Résumé

Partner, Waggoner and Preston, Architects, Los Angeles, CA, 1896. This firm leased Rooms #301-302 of the Wilson Building, 102 1/2 South Spring Street. (See Los Angeles, California, City Directory, 1896, p. 1670.)

Architect, Mathewson and Company, Fresno, CA, 1920. This was likely the firm of Eugene Mathewson, who worked in Room #428 of the Cory Building in 1920. (See Fresno, California, City Directory, 1920, n.p.)

Relocation

Thomas Edward Preston was born in England on 02/03/1874. His parents emigrated from England in about 1876, as noted in the 1910 US Census.

In 1880, the Prestons lived in Westminster, Los Angeles County, CA, where they likely farmed. (The 1880 US Census taker left blank the occupation of Thomas's father John E. Preston.) The household consisted of his parents John and Emily and their four children. From this 1880 Census, it appears that the Prestons first lived in Trinidad c. 1870 before moving back to England. Thomas's eldest brother John was listed as having been born in Trinidad, while his other two siblings had been born back in England. (See Ancestry.com, Source Citation Year: 1880; Census Place: Westminster, Los Angeles, California; Roll: 67; Page: 299A; Enumeration District: 029, accessed 10/03/2023.)

The 1900 US Census recorded Preston and his wife Mary living at 967 East 55th Street in Los Angeles Ward #6. (See Ancestry.com, Source Citation Year: 1900; Census Place: Los Angeles Ward 6, Los Angeles, California; Roll: 90; Page: 9; Enumeration District: 0059, accessed 10/03/2023.)

Between 1908 and 1910, Preston resided at 3710 Pasadena Avenue and worked as an architect. The 1910 US Census recorded the Preston home address to have been 3717 Pasadena Avenue. In 1910, the household consisted of Thomas and Mary Preston, their son Thomas and Mary's father John H.H. Mottram. (See Ancestry.com, Source Citation Year: 1910; Census Place: Los Angeles Assembly District 74, Los Angeles, California; Roll: T624_83; Page: 5a; Enumeration District: 0050; FHL microfilm: 1374096, accessed 10/03/2023.)

Preston found work in Fresno, CA, in 1920. The family resided in rented quarters in an unknown section of Fresno. (The 1920 US Census taker failed to record addresses on this form.) (See Ancestry.com, Source Citation Year: 1920; Census Place: Fresno, Fresno, California; Roll: T625_96; Page: 9A; Enumeration District: 29, accessed 10/03/2023.)

In 1950, the Prestons made their home at 111 East Greystone Avenue in Monrovia, CA. He was likely retired at this time, as no occupation was listed on the 1950 US Census form. (See Ancestry.com, Source Citation National Archives at Washington, DC; Washington, D.C.; Seventeenth Census of the United States, 1950; Year: 1950; Census Place: Monrovia, Los Angeles, California; Roll: 1590; Page: 22; Enumeration District: 19-1238, accessed 10/03/2023.)

He was buried at Forest Lawn Memorial Park in Glendale, CA.

Spouse

He wed Mary Louisa Mottram (born 04/11/1876 in Hamilton, Wentworth County, ON-d. 06/25/1966 in Los Angeles County, CA) on 04/27/1898 in Los Angeles, CA. (See Ancestry.com, Source Citation California Department of Public Health, courtesy of www.vitalsearch-worldwide.com. Digital Images, accessed 10/03/2023.) Sbe was baptized in Toronto, ON, on 11/05/1877. (See Ancestry.com, As noted in the 1891 Census of Canada, Mary Mottram lived in Saint John's Ward of Toronto, ON, accessed 10/03/2023.) As noted in the 1891 Census of Canada, Mary Mottram lived her parents and maternal grandparents in Saint John's Ward of Toronto, ON. (See Ancestry.com, Source Citation Year: 1891; Census Place: St Johns Ward, Toronto City, Ontario, Canada; Roll: T-6371; Family No: 14, accessed 10/03/2023.)

Her father ws John Henry Harper Mottram (born 1844 in Stockport, Manchester, England-d. 09/12/1927 in Los Angeles County, CA), her mother Mary Butt (born 1849 in ON, Canada-d/ 06/28/1919 in San Bernardino County, CA).

Children

He and Mary Louisa had at least one child, a son, Thomas P. Preston (born 05/26/1903 in CA-d. 08/1974 in Los Angeles County, CA). He was identified with the initial "P." in the 1910 US Census, although a number of sources indicated that he was known as "Thomas Preston, Jr."

Thomas Preston, Jr., married Wilda Mae Lunt (born 11/29/1908 in CA-d. 11/24/1978 in Los Angeles County, CA) on 09/22/1939 in CA. (See Ancestry.com, Source Citation California Department of Public Health, courtesy of www.vitalsearch-worldwide.com. Digital Images. Source Information: California, U.S., County Birth, Marriage, and Death Records, 1849-1980 [database on-line]. Lehi, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2017. Original data: California, County Birth, Marriage, and Death Records, 1830-1980. California Department of Public Health, courtesy of www.vitalsearch-worldwide.com. Digital Images, accessed 10/03/2023.)

Thomas Preson last resided in Sunland, Los Angeles, CA, as per the US Social Security Death Index. (See Ancestry.com, Source Citation Social Security Administration; Washington D.C., USA; Social Security Death Index, Master File, accessed 10/03/2023.)

Biographical Notes

Between 1908 and 1910, Los Angeles County voter records indicated that Preston was a registered Republican. (See Ancestry.com, Source Citation California State Library; Sacramento, California; Great Register of Voters, 1908-1910, accessed 10/03/2023.)