| Notes |
- John Preston, son of John Preston, was born in Salem 1821 and died in that city, August 21, 1891.
For many years he carried on a bakery, was perhaps one of the most widely known business men in the city, and doubtless he was best known to the people of the vicinity by reason of his long service of more than forty years in the capacity of overseer of the poor, in which he dispensed alms not alone from the public funds but from his own purse as well, and during the period of his ownership of the bakery thousands of needy persons were supplied from his store and no charge whatever was made of the matter.
For many years, it was his custom to provide a substantial repast for the unfortunate inmates of the city almshouse on both Thanksgiving and Christmas days, and he always took especial pleasure in being able to relieve distress among the sick and needy families of the city.
For many years, too, he was a member of the school committee and gave efficient service in advancing the educational work of the city schools, and when he finally retired from the board he was presented with a gold-headed cane by the teachers of the public schools as a token of their esteem for him. Mr Preston was an earnest member of the Tabernacle Church and a regular attendant at the usual weekly services.
Source : Genealogical and Personal Memoirs Relating to the Families of Boston and Eastern Massachusetts
by William Richard Cutter
Published in 1908
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1821 - 1891 (70 years)
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