The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1900-09-16

HISTORICAL SKETCHES AND REMI-
NISCENCES OF AN OCTOGENARIAN.
BY Thomas L. Preston. 3. f. Johnson
Publishing Company, Richmond, Va.
1900.
Just as bricks must be made and TIM
Der dressed before a house can be built,
so it is necessary-if the complete edi-
flee of Virginias history is to be erected
that the materials for that history should
be collected and shaped by investigators
of the deeds, manners, and customs of the
people of the different counties and towns.
Local history does not, of course, furnish
all the materials for general history, but
it does furnish very important materials,
and should therefore be assiduously Gull
tivated by those who have the necessary
capacity, time and opportunities Some
thing has been done for the locfa history
of Eastern Virginia, but less for that of
the Western portion of the State: and,
as most of the authors who have written
on the general history of Virginia have
been fasteners, the influence of WESTERN
ers on the fortunes of the Commonwealth
has not been sufficiently recognized or &C
knowledged.
Every lover of impartial justice and
historic accuracy must therefore well
come the Sketches and "reminiscences
of the venerable Col. Thomas L. Preston
a true gentleman "of the old school, not
| merely by birth and manners, but in the
very core of his heart; and this means
among other things, that he is the soul
of honor and truth and Justice and that
he may be implicitly trusted to make no
statements OF the truth of which he has
not convinced himself by conscientious
investigat ton
The facts stated in the Sketches and
"reminiscences are derived partly from
standard authorities. partly from the
COlonePs own observation and retentive
memory, and partly from well-establish-
ed traditions in the families from which
he is descended To name some of his
most eminent kinsmcn. therefore, will be
to give some Of the sources of his narra-
tive. and also to indicate partly its ma
ture.
Col. Thomas l.. Preston is brother of
the gifted orator and soldier. Gen. John
S Preston Of Beauregard's staff and
also a brother OF the still more famous
orator ana scholar. William O. Preston,
who settled in South Carolina ana Ionr
renresanted that State IN the limited
States Senate. He is a son of General
Francis Preston. who served in hnth
branches of the State LEGISLATURE and in
Congress. and who was the friend ana
CORRESPONDENT of MARSHALL jefferson
Madison and Monroe. He is a grandson.
of Col. Wm. Preston a nenhew of Col
lanes Patton. the discoverer and manor
of the Cumberland maintains and river,
who VaS ono of the surveyors that ac-
cnmnanied WASHINGTON in some of his
expeditions. and was a gallant Indian
fighter and Revolutionary soldier He is
also q grandson of General William
Campbell. the hero of Kings Mountain.
and he is the creat-nepElew OF Patrick
Henry. whasc sister married General
Campbell. The latters father. Major
Charles Campbell. was one of the sur
veyors who accnmnaniea Col. Patton on
his eyploring expedition. and his mother
was the sister of John buchanan. the
other. who married Pntton's daughter.
BEING thus closely related to alI those
carly exnlorers.a Col Preston fyr'inse own
life reaches back nearly 50 years. is able
to carrect the errors Of other HISTORIANS
, as to the early explorations surveys AMI
land grants and TO give many hitherto
unpublished facts in regard to the early
history Of Southwestern Virginia-nota-
hlv of the town Of abingdon, of which
he is the Oldest living native. and of the
far,oss Salt Works Of smvfhe county,
!, which We're once under his own mana no
nent. Students of economic history will
find in his book interesting Elinpses into
the agricultural, mercantile and nlanufac-
ing conditions of the early days: while
those interested in maners and customs
will End entertaining enac1otes iIlustrat-
ing the traits, the WAYS and the sllnerst:-
tions cf the n1nuntaipeers. Lovers oe
scenery will also be charmed by the Col
! onafs desciiption of the SURPRISINGLY
| beautiful valley in which the SILT Works
sssare sitfates: mhi'e others will nrnhah1y
gain Their chief pleasure from the ac-