Isaac B. Preston
Isaac B. Preston, former mayor of Clifton and for years engaged in the milling business in that village, proprietor of the water-power flour-mill that was established there in 1892, and who also furnishes the electric power for the villages of Clifton, Cedarville and Yellow Springs, is a native of Missouri, born in Mercer county in that state, January 10, 1868. Mr. Preston has always been connected with the flour-milling business, as were his father and his grandfather before him, and in all his housekeeping career he has never had to buy flour but once, and on that occasion a twelve-and-a-half-pound sack of flour tided him over the emergency. His father, Jesse Preston, was born at Bloomington, Illinois, in 1831, his father at that time being there engaged in the milling business, one of the pioneer millers of that section of Illinois.
Jesse Preston grew up to the milling business and when twenty years of age became thus engaged on his own account. He married Eliza Bryan, who was born in Tennessee, and in the '50s located in Mercer county, Missouri, where he became a miller, later moving to Barry county, in that same state, where he had a mill eight miles south of Cassville. Jesse Preston died in 1891. His wife died in the year 1878. They were the parents of eight children, of whom the subject of this sketch was the fifth in order of birth, the others being William, who died in youth; Anna, who also died in youth; Matilda, who died in 1888; Sherman, a machinist, now living in California, who married Angie Quinn and has two children; Ada Carohne, who married E. J. Tartar, a blacksmith, now living at Vinita, Oklahoma, and has eight children; Berry J., unmarried, who is engaged in the milling business with his brother Isaac at Clifton, and Anna (second), who died when a young girl.
Isaac B. Preston was fifteen years of age when his parents moved from Mercer to Barry county, Missouri, in 1883, and he there grew up to the milling business, continuing there thus engaged, in the mill eight miles south of Cassville, for twenty-five years, at the end of which time he disposed of his interests there and came to Ohio, locating at Clifton, where he bought the water-power mill and has since been engaged in the milling business at that place. The Clifton mills were established at the fine water power at that site many years ago and the present mill is the third that has been erected at that site. Mr. Preston took charge of his present property there on April 3, 1907, and has since then made many improvements to the industry. In addition to his flour-milling business he is also operating, by the same water power, a saw-mill, stone crusher and an electric-light plant, from which latter the villages of Clifton, Cedarville and Yellow Springs derive their light. Mr. Preston is a Democrat and during his residence in Missouri for years held the position as committeeman from his home precinct. Upon coming to Greene county he continued his interest in political affairs and is now a member of the county Democratic central committee. During the term 1913-14 he served as mayor of the town of Clifton. Mr. Preston was made a Mason in 1889, made an Odd Fellow in that same year and in 1907, the year of his arrival at Clifton, became a member of the local lodge of the Knights of Pythias at that place. He also is a member of the United Commercial Travelers Association.
On October 18, 1888, in Barry county, Missouri, Isaac B. Preston was united in marriage to Edith M. Hartley, who was born in Delaware county, this state, but who in 1887 had moved to Missouri with her parents, the Rev. B. W. Hartley and wife, the former of whom was a minister of the Methodist Episcopal church, and to this union two children have been born, Cleo F., born on August 24, 1889, and Chester M., June 24, 1891. Cleo F. Preston married Fred W. Corry, of this county, who is now engaged in the milling business with Mr. Preston, and has three sons, Preston, Dewitt R. and Chester. Chester M. Preston, who also is engaged with his father in the milling business at Clifton, in 1912 married Ruth Corry, daughter of Robert E. Corry, a member of the present board of county commissioners, and to this union two children have been born, one an infant who died at birth, and Robert Chester, born on April 7, 1918. The Prestons are members of the Presbyterian church.
From History of Greene County Ohio, Its People, Industries and Institutions, vol. 2. M.A.Broadstone, editor. B.F.Bowen & Co., Indianapolis. 1918