This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can usually download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1917 edition. Excerpt: ... ton. He is a man of enterprise and keen foresight. He is among the early settlers worthy of representation in the history of his chosen county, and has been actively identified with the development of the eastern part of the county for many years. Mr. Preston was born in Bradford County, Pennsylvania, on July 16, 1837. He received his education in the public school of his native State, and was reared on a farm. In 1864 he came west via the Isthmus of Panama and found employment at ranching in Nevada. On election day, 1864, he came to California, and in 1865 he located in eastern Contra Costa County. When he located on his present farm there were no houses between his place and Antioch. Mr. Preston was united in marriage to Melissa Woodard, a native of Pennsylvania, in October, 1859, and her death occurred on February 1, 1917. To this union there were seven children--Francis M., born January 23, 1861, married Ida Buress of Bay Point, and their two children are Marion and Lloyd; Eva Sarah, born October 23, 1869, was united in marriage to Frank M. May, and their children are Marjorie and Evelyn; Rosa May, born February 13, 1872, and married George Daunt of Petaluma, and they have one daughter, Dorothea; Ida, wife of W. H. Engle, of Oakland, was born November 20, 1873; Jennie, born November 10, 1875, and died September 8, 1902; Bertha Anna, born March 8, 1879, and married Leslie V. Richardson on August 27, 1902, and has two children, Reginald and Gwendolyn; Mott C., born July 16, 1882, and married Winifred Shafer on October 12, 1904. Mr. Preston has always been energetic and ambitious, and is a typical representative of a self-made man, and has always had the respect and esteem of his fellow-men. In 1904 Mr. Preston retired, and has spent...