SOLOMON PRESTON

 

     Solomon Preston. Prominent among the many enterprising farmers and stock-raisers of Cedar Township, stands the name of the above-mentioned gentleman, who was born in Roane County, E. Tenn., in 1824, and who is now one of the much esteemed citizens of the county.  His parents, Hon. George and Elizabeth (Parmley) Preston, were natives of Tennessee.  The father was born in 1805, and made his home in Roane County until 1840, when he went to St. Clair County, Mo., and was one of the first settlers of that county.  He improved a good farm on Sac River, and was one of the county’s most prominent citizens and officials, being previous to the war assessor for eight years, and was sheriff for four years.  After that eventful period Mr. Preston represented St. Clair County in the Legislature.  He died in 1869, and was a member of the Christian Church.  He was in Capt. Morton’s company of State Militia during the late war, and was a brave and gallant soldier.  His father, George Preston, Sr., was a native of Pennsylvania, and was one of the first settlers of East Tennessee, where he died.  The maternal grandfather of the subject of this sketch, John Parmley, was a native of East Tennessee. George Preston, Jr., was married twice, and Solomon was the eldest of two sons and seven daughters born to the first marriage.  Five children were born to the second marriage.  Solomon Preston received very little education in the subscription schools of Tennessee, and came with his parents to Missouri when sixteen years of age.  In 1850 he crossed the plains with ox-team to California, and was four months in making the trip.  He spent nearly two years in the mines, and in 1852 he returned via the Isthmus to his home.  He was married in 1859 to Miss Mary J., daughter of Robert and Anna Barnes, early settlers of the farm on which Mr. Preston is now living. To Mr. and Mrs. Preston were born nine children, three sons and one daughter now living.  From 1862 to 1865 Mr. Preston resided in Kansas, and in 1867 he moved to his present fine farm of 106 acres.  He is also the owner of 352 acres in St. Clair County, and as a farmer and stock-raiser he is a success.  Previous to his marriage he was for some time engaged in the wagon-making business, and previous to the war he was a Democrat in politics; since then he has been a Republican and is now a Greenbacker.  Mr. and Mrs. Preston were members of the Christian Church for many years, and he is a member at the present time.  Mrs. Barnes died in 1859 or 1860. Her husband was killed by bushwhackers near his home during the war.  Mr. Preston’ children are named as follows: Nathaniel L., Mary E., wife of William French; Solomon, Jr., and Lawrence Marshall.

From the History of Hickory, Polk, Cedar, Dade and Barton Counties, Missouri, 1889, p. 767-768

 

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