John Smith Preston (1809 - 1881)

Born 20 Apr 1809 in Abingdon, Washington County, Virginia

Ancestors

Husband of Caroline Martha Hampton — married 28 Apr 1830 in Columbia, South Carolina

Died 1 May 1881 at age 72 in Columbia, Richland County, South Carolina

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Biography

John Smith Preston was a wealthy planter, soldier, and attorney who became prominent in South Carolina politics in the 19th century. An ardent secessionist, he was the state's delegate dispatched to help convince the Virginia Secession Convention to join South Carolina in seceding from the antebellum Union in the months prior to the start of the American Civil War.^[1]

During the early part of the war, Preston served as an aide to General P G T Beauregard. He later accepted a commission as an officer in the Confederate Army and headed the bureau of conscription in Richmond. In 1864 he was promoted to Brigadier General. After the war, Preston traveled to England, not returning to the United States until 1868.^[1]

John passed away in 1881. Final resting place in Trinity Episcopal Cathedral Cemetery, Columbia, South Carolina.^[2]

Sources

1. ↑ ^{1.0 1.1} John S Preston, Wikipedia.org, accessed April 21, 2020.
2. ↑ John Smith Preston, Find A Grave: Memorial #9085, accessed April 21, 2020.

• John Smith Preston, FamilySearch.org, accessed April 21, 2020.
• This person was created through the import of LaBach Family TreeApril28_2011.ged on 05 May 2011. User ID: FAA9852A4DCD4647817C3854E875FF79576B