BIO: THOMAS W. PRESTON, M. D., Cumberland County, Pennsylvania
   
  Contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by Joe Patterson
  OCRed by Judy Banja

  Copyright 2004.  All rights reserved.
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  _____________________________________________________________

  >From Biographical Annals of Cumberland County, Pennsylvania,
  Chicago: The Genealogical Publishing Co., 1905, pages 188-190
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  NOTE: Use this web address to access other bios:
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    THOMAS W. PRESTON, M. D., an able physician and graduate of the University
  of Pennsylvania, who for the past eight years has been practicing at
  Middlesex, was born in Canada, in the County of Halton, Province of Ontario,
  March 6, 1856. His father, James S. Preston, was for over thirty years
  prominent in the medical profession. He came of English stock, of a family
  located near Lancaster, England, and his an-
    
  189 CUMBERLAND COUNTY.
    
  cestors came to America in 1817, settling in Canada. His wife, who was a
  Miss Isabella Hall, was likewise of English extraction.

   Thomas W. Preston passed his boyhood in the county of Halton, attending the
  public schools there until he was twelve years of age. Two years later the
  family left Canada, and spent four years in New Garden, N. C., where the
  young man continued his studies in the Friends College at that place. When he
  was seventeen years of age his father became the head of a sanitarium at
  Wernersville, Pa., remaining there one year. The following year, however, the
  family returned to Canada and remained there five years, or until 1879, in the
  course of which time Thomas W. took the collegiate work prescribed in
  Woodstock College. His first essay in the practice of medicine was made in
  Canada in 1879, under Dr. Buck, of Palermo, Ont., and from then on till the
  winter of 188o, he was thus occupied. Returning then to Wernersville, he
  assisted hisfather in the Sunny Side Sanitarium, till February, 1881, when he
  went to Michigan, and established himself there. In a very few months he was
  called back to Wernersville by the illness of his father, and until the death
  of the latter in the spring of 1882, took his place in conducting the
  sanitarium.
 
    The following May Dr. Preston again went to Michigan, and for more than
  four years was located at Carsonville, Sanilac county, remaining there till
  December, 1886. During his residence there he also engaged in mercantile
  business, but was burnt out in 1886, and lost everything. Discouraged by this
  misfortune he gave up all thought of continuing in business, went to New York
  for graduate work, and was there studying from December till the following
  April. In October, 1887, Dr. Preston settled in Philadelphia, and remained
  there in practice sev-
    
  CUMBERLAND COUNTY.  190
    
  eral years, but finally removed to Middlesex, Pa., on account of the health
  of his family, and has been there for the last nine years. Dr. Preston's
  marriage occurred in 1886, in Canada, when he was united to Miss Louisa D.
  Brandreth. The Doctor, as well as his wife, is a member of the Baptist
  Church. In his political sentiments, he is strongly Republican. He is a
  member of the Masonic order and belongs to the Cumberland county and State
  Medical Societies. Dr. Preston deserves great credit for his successful
  struggle with the world. He is strictly a self-made man who has worked his
  own way to his present position in the profession. He is a most skillful
  physician, thoroughly posted on eminent medical topics and in close touch
  with the professional thought of the day.