My Genealogy Hound

THOMAS W. PRESTON, M. D., an able physician and graduate of the University of Pennsylvania, who for the past eight years has been practicing at Middlesex, was born in Canada, in the County of Halton, Province of Ontario, March 6, 1856. His father, James S. Preston, was for over thirty years prominent in the medical profession. He came of English stock, of a family located near Lancaster, England, and his ancestors came to America in 1817, settling in Canada. His wife, who was a Miss Isabella Hall, was likewise of English extraction.

Thomas W. Preston passed his boyhood in the county of Halton, attending the public schools there until he was twelve years of age. Two years later the family left Canada, and spent four years in New Garden, N. C., where the young man continued his studies in the Friends College at that place. When he was seventeen years of age his father became the head of a sanitarium at Wernersville, Pa., remaining there one year. The following year, however, the family returned to Canada and remained there five years, or until 1879, in the course of which time Thomas W. took the collegiate work prescribed in Woodstock College. His first essay in the practice of medicine was made in Canada in 1879, under Dr. Buck, of Palermo, Ont., and from then on till the winter of 1880, he was thus occupied. Returning then to Wernersville, he assisted his father in the Sunny Side Sanitarium, till February, 1881, when he went to Michigan, and established himself there. In a very few months he was called back to Wernersville by the illness of his father, and until the death of the latter in the spring of 1882, took his place in conducting the sanitarium.

The following May Dr. Preston again went to Michigan, and for more than four years was located at Carsonville, Sanilac county, remaining there till December, 1886. During his residence there he also engaged in mercantile business, but was burnt out in 1886, and lost everything. Discouraged by this misfortune he gave up all thought of continuing in business, went to New York for graduate work, and was there studying from December till the following April. In October, 1887, Dr. Preston settled in Philadelphia, and remained there in practice several years. but finally removed to Middlesex, Pa., on account of the health of his family, and has been there for the last nine years. (1904).

Dr. Preston’s marriage occurred in 1886, in Canada, when he was united to Miss Louisa D. Brandreth. The Doctor, as well as his wife, is a member of the Baptist Church. In his political sentiments, he is strongly Republican. He is a member of the Masonic order and belongs to the Cumberland county and State Medical Societies. Dr. Preston deserves great credit for his successful struggle with the world. He is strictly a self-made man who has worked his own way to his present position in the profession. He is a most skillful physician, thoroughly posted on eminent medical topics and in close touch with the professional thought of the day.