From Memorial and Genealogical Record of Dodge and Jefferson Counties, Wisconsin, publ. 
1894 - Page 190-192
 
LEANDER P. PRESTON.  This gentleman has been a resident of Dodge County, Wis., since 
1843, but owes his nativity to Otsego County, N.Y., where he was born March 9, 1818, a son of 
Daniel PRESTON, of Tolland County, Conn., the latter and his father being soldiers in the 
Revolutionary War and participants in the battle of Long Island, in which the grandfather was 
killed. While Daniel PRESTON was endeavoring to make his escape during the retreat at that 
engagement, he was personally assisted by Gen. Washington.  He was also at Brandywine and 
in numerous other important engagements of that great war.  He served until the surrender of 
Cornwallis and for his services received a pension.  After the war he settled in Otsego County, 
N.Y., and there married Esther CUMMINGS, a native of Connecticut, who was born and reared 
near her husband's birthplace.  Her mother was widowed during the Revolution and her 
residence was burned by the British at New London.  Mrs. PRESTON was engaged in teaching 
during the early part of her life, and after her marriage assisted Mr. PRESTON in clearing and 
improving a good farm in Otsego County.  At the age of ten years Leander P. PRESTON went to 
live with a brother, with whom he remained until he was twenty-one years old, during which time 
he learned the clothier's trade.  For two years thereafter he worked in the woolen mills of Unadilla 
Forks, receiving for his services $28 per month and his board and washing, and on April 12, 
1843, he was married to Miss Eunice BLOOMFIELD, a native of Warren, Herkimer County, and a 
daughter of Samuel BLOOMFIELD.  May 16 following their marriage he started from Herkimer 
County for Buffalo, where he took a boat for Milwaukee, where he arrived June 1, 1843.  From 
this point he went to Burlington, Iowa, visited Beloit and Whitewater, thence to Galena and from 
there to Nauvoo, Ill., visiting the temple of the Mormons, then returned to Burlington, Iowa.  He 
then went to Carthage, Ill., thence to Springfield, then to Peoria, and there Mr. PRESTON was 
introduced to Abraham Lincoln and Stephen A. Douglas, who were making political speeches 
there at the time as delegates to Congress.  He then returned to Milwaukee via Chicago and from 
there came to Dodge County and here remained a short time.
 
He then returned to New York via the lakes and Erie Canal, there he packed his household 
effects, and with his family once more started West, bringing with him a new wagon, some tools, 
an ox yoke, and various other things that were hard to obtain here.  He purchased a fine yoke of 
oxen with a shingled roof had been erected, and there was engaged in farming for seven years.  
He then sold out and bought some land warrants, but built a residence in Waupun, and for three 
years thereafter was on the road selling farming implements and engaged in collection.  He then 
bought a farm just outside the limits of Waupun, containing eighty acres, and was there engaged 
in agricultural pursuits for twenty years but made his home in town during this time.  In the spring 
of 1866 he bought his present farm of 242 acres, and was engaged in tilling it up to 1878, when 
he sold 200 acres, and having previously sold twenty-two acres now has a neat little place of 
twenty acres and a comfortable and pretty home.  He and his wife reared eight children: William 
H., who at the age of seventeen years joined Company D, Third Wisconsin Infantry, served until 
wounded at Antietam, when he was discharged.  After recovering he re-enlisted in January 1864, 
and served until the close, being with Sherman in his memorable march to the sea.  He was 
discharged at Louisville in June 1865, and now resides in West Salem, Wis.; Martha J. is the wife 
of J. E. ACKERMAN, and resides at Valley Junction, Wis.; Allie died in early childhood; Mary 
Angelia is the wife of George SCOATES, of Red Wood Falls, Minn.; Eugene B. is a farmer of Red 
Wood Falls, Minn.; Emma is at home; Frank L. died in infancy; Hattie L. is the wife of Frank E. 
RIDER and resides in Elgin, Ill., having been a teacher prior to her marriage; Margaret F. died in 
1893, and Fred A. resides in Ripon.  Mr. and Mrs. PRESTON and their daughters are members of 
the Waupun Congregational Church, and Mrs. PRESTON is one of the original members of that 
church.  Mr. PRESTON has aided in the growth and development of this section and has been 
active in making the county what it is today.  He possesses all the attributes of noble citizenship 
and has been of great benefit to this section, in which he has resided for the past fifty-one years.
 
Submitted by Carol