My Genealogy Hound

COL. D. A. PRESTON, secretary Southwest Lead & Zinc Association, was born in Beverly, Mass., Aug. 5, 1846. His parents, Richard J., and Esther K. (Andrews) Preston, were also natives of the Bay State; the former was born in 1810, the latter in 1813. They now reside at Beverly. Our subject was raised principally in his native state, receiving a very liberal education. When fourteen years of age he entered the Pierce Accademy at Middlebury. In 1861 he entered the U. S. Marine service and passed through successive stages from a cabin boy up to the first officer of a ship, remaining on the sea about seven years. In the summer of 1868 he returned to Mass., and engaged with his father in ship building; in 1871 was chosen one of the board of city assessors, in which position he served four years; in the fall of 1875 he was chosen to represent the Fifth Essex District in the General Assembly of Mass., and served one term; came to Joplin in February, 1877, and engaged in mining. In November, 1880, he was elected to represent Jasper county in the thirty-first General Assembly of Mo. In Sept., 1881, he entered the employ of the Southwest Lead & Zinc Co., which had just been organized, and shortly after was chosen secretary of the Southwest Lead & Zinc Association, composed of all the mining and smelting companies in southwest Missouri and southeast Kansas. Col. Preston was married in Beverly, Mass., in Dec, 1867, to Miss Lydia S., daughter of Andrew and Abbie (LeFavour) Larcon of that city. Mrs. Preston was born in 1849, and is a descendant of the French refugees from Acadia. Col. P. is a desendant of Daniel Preston, who came from England in 1629 and settled in the colony of Massachusetts Bay. From this union there have been three children. One died in infancy, not named; David LeFavour, born in Jefferson City, Mo., in February, 1881, died in August, 1881; Richard J., born in Joplin Sept. 16,1882. Col. and Mrs. Preston are members of the Baptist Church, and are highly esteemed by all with whom they are engaged in social and business relations. Col. P. has membership in the Masonic and I. O. O. F. fraternities.