the canal. Mr. Preston subsequently purchased sixty-six acres of land lying near his original estate, and now has the entire one hun- dred and forty-six acres devoted to the raising of alfalfa. He is profitably employed, also, in dairying, keeping one hundred and forty head of cattle, and milking about sixty cows, chiefly Durhams and Holsteins. A man of much energy and keen foresight, Mr. Preston was one of the promoters and original stockholders of the New Era Creamery Company, which built the first creamery in the valley, and was a member of its first board of directors, on which he is now serving for the third consecutive year, in 1902 and 1903 being likewise president of the board. In Contra Costa county, Cal, Mr. Preston married Ida Burress, a native of that county. Her father, Wilburn Burress, was born in Tennessee, and when eighteen years old came by way of Panama to Contra Costa county, where he followed general farming and stock raising until his death. He married Arvilla Morgan, who was born in Texas, and came from there to California with her father. Wesley Morgan, and they became the parents of three children, of whom Mrs. Preston is the oldest. Of the union of Mr. and Mrs. Preston two children have been born, namely: Marion and Lloyd. An active and loyal Republican in his political views, Mr. Preston takes great interest in local affairs, and for sixteen years has been a school trustee in the Canal district, and is now serving as president of the board. Fraternally he is a member of the Ancient Order of United Workmen, and of the Woodmen of the World.