Elford Preston 1831-1905

PRESTON, FORKER, HODGE

Posted By: Dorothy (email)
Date: 3/28/2009 at 16:51:17

Elford Preston was born at Hanover.
Pa., March 31. 1831. When only a
child he moved with his parents to
Kingston where he grew to youth
time. When 17 years old he went to
Philadelpha, where he married Miss
Sarah A. Forker, March 31, 1858. In
I860 they moved to Rohrsburg. Pa.,
and in 1880 to Iowa, first settling in
Tama county. In 1891 they went to
Bremer county and in 1902 came to
Oelwein. Here his wife passed from
earth November 6, 1904.
After the death of his wife the disease
that had been giving him trouble
for so long, began to develop rapidly
and gained the mastery by taking him
away in the evening of August 9. 1905.
The funeral service was held at the
home of his daughter, Mrs. A. Hodge,
in Oelwein, Friday forenoon, August
11. and the body was taken to Sumner
that afternoon and laid beside that of
his wife to await the resurrection call.
Mr. Preston left to mourn their loss,
three sons, M. M., of Oelwein, Cornelius,
of Helena. Montana, E. C.. of
Hawkeye, and one daughter. Mrs.
Eliza Hodge of Oelwein.
Mr. Preston was a man of strong
character, a real lover of God and of
all that was good. His faith in God
was sound and his interest in the
church was large. He believed in the
real care of his heavenly father and
was ready to go to Him. His pastor,
Rev. J. R. A. Banner, of Grace M. E.
church was with him often in his closing
days and conducted the funeral service,
ising the text chosen by Mr. Preston
some time before his death.
In the passing of Mr. Preston it takes
away the oldest republican in the United
States, and the last one of the
twenty, who held a meeting in Philidelphia,
Pa., May 29, 1854, at which
the republican party was born. At
this meeting there were twenty men
and Elford Preston was one of the number.

Oelwein Register - 16 Aug 1905