Preston, Edwin T., Rev

PRESTON, HOLE, CHAMBERS, MORTON

Posted By: Volunteer Transcriber
Date: 8/15/2009 at 06:57:36

Reverend Edwin T. Preston, a venerable and representative citizen of Sherman Township, Jasper County, now living on section 2, is a native of Campbell County, VA. He was born March 14, 1813, and is a son of Peter and Abbie (Hole) Preston. His father was born in Virginia, and was of English lineage. In 1635, two families by the name of Preston left England and immigrated to the New World. Soon after two more families of the same name crossed the broad Atlantic, and all located in New England. A fifth family left Yorkshire, England, and settled in Backs County, PA, in 1718. William Preston was the founder of the family to which our subject belongs. Three uncles of Edwin served in the War of 1812, and another uncle fought in the Indian War later on.

When our subject was a lad of twelve summers he removed with his parents to Columbiana County, Ohio, in 1825, becoming early settlers of that locality. There he was reared amid the wild scenes of pioneer life, and aided in clearing and developing a farm. The subscription schools afforded him his early education, and he afterwards attended a Quaker select school. Though his privileges were limited, he has been a student all his life and has become a well-informed man. For several winters in Ohio, he engaged in teaching school, and then studied law under E. R. Eckley, of Carroll County, Ohio, for two years, after which he was admitted to the Bar. In 1842, he began the study of Bible theology, and after several years, in 1857, was duly ordained as an Elder and engaged in ministerial work for some years.

On the 30th of May 1844, Mr. Preston wedded Mary J. Chambers, who was horn in Washtenaw County, Michigan, June 15, 1825, and is a daughter of Thomas and Prudence (Morton) Chambers, the former a native of Ireland, and the latter of Massachusetts. Her parents were early settlers' of Washtenaw County, and Mrs. Preston is said to have been one of the first white children born in the city of Ann Arbor, a portion of which her father at one time owned. During her girlhood the family removed to Washington County, Ohio, and she was there reared. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Preston were born the following children: William S., a graduate of the law department of the Iowa State University, now in Sioux City, Iowa.

Rev. Charles W., a graduate of the Iowa State University and the Yale Theological School, now pastor of the Congregational Church in Curtis, NE; Rev. Abi L., who graduated from the medical department of the Iowa State University, and went as a missionary to Turkey several years ago, but owing to failing health was forced to return home, and is now located in Magnolia, Iowa, as pastor of the Congregational Church; Junius W., formerly a student in the Iowa State University, and the present Assessor of Sherman Township; Rev. Hartwell L., who graduated at the State University, was a student in the Chicago Theological Seminary, and is now pastor of the Congregational Church in Rico, CO.; Edwin E., an artist by profession, who served, as one of the Columbian Guards at the World's Fair in Chicago; George A., a noted vocalist and musician, who sang for one year at St. Paul's Church in Chicago, and is now teaching vocal and instrumental music in Benton Harbor, Michigan, and acting as leader of the Congregational choir at that place; and Carrie, who is conducting a kindergarten in Newton, Iowa.

In 1855, Rev. Mr. Preston of this sketch left Ohio, and came with his family to Jasper County, Iowa. At length he located on his present farm, which comprises two hundred acres of valuable land, and to the cultivation and development of which he has since devoted his energies. He was also one of the early surveyors of the county, beginning that work here in 1855. He served for six years as County Surveyor and has followed that work in Ohio and Iowa for almost half a century. In 1840, Rev. Mr. Preston was secretary of a convention, in Columbiana County, Ohio, which met to organize the Liberty Party, and the platform adopted by that organization was the foundation of the Republican Party. Mr. Preston has always been a strong advocate of temperance and now votes with the Republican Party. For many years he and his estimable wife have been identified with the Congregational Church and have been prominent and benevolent in church work. Through out the community they are held in the highest regard, and it is with pleasure that we present to our reader this record of their life work. Portrait and Biographical Record, Jasper, Marshall and Grundy Counties, IA Page 192.