- NATHANIEL PRESTON (deceased) was long and favorably known
in Green county. Born June
- 13, 1822, in Portsmouth, England, he was the only child of
Nathaniel and Mary (PETERS) PRESTON, both of London, the former
of whom kept a shoe store at Portsmouth.
- Nathaniel PRESTON, Jr., came to this country after the death
of his father, bringing his mother
- with him, and lived for a time in Cincinnati, Ohio. From
that city they removed to Monroe, Wis., and later to the town
of Jefferson. In England he married Mary DIXON who died there,
leaving two sons: William, now a farmer of Brownsville, Ore.,
who married Lizzie SOUTH, of Monroe: and Nathaniel, a miner of
Butte, Montana. Both were reared to manhood by Mrs. Charlotte
PRESTON, whom they still regard with filial affection. On June
12, 1852, Mr. PRESTON married Miss Charlotte COOK, of Rock county,
Wis., who was the daughter of John J. and Charlotte E. (STOPFORTH)
COOK, both natives of England, of pure Saxon origin. Two children
were born to them, one son and one daughter: Mary Ellen PRESTON,
born Nov. 2, 1853, is now the wife of W. S. PENGRA, a retired
farmer, living in Madison, Wis.; and Arthur T. PRESTON, born
July 18, 1856, married Susan NEWMAN, and owns a fine farm in
the town of Jefferson. Nathaniel PRESTON died in 1857, an exemplary
citizen, a kind neighbor, and a loving husband and father. A
strong advocate of the principles of the Republican party, he
gave that party his adhesion on its formation, having been an
Abolitionist previous to that time.
- Mrs. PRESTON, when left a widow, had nothing but their farm
of eighty acres, which was
- partially paid for. However, by hard work and good judgment,
she managed to remove the encumbrance from it, reared her children
to a useful life, and is now prosperous and well thought of in
the community. Coming from a fine old English family, she was
born June 21, 1831. Having come with her father and her stepmother
into Wisconsin in 1843, practically her entire life has been
spent in this State. John J. COOK, her father, became one of
the leading citizen of Rock county, and was justice of the peace
for more than twenty years. Farming was his life work. Mrs. PRESTON
is now residing with her son on the home place, where they have
a fine home and splendid outbuildings. As honorable people and
upright members of the community their standing is without question.
Mrs. PRESTON is a bright and interesting lady. With a good education,
in her younger days, she taught school in Green county for six
years, continuing one year after her marriage. Like her husband,
she has been associated during her entire life with the Episcopal
Church. A good woman, a Christian spirit, a loving mother, and
a devoted grandmother, her name is very precious to those who
know her best.
-
- Taken from "Commemorative Biographical Record of
the Counties of Rock, Green, Grant, Iowa and Lafayette Wisconsin,"
(c)1901 Union Publishing; pp. 570-571.
-
- Courtesy of Carol.
|