Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1873-05-20
NUMBER SO.

joined the Walker movement as a moderate
or True Republican. in oppositiont to Wells and
the extreme Radicals and was by that coalition
elected member of the United State SEN
ate. After that be came out in support OF
the most extreme Radical measures and has
since acted with that wing of his party. His
brother, Charles Lewis, took the Union side
In 1865, and was made Secretary by Gov. Pier
pont and has since been U. S. Minister to Por-
| tugal. Senator Lewis has the tall form and
/! determined features Of the family. Is known
| as strictly honest and fair dealing man; is
said to be SO good 'bater" that DR.. johnson
would have loved him. and is firm friend,
and, outside of politics, he responds promptly
to any call from his Conservative constituents
and goes for the general interests Of the State.
Rev. j. @. Wheat, Of this City, married q sis.
ter of Senator Lewis and Mr.. Lewis daughter
married son of Hon. John Minor Botts The
| Cochrans of Augusta, became connected
with the Levises by the marriage of Addison
| Cochran, ESD, to Miss Lewis aud through
! them the Crawford family. Other members
| of the Lewis family intermarried with the great
Preston family and will be noticed in the record
OF thai large coDnexion.
The PRESTON FAMILY.
| Probably no County in Virginia (which has
| furnished more distinguished men for the num-
| Der inhabitants than any other State on the
Continent) car show brighter galaxy of noble
| sons, descendants from its first settlers, than
Augusta, and surely no family connexion has
| greater reason to be proud OF its heads than
| the descendants of j ohm and Elizabeth Preston.
They are so numerous and SO widely scattered
over the United States that we can merely re-
fer to portion Of them By name and try to
give good general idea of the line of descent
aud the additions by marriage and intermarri-
age.
John Preston, the first of the family who
came to America, was born In Londonderry,
Ireland, and his father and three uncles were
Engishman, who served under King William
during the terrible siege of that City By King
James. He was Presbyterian and man Of
strong mind and sound principles. He mar
RED Elizabeth Patton, sister of Col. James
Patton of Donegal, with whom he removed to
Virginia in l740. Col. Patton was commander
of a merchant ship-a man of property, enter
prise and influence. He obtained for himself
and associates grant from the Governor and
Council of Virginia for 120,O 900 acres of the
best lands lying above the Blue Ridge, several
tracks falling TO the share OF his descendants.
He was killed by Indians at Smith6eld, Va,
IN 1883. He left two daughters, one of whom
married Captain VIM. Thompson, and the 9TH
er Col. John Buchanan, one of the first Ves-
trymen OF the Parish of Augusta. From Col.
Buchanan are descended Governor John B.
Floyd of Virginia, James D. BTeckinridge, NJ.
o., of Kentucky, and the late Col. w. P. An
derson, Of u. s. A. John Preston lost part of
bis property In storm on his passage to Va,
but being an associate he obtained, from the
grant before mentioned, a valuable tract of land
called "R0blnson's," which descended to his
son, VIM. Preston, and, until recently, remain
ed In the family. He resided first at Spring
Hill. Augusta county, but about the year 1743,
be purchased and settled On the Spring Farm
tract of land IN the suburbs Of Staunton, now
owned by the estate Of w. w. Donaghe, decd,
which has recently been surveyed for an addi-
ton to the City. He died in l747, and was
buried at Thinking Spring Church, eight miles
from Ssaunton- He lett widow and five
children, who continued to reside at Spring
Farm until the children were all educated and
married, when she moved to Springfield, Mont
gomeIy county, the residence of her son, Col.
Preston, where she died In l776, aged 76.
The Parish records and cotemporary history
and tradition, which is generally the best his.
tory, show that j John Preston was one of the
truest patriots and best of citizens, and man
OF enlarged and liberal views. He was noted
for his piety, Christian charity, open-hauded
hospitality and courage. In all the Offices of
trust he held he did his duty faithfully, aud he
died mourned by all and disliked By none. The
peculiar carriage and dignity Of his manner
has descended in marked degree to his chill
dren to the third and fourth generation, and
to be Preston is almost Synonymous with be-
ing gentleman. La his case, at least, the tab
let erected to his memory by his descendants,
at linking Spring Church, In 1855, is most
truthful and appropriate.
1t is marble obelisk, inscribed as follows
West side
TO COMMEMORATE THE VIRTUES
OF
JOHN PRESTON,
WHO WAS BURIED HERE IN TEE YEAR
1747.
(South side.)
TO ATTEST THE FILIAL PIETY OF HIS
DESCENDANTS,
IN THE THIRD AND FOURTH GENERATIONS,
Of many Names and Scattered thro many States
East side.)
And, more than all, to Record
THE FAITHFULNEss AND MERCY OF GOD
To the Seed Of the Righteous,
North Side.)
THIS MONUMENT WAS ERECTED, BY THE
MEMBERS OF THE
PRESTON FAMILY,
in the year Of our Lord,
1856.
A RADICAL NEWSPAPERS Tribute TO
Rol A