Slocum, History of the Maumee River Basin ... (1905)

This page supports the series, "Sheriff William Preston's identity crisis."

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Charles Elihu Slocum (1841-1915), History of the Maumee River basin from the earliest account to its organization into counties (Indianapolis: Bowen & Slocum, 1905), pp. title, 524, 528, 530.

(1) p. 524 [Click here] "Several of the soldiers who served at Fort Winchester and along the the Maumee in the War of 1812 returned to Defiance and its vicinity at the close of the war. Among those who returned in 1815-1815 as settlers in the true sense and were the first to occupy the buildings of Fort Winchester after their abandonment by the soldiers, were John and William Preston [*] brothers; James Partee, John Plummer, John Perkins, and Montgomery Evans …"

"John Preston married a daughter of Judge Ewing of Troy, Ohio. He died about the year 1820. William Preston became the first sheriff in this part of Ohio in 1824. He married a Miss Butler whose brothers dwelt at the site of the present Florida, Henry County. He removed to a a farm in St. Joseph Township, Williams County, probably in 1827, where he died about 1828. His surname is perpetuated at Defiance in island and creek or 'run.' John Perkins came from near Chillicothe, and dwelt some years at Camp No. Three … "

"[*] It is supposed that this William was the Captain Preston with General Wayne's army, see ante pages 201, 202."

(2) p. 528 [Click here] "At the organization of Wood County in 1820, the outlined Counties of Henry, Paulding, Putnam and Williams (then including Defiance) were attached to Wood for government. The Commissioners of Wood County organized the Township of Auglaise to include the territory of all these Counties. The Court appointed March 7, 1820, John Perkins and William Preston of Defiance Justices of the Peace in and for Auglaise Township for a period of three years, the former qualifying August 12th before Charles Gunn Justice of the Peace, and the latter the 14th August before John Perkins. Timothy S. Smith and Charles Gunn were appointed in April, 1823, in place of William Preston ..."

"Williams County was organized for self-government February 2, 1824, and the Counties of Henry, Pauling and Putnam were attached to it for their government. Defiance was chosen the seat of government by an Act of the Legislature January 13, 1825. The first Court of Common Pleas for these counties was held at Defiance April 5, 1824, in the second store of Benjamin Leavell's store, by the appointed Ebenezer Lane as Presiding Judge. Associate Judges Robert Shirley, John Perkins and Pierce Evens, whose commissions from the Governor were signed February 4th. ….The other county officers had been named, as follows: Timothy S. Smith, Auditor; William Preston Sheriff, and Samuel Vance Assessor. …"

(3) p. 529 [Click here] "The County Commissioners, appointed by the Ohio General Assembly, reported to the Court at this session. They were Cyrus Hunter, Charles Gunn and Benjamin Leavell. Their first session, of which we have record, was held December 6, 1824, also in the second story of Leavell's store … William Preston, John Evans and Arthur Burrows were appointed viewers of this road, and John Perkins, surveyor."