The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1901-03-12
Mr.. W. c. PRESTON
DIES SUDDENLY
Expired Sunday Night After Illness
of Few Days.
BUSY AND USEFUL CAREER.
One of The Most Prominent Members of the
Richmond Bar and Actively Interested in
Business aid Educational lnstitu-
t;ons- Mr. n. Ezekiel Dead.

Mr.. William g Preston died at his resi-
dence. No. alS Fark Avenue, at a quarter
to eight o'cIoci, on Sunday night.
This announcement came yesterday as
a great shock to a large circle of &C
ouaintances anu friends. BY far the
largest number of his business associates
had received no intimation of the serious
ness of his condition. and were entirely
unprepared fer the news of his death.
After a bus day at his office on Tues
day last, Mr.. Preston spent the evening at
en- entertainment and not until after reilr-
Ing did he feel any premonitions of APP
preaching illness. About O'Clock We'd
nesday morning he was taken sick For
n day or two il was regarded as a mia
Ease Of pneumonia, which would keep him
indoors for some days. But by Thurs
day night and Friday the symptoms OF
pneumonia had become moro pronounced.
The patients condition was regarded as
serious on Saturday During Sunday he
was evidently losing ground. and little
before eight o'clock that night there was
a sudden sinking spell. occaSioned by
heart failure which brought the end.
SKETCH OF HIS LIFE.
Mr.. Preston was the son Of the
late Rev. Thomas Lewis Preston, D D.,
who from 1858 TO 1883 WAS pastor Of the
First Presbyterian Church Of Richmond.
His grandfather was Colonel John L l..
Preston, for many years connected with
the Virginia. Military Institute al Lexing-
ton Colonel Preston second wife was
Mrs Margaret Preston. the pOeteSS of
the South and the Southern Cause.
Through his fathers family Mr. Preston
,ras related to a number of Virginia fami-
lies. among them the Prestons. Cookies.
Lewises. Floyds and BreckenridSes- His
I-,o,i1er was Miss Lucy Waddell, OF
wayncsboro. Va In addition to his mother
who is still living. he leaves brother. Mr.
John Preston. of I1ocltbTidsc county: and
four sisters Mrs. Lucy White and Misses
Daisy, Sallic and Nettie Preston, OF LEX
inG1on.
The deceased was in his fortieth year
lie graduated at Washington and Lee
University. both in the academic ana ia"
departments He entered upon the prac-
tice of law in Richmond in 1854. For ten
wears he practiced alone. In 1891 he form
81, a partnership with Mr. j. Jordan
I,eake and since that date the firm has
practiced as Preston & Leake.
In 1857 Mr. Preston married Miss Eliza
beth Myers. daughter OF Major Il. j. IL.
MYERS. of this city. who survives MN.
He leaves -four children, Two SONS ana
TWO daughters
INTEREST IN LARGE ENTERPRISES.
In the death of William C Preston.
Richmond loses a valuable citizen and
the Richmond bar member OF the first
standing Fer a number OF years
he had been closely Identified with
several of the business interests which
have operated TO the upbuildiuS of Rich
r1ond. When a few years ago the move
.nent was inaueuratcd looking To the es-
tahlishmcnt OF the shipbuilding industry
here. he was one of the primo
movers. no one laborcd more earnestly
ar zca1ously for the success Of this i'm
T,ortant southern enterprise. Associated
with Mr. William Il. TrSS from the in
ceprion of the movement Mr.. Preston
held Tho position of secretary Of the
TriEC Shippuildng Company. and had an
important place in the shaping OF its
1lans and tho direction Of its operations.
For several Years he had been prom
incntly- identified with the interests CT
,he Atlantic Coast Line Railroad Com
many and The Richmond. Fredericksburg
and Potomac Railroad Company. and
had held the position OF couhsel
for the latter company. His relation to
these railroad interests, however mas
been Of a more close and Intimate char
acter man this would indicate.
As a lawyer Mr.. Preston commanded
The absolute confidence and respect of
those who We're associated with hlm IN
Tho varied relations Of business. He was
regarded as i lawyer OF ability and the