Following from William's pension papers:
William Preston was born in Coshocton Co., Ohio on August 27th, 1844. He
was born to John PRESTON and Margaret M. Copeland. Both parents were
born in Ohio. William married Mary Jane Robinson in Bethany, Harrison,
Missouri on June 6th, 1864. The marriage was performed by Alpheno Minear, a minister. This was William's only marriage.
William was 5'6" tall with blue eyes, dark hair and fair complexion. He
was a farmer by trade. He was known to friends as a sober, frugal,
industrious, and moral man without any vicious habits.
William joined the army on June 4th, 1864 at Bethany, Harrison,
Missouri.
He served in the Union Army as a private in Co. G. 6th Reg., Missouri G. M.
and also in Co. C. 13th Regt., Missouri Vol. Cavalry under Capt. C. S.
Morris.
He was discharged at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas on May 12, 1866. He had
sustained injuries to his right index finger and his breast while in the military.
William and Mary Jane had three children Mina Belle born June 29th, 1873,
George Winfred born November 7th, 1875, and Robert Elvess born July 10th,
1881.
William was in poor health after his discharge from the army. He had
trouble with rheumatism, headaches,heart, kidney and stomach trouble. He had
also had suffered sunstroke. Near his death, he was in a soldiers home at
Hot Springs, Arkansas. He then was in a hospital in Lincoln, Nebraska. He
returned to Fairbury, Nebraska and died at the Lynch Hospital on March 14,
1915 at the age of 70. Mary Jane travelled to Fairbury to be with William
but arrived on March 15th, one day after his death. The death certificate
shows he died of apoplexy. He was living at the following places:
Age: Place:
20 Bethany, Harrison Co., Missouri
Nevsho Co., Kansas
Harrison Co., Missouri
Saline Co., Nebraska
62 Rexford, Thomas Co., Kansas
Mary Jane was residing in Ava, Douglas Co., Missouri in 1915 after his death.
