Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1890-07-23
Death of Col. John 7. L. Preston.

UedJu OOls JUuu ~ IOcuUu'
A distinguished man in letters, with high
attachments as professor and teacher OF
languages and rhetorical leader in Christian
work, pillar in the Presbyterian Church,
and an exemplar in the progress of great
community, passed to his final rest at Lex
iugton, the home of his life, on the night
Of the 10Th instant, at the ripe old age OF
YEARS. His death occurred just four
months after that of his colleague and
friend of fifty years. General Francis q.
Smith, with whom he was associated in the
establishment, under State Authority, of
the Virginia Military Institute in 1889.
Colonel Preston was a member of the
distinguished family of his name. His
father was Thomas L. Preston, of Mont
gomery, afterwards Of Rockbridge, who
was a captain in the United States army,
and as a member Of the Virginia Legisla.
ture was the author Of the resolutions oil
that body sustaining President Maidstone
war policy, and grandson of Colonel Will
liam Preston, of Augusta county, member
of the House of Burgesses of the Colony,
and Colonel in the Indian wars of the Revo-
luton. His mother was daughter oil
Edmond Randolph, Attorney-General OF
the United States from 1889 to 1894.
Colonel Preston graduated at Washing,
ton College now Washington & Leo Uni.
versity) 1S27-'2s. In the graduating class
were the late Judge Francis T. Anderson,
James D. Davidson, and DR.. Socrates
Maupin, in all nineteen, of whom but two
or three, if any, are now living. He quail.
fed himself for the practice of law, but
shortly thereafter abandoned it for the
profession with which his name is indis.
solubly associated in a grand era in the
history of the State.
About 1920, the State established an
arsenal of arms for military defence al
Lexington, and placed there company Of
regulars as the guard. About 1886, in the
Franklin Literary Society of Lexington,
then in prosperous existence. Colonel
Preston introduced the proposition for dis.
cussio6 tss4gQring the conversion of the
Arsenal to the purposes ct a milltery schoo9
to teach the branches of learning as after.
wards adopted-the cadets to become the
guard of the public property. He was
thoroughly equipped for the debate and
carried his point. The matter excited
much interest in the community and
throughout the State. Colonel Preston,
further discussed the matter in the loca
and State press, and also appeared before
the committee of the. Legislature having
the subject before them for report to the
whole body. The proposition became law
and the Board of Visitors we're appointed
with the late Colonel Crozet President Of
the body, to establish the Virginia Military
Institute, appoint the officers, and set it te
work. General Smith was appointed
Superintendent with duties as a professor,
and Colonel Preston professor, ranking
next to General Smith, and on the 18th Of
| November, 1889, the work of his life as
teacher and instructor of the youth of Vir
ginia and other States commenced and con
tinued actively for nearly fifty years. witt
the results which have passed into history
When it is said that for fifty years OF
more Colonel Preston was an Elder in the
Lexington Presbyterian Church, and al
exemplar in Christian work and n main
tanning the doctrines and progress of the
denomination in it's legislative assemblages
and government, those who did not know
him can form an opinion Of his fine attain
ments for the discharge of the important
stations which he was called to fill through
the love and confidence of his brethren.
Colonel Preston was twice married; frs
to Miss Caruthers, of Lexington. Miss
Margaret ]. Preston, the second wife, who
survives him, was the daughter of Rev. DR.
Junkin, former President of Washington
College. Rev. Thos. L. Preston, D. D..
pastor of the Lexington Presbyterian
Chnrch, is his eldest SOD, Rev. John A
Preston, of Florence, Ala, is another son
Three others were killed or died from
effects of service in the Confederate army
a younger one is member of the lega
profession of Baltimore, and another of thu
medical, of Philadelphia. The late Colonel
William Allan, whose memory is SO affec
tonately cherished in the valley O
his birth, was son-in-law, and Cap
tain Edmund R. Cooke, of Cumberland
c}unty, leading farmer and popular citi
zen, is another soE-in-law.
The funeral services took place during
the forenoon of the 18th, Revs. D. A.
Penick, D. W. Shanks, D. D., and D. e.
Irwin, officiating.
The faculties of the Virginia Military In
ssitute ard Washington & Lee University
and the citizens generally in large numbers
attended.