Utah State University, Merrill-Cazier Library, Special Collections & Archives
William B. Preston papers
UUS_COLL MSS 268
2 boxes
3 linear feet
1857-1920
This collection contains the papers of W.B. Preston in the form of correspondence, two missionary diaries, and other papers.
Material in English
Processed in July of 2000
Special Collections and Archives purchased the William B. Preston papers from Grandin Book (Provo, Utah) in November 1999.
More items were purchased in January 2001, from Ken Sanders Rare Books in Salt Lake City and in January 2002 from Grandin Book.
One item, a letter from William Preston, Jr. to William Preston, Sr., was donated by John Sillito in September 2002.
Another item, a letter from Harriett Preston to Nathan D. Thatcher, was donated by Laurel Thatcher Ulrich in September 2012.
The letter from Oscar Moyle to May Preston Moyle, the daughter of William Preston Sr., was purchased from Benchmark Press in 2011.
No restrictions on use, except: not available through interlibrary loan.
It is the responsibility of the researcher to obtain any necessary copyright clearances.
Permission to publish material from the William B. Preston Papers must be obtained from the Special Collections and Archives manuscript curator and/or the Special Collections and Archives department head.
Initial Citation: William B. Preston papers USU_COLL MSS 268, Box [ ]. Special Collections and Archives. Utah State University Merrill-Cazier Library. Logan, Utah.
Following Citations: USU_COLL MSS 268, USUSCA.
William Bowker Preston, a native of Virginia, was born in 1830. In 1852, he went to California and eventually settled in Yolo County as a farmer. His neighbors were the Thatchers, an LDS family. By 1857, Preston had fallen in love with Harriet Thatcher, and in February of that year he was baptized into the LDS Church. Preston was soon called by George Q. Cannon to serve in the Pacific Coast mission. The earliest letters in the collection are to his sweetheart Harriet while on this mission. Preston asked for Harriet's hand in marriage, but her father, Hezekiah Thatcher, refused to allow the union. In the fall of 1857 California LDS were called back to Utah to assist in defending the territory against the U.S. Army. Preston, the Thatchers, and other LDS families arrived in Salt Lake City in January 1858. Preston and Harriet were married in February 1858 and first settled in Payson, Utah where Preston built an adobe house. However, in August 1859, the Prestons and the Thatchers moved to Cache Valley and in November Preston was named bishop of Logan.
In April 1865, Preston was called to serve a mission in Europe. Upon arrival in Liverpool, England, Preston was assigned to Newcastle and Durham. In January 1866, he was called to serve in the Liverpool office, which at that time was the headquarters of the European Mission. Preston's two mission diaries, and the complementary letters to Harriet, give rich, full details of his daily activities in the field of labor and in the mission office, i.e., office traffic (composition of office employees, names and assignments of missionaries, visits of Church authorities from the U.S., etc), full detail on emigration (for which he had specific responsibility), and his many travels to visit branches of the Church in England, Wales, and Scotland. In August 1867, Preston visited the Paris Exposition. He was released from his mission in the summer of 1868 and sailed from Liverpool in charge of 600 emigrating Saints.
Upon his return home, Preston resumed his duties as bishop in Logan and was elected to the territorial legislative assembly (1872-1882) where he had also served in the 1860s. He also took a leading part in the construction of the Utah and Northern Railroad. In 1871, he was appointed presiding bishop of Cache Valley (a regional bishop with jurisdiction over twenty wards). In 1877, he was called to the Cache Valley stake pPresidency, serving as counselor to his brother-in-law, Moses Thatcher. In 1879, Preston was called as Cache Valley stake president, and in 1883 vacated that office to assume the responsibilities of the Presiding bishop of the Church. He was released in December 1907 due to poor health and died in August 1908.
This collection consists mostly of correspondence from William B. Preston to his wife Harriet during the period 1857-1900. There are a few letters from Harriet to William, and a couple from William to their children, Allie and Willie. Two letters from William Preston, Jr. in 1889 to his parents and sister describe his LDS mission in Europe. There is also a letter from R. L. Preston, William's nephew, detailing his research into the Preston family genealogy, and a letter from Joseph F. Smith consoling the Prestons after the death of two of their children. Additionally, several letters from William's daughter, Mary, who served as a nurse in Europe during World War I, are also included. The letters are arranged chronologically and separated into folders. The locations listed on the inventory after the name of the writer indicate where the letters were sent from.
In addition to correspondence, this collection contains several other items: two mission diaries kept by William while he served in Liverpool, England (1867-1868), a certificate proclaiming William Mayor of Logan, a certificate from when William Preston became a member of the Utah House of Representatives, and a Resolution by the Brigham Young College in Logan in memory of William Preston following his death in 1908. The mayoral certificate and Resolution are in containers separate from the boxes.
Seven folders in Box 2 contain miscellaneous papers from the Bullion, Beck, and Champion Mining Company of Salt Lake City, where William Preston served as treasurer. The papers do not directly mention William, however.
Arranged in chronological order.
Researchers interested in more Moses Thatcher, Sr. and William P. Preston material should see the Moses Thatcher, Sr. papers COLL MSS 22 and the B.G. Olesen Western Manuscript Collection.
Logan (Utah)--History.
Utah--Politics and government--19th century.
Cache Valley (Utah and Idaho)--Politics and government--19th century.
Mormons--Utah--History
Politicians--Utah--History--19th century.
Mormonism (Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints)
Correspondence
1857-1900
(1 box, 12 folders)
Correspondence
1857-1859
Preston, William B., Bedford Ranch, to fiancée, Harriet A. Thatcher
1857 March
1
1
(2 pieces
Preston, William B., Pleasant Valley, to fiancée, Harriet A. Thatcher
1857 July 13
1
1
(2 pieces)
Preston, William B., Bedford Ranch, to fiancée, Harriet A. Thatcher
1857 July 26
1
1
(1 piece)
Thatcher, Harriet A., Great Salt Lake Valley, to fiancée, William B. Preston
1857 August 5
1
1
(1 piece)
Preston, William B., Bedford Ranch, to fiancée, Harriet A. Thatcher
1857 August 9
1
1
(2 pieces)
Preston, William B., Buckeye, Upper California, to Aaron Thatcher
1857 August 11
1
1
(1 piece)
Preston, William B., Bedford Ranch, to fiancée, Harriet A. Thatcher
1857 August 23
1
1
Preston is laboring under the direction of George Q. Cannon (1 piece)
Preston, William B., San Bernardino, to Wife, Harriet
1859 March 3
1
1
Preston was in California purchasing clothing and merchandise for Thatcher's store in Utah (1 piece)
Preston, William B., Fillmore City, to Wife, Harriet
1859 April 12
1
1
Preston is returning to SLC from California (1 piece)
Preston, William B. Pleasant Valley to fiancée Harriet A. Thatcher
1857 July 14
1
1
Correspondence
1860-1862
Preston, William B., Great Salt Lake City, to Wife, Harriet
1860 September 1
1
2
(1 piece)
Preston, William B., Great Salt Lake City, to Wife, Harriet
1860 December 9
1
2
(2 pieces)
Preston, William B. to Wife, Harriet
1862 January 6
1
2
Great Salt Lake City at Representative Hall. Preston was attending General Conference (1 piece)
, William B., Salt Lake City, to Wife, Harriet
1862 April 9
1
2
(1 piece)
Preston, William B., Great Salt Lake City, to Wife, Harriet
1862 December 15
1
2
Preston is in SLC attending the Legislative Assembly. He reports on a battle between the Army of the Potomac and Stonewall Jackson (1 piece)
Correspondence
1863
Invitation for "Hon. Wm. Preston and Ladies" to attend a cotillion party
1863 January
1
3
(1 piece)
Preston, William B., Great Salt Lake City, to Wife, Harriet
1863 January 13
1
3
Preston is in SLC attending the Legislative Assembly(1 piece)
Preston, William B., No. of Ft Bridger, to Wife, Harriet
1863 May 4
1
3
(1 piece)
Preston, William B., Wind River, to Wife, Harriet
1863 June 13
1
3
(1 piece)
Preston, William B., Florence, to Wife, Harriet
1863 June 18
1
3
(1 piece)
Preston, William B., Florence, to Wife, Harriet
1863 July 2
1
3
(1 piece)
Preston, William B., Woodriver Center, to Wife, Harriet
1863 July 30-31
1
3
(2 pieces)
Preston, William B., Great Salt Lake City, to Wife, Harriet
1863 December 15
1
3
(1 piece)
Preston, William B., Great Salt Lake City, to Wife, Harriet
1863 December 21
1
3
Preston is in SLC attending the Legislative Assembly(1 piece)
Preston, William B., Great Salt Lake City, to Wife, Harriet
1863 December 22
1
3
Preston is in SLC attending the Legislative Assembly. Letter was delivered by John Cowley(1 piece, 1 envelope)
Correspondence
1864
Preston, Harriet A., Logan, to Husband, William
1864 January 19
1
4
(1 piece)
Preston, William B., Great Salt Lake City, to Wife, Harriet
1864 April 24
1
4
Preston indicates that he is writing this letter "1 door west of Theater at George W. Thatcher's" He has joined others to collect emigrants at the Missouri River (1 piece)
Preston, William B.,Muddy River, 12 miles from Ham's Fork, [Wyoming], to Wife, Harriet
1864 May 3
1
4
Note at end of letter, dated Hams Fork, [Wyoming], 4 May 1864, Preston indicates that his party met emigrant wagons en route to Bannock [Wyoming?] (1 piece)
Preston, William B., Junction of North and South Platte, to Wife, Harriet
1864 June 8
1
4
(1 piece)
Preston, William B., Wyoming, to Wife, Harriet
1864 July 1
1
4
(3 pieces) Photocopy (no original)
Preston, William B., Wyoming, to Wife, Harriet
1864 July 8
1
4
(1 piece)
Preston, William B., Kerney City (2 miles above Ft. Kerney) to Wife, Harriet
1864 July 25
1
4
(1 piece, 1 envelope)
Preston, William B., Wyoming, to Wife, Harriet
1864 July 31
1
4
(1 piece)
Preston, William B., Great Salt Lake City, to Wife, Harriet
1864 December 12
1
4
Preston is in SLC attending the Legislative Assembly (1 piece)
Preston, William B., Great S. L. City, to Wife, Harriet
1864 December 21
1
4
(1 piece)
Preston, Harriet A., Logan, to Husband, William
1864 December 25
1
4
(1 piece)
Preston, William B., Great S. L. City, to Wife, Harriet
1864 December 27
1
4
(1 piece)
Preston, William B., Great S. L. City, to Wife, Harriet
1864 December 30
1
4
1 piece) Photocopy (no original)
Correspondence
1865
Preston, William B., Great Salt Lake City, to Wife, Harriet
1865 January 4
1
5
(2 pieces)
Preston, William B., Great Salt Lake City, to Wife, Harriet
1865 January 7
1
5
(1 piece)
Preston, William B., Fort Bridger, to Wife, Harriet
1865 May 30
1
5
(2 pieces) Photocopy (no original)
Preston, William B., Omahaw, to Wife, Harriet
1865 July 4
1
5
(2 pieces)
Preston, William B., Omahaw, to Wife, Harriet
1865 July 7
1
5
(1 piece)
Preston, William B., New York City, to Wife, Harriet
1865 July 15
1
5
Preston arrived in NYC the previous day and was to sail for Liverpool the date of this letter, 15 July 1865. However, he decides to visit his parents in VA before his departure (1 piece, 1 envelope)
Preston, William B., New York, to Wife, Harriet
1865 August 8
1
5
Preston is a missionary on his way to England. He visits his parents, relatives, and friends in Virginia (2 pieces)
Preston, William B., New York City, to brother-in-law George Thatcher
1865 August 9
1
5
Preston is in NYC waiting passage to England (2 pieces, 1 envelope)
Preston, William B., Logan, UT, Liverpool, to Wife, Harriet
1865 August 27
1
5
Letter delivered by T.E. Ricks (2 pieces, 1 envelope)
Preston, William B.15 Clyde St., Sunderland, to Wife, Harriet
1865 October 9 - 10
1
5
(3 pieces)
Preston, William B.15 Clyde St., Sunderland, to Wife, Harriet
1865 October 26
1
5
(4 pieces)
Preston, William B. 15 Clyde St., Sunderland, to Wife, Harriet
1865 November 27
1
5
(4 pieces)
Preston, William B. 15 Clyde St., Sunderland, to Wife, Harriet
1865 December 27
1
5
(4 pieces)
Correspondence
1866
Preston, William B., Liverpool, to Wife, Harriet
1866 January 17
1
6
(3 pieces)
Preston, William B., Liverpool, to Wife, Harriet
1866 February 15
1
6
(3 pieces)
Preston, William B., Liverpool, to Wife, Harriet
1866 March 11
1
6
(5 pieces)
Preston, William B., Liverpool, to Wife, Harriet
1866 April 22
1
6
(4 pieces)
Preston, William B., Liverpool, to Wife, Harriet
1866 June 3
1
6
(4 pieces)
Preston, William B., Liverpool, to Wife, Harriet
1866 July 10
1
6
(4 pieces)
Preston, William B., Liverpool, to Wife, Harriet
1866 July 14
1
6
(1 piece)
Preston, William B., Liverpool, to Wife, Harriet
1866 July 24
1
6
(1 piece. [fragment])
Preston, William B., Liverpool, to Wife, Harriet
1866 August 5
1
6
(4 pieces)
Preston, William B., Liverpool, to Wife, Harriet
1866 August 21
1
6
(3 pieces)
Thatcher, Moses, Cheltenham, to Sister, Harriet
1866 August 22
1
6
(3 pieces incomplete)
Preston, William B., Liverpool, to Wife, Harriet
1866 September 9
1
6
(1 piece)
Preston, William B., Liverpool, to Wife, Harriet
1866 September 14
1
6
(5 pieces)
Preston, William B., Liverpool, to Wife, Harriet
1866 October 5
1
6
Also Preston, William B., Liverpool, to Wife, Harriet, 6 Oct 1866. (This is apparently a postscript to the above letter - 5 pieces)
Preston, William B., Liverpool, to Wife, Harriet
1866 October 26
1
6
(3 pieces)
Preston, William B., Liverpool, to Wife, Harriet
1866 November 16
1
6
(3 pieces)
Preston, William B., Liverpool, to Wife, Harriet
1866 December 6
1
6
(4 pieces)
Preston, William B., Liverpool, to Wife, Harriet
1866 December 25
1
6
(4 pieces)
Correspondence
1867
Preston, William B., Liverpool, to Wife, Harriet
1867 January 18
1
7
(4 pieces)
Preston, William B., Liverpool, to Wife, Harriet
1867 February 11
1
7
Plus quarter page note to his daughter, Allie, Feb 12 (5 pieces)
Preston, William B., Liverpool, to Wife, Harriet
1867 March 9
1
7
(4 pieces)
Thatcher, Moses to his Sister, Harriet Thatcher Preston
1867 March 12
1
7
Cheltenham, England (4 pieces)
Preston, William B., Liverpool, to Wife, Harriet
1867 March 29
1
7
(5 pieces)
Preston, William B., Liverpool, to Wife, Harriet
1867 April 16
1
7
(3 pieces)
Preston, William B., Liverpool, to Wife, Harriet
1867 May 6
1
7
(4 pieces)
Preston, William B., Liverpool, to Wife, Harriet
1867 June 1
1
7
(2 pieces)
Preston, William B., Liverpool, to Wife, Harriet
1867 June 8
1
7
(2 pieces)
Preston, William B., Liverpool, to Wife, Harriet
1867 June 29
1
7
(1 piece)
Preston, William B., Nottingham, to Wife, Harriet
1867 June 13
1
7
(2 pieces)
Preston, William B., Liverpool, to Wife, Harriet
1867 July 23
1
7
(3 pieces)
Preston, Harriet A., Logan, to Husband, William
1867 July 27
1
7
[no signature] (1 piece)
Preston, William B., Liverpool, to Wife, Harriet
1867 August 13
1
7
(2 pieces)
Preston, William B., Paris, to Wife, Harriet
1867 September 1
1
7
(1 piece)
Preston, William B., Liverpool, to Wife, Harriet
1867 September 14
1
7
(2 pieces)
Preston, William B., Liverpool, to Wife, Harriet
1867 October 4
1
7
(3 pieces)
Preston, William B., Liverpool, to Wife, Harriet
1867 October 14
1
7
(5 pieces)
Preston, William B., Liverpool, to Wife, Harriet
1867 November 13
1
7
(2 pieces)
Preston, William B., Birmingham, to Wife, Harriet
1867 December 27
1
7
(3 pieces)
Correspondence
1868
Preston, William B., Liverpool, to Wife, Harriet
1868 January 17
1
8
[missing page 9] (3 pieces)
Preston, William B., Liverpool, to Wife, Harriet
1868 February 7
1
8
(3 pieces)
Preston, William B., Jersey Island, British Channel, to Wife, Harriet
1868 March 11
1
8
[no signature] (1 piece, 1 envelope)
Preston, William B., Liverpool, to Wife, Harriet
1868 April 4
1
8
(1 piece)
Preston, Harriet A., to Husband, William
1868 May 17
1
8
(2 pieces)
Preston, William B., Liverpool, to Wife, Harriet
1868 June 10
1
8
(1 piece)
Preston, Harriet A. to Husband, William
1868 June 18
1
8
(1 piece)
Preston, William B., Liverpool, to Wife, Harriet
1868 July 4
1
8
(1 piece)
Preston, William B., New York City, to Wife, Harriet
1868 July 28
1
8
(1 piece)
Preston, William B., Benton, to Wife, Harriet
1868 August 11
1
8
(1 piece)
Preston, William B., Head of Echo, to Wife, Harriet
1868 October 29
1
8
(1 piece)
Preston, William B., Echo Canyon, to Wife, Harriet
1868 November 22
1
8
Preston is stationed at Echo Canyon, working as a sub-contractor under Brigham Young and George Thatcher constructing Union Pacific RR (1 piece)
Correspondence
1870-1887
Preston, William B., Salt Lake City, to Wife, Harriet
1870 February 5
1
9
(1 piece)
Preston, William B., Salt Lake City, to Wife, Harriet
1872 January 8
1
9
(1 piece)
Preston, William B., Salt Lake City, to Wife, Harriet
1872 January 20
1
9
(1 piece)
Preston, William B., Salt Lake City, to Wife, Harriet
1872 January 27
1
9
(3 pieces)
Preston, Harriet A., Chicago, to daughter and son, Allie and Willie
1872 December 10
1
9
(1 piece)
Preston, William B.,Washington, D.C., to his daughter and son, Allie and Willie
1872 December 18
1
9
(2 pieces)
Preston, Harriet A., Bedford, VA, to Allie and Willie
1872 December 19
1
9
Photocopy, no original
Preston, William B., Shanghai, Berkeley Co, VA., to his daughter and son, Allie and Willie
1873 March 11
1
9
(1 piece)
Preston-Farmer, Martha Elizabeth (Lizzie) to brother, William B. Preston informing him of the death of their mother, Martha Mitchell Claytor-Preston
1875 June 5
1
9
(1 piece)
Preston, William B., Salt Lake City, to his Wife, Harriet
1876 January 19
1
9
(1 piece)
Preston, William B., Salt Lake City, to his Wife, Harriet
1876 January 27
1
9
(1 piece)
Preston, William B., Salt Lake City, to his Wife, Harriet
1876 February 8
1
9
(1 piece)
Preston, William B., Salt Lake City, to his Wife, Harriet
1877 October 3
1
9
(1 piece)
Preston, May, "at aunt Lizzie's" in Virginia to mother, Harriet A. Preston
1887 May 7
1
9
(4 pieces)
Godfrey, John to President W.B. Preston
1883 December 29
1
9
Regarding a disagreement towards the teaching on celestial marriage by Bishop Jardine (1 piece)
Correspondence
1888-1900
Preston, William B., Salt Lake City, to his Wife, Harriet
1888 December 18
1
10
(1 piece)
Preston, William B., Jr. (Willie), Berlin, to parents, William and Harriet
1889 May 25
1
10
Details about his work as a missionary in Europe
Preston, William B. Jr. (Willie), in Berlin, to sister, May Preston
1889 August 7
1
10
5 pieces (1 incomplete envelope)
Preston, R. L., Central University, Richmond, KY, to uncle, William B. Preston
1889 December 30
1
10
Describes genealogical research on Preston family in Virginia.10 pieces (1 envelope)
Preston, Harriet A., Great Salt Lake City, to daughter
1892 April 14- May
1
10
Mentions scaffolding being taken down from the Salt Lake City Temple (3 pieces)
Preston, William B., Salt Lake City, to his Wife, Harriet
1891 December 4
1
10
(1 piece)
Preston, William B., Salt Lake City, to his daughter
1893 May - June 10
1
10
(1 piece, 1 envelope)
Preston, May, Utah Building at Jackson Park, to parents
1893 October 6
1
10
(3 pieces. 1 envelope)
Preston, William B., Salt Lake City, to his daughter, Alley
1893 October 19
1
10
(1 piece)
Preston, William B. Jr., Logan, to William B. Preston, Sr.
1894 February 24
1
10
(1 piece)
Preston, William B., Salt Lake City, to Wife, Harriet
1894 October 17
1
10
(2 pieces) Photocopy, no original
Preston, Harriet A., Logan, to Husband, William
1895 April 21
1
10
(1 piece)
Preston, William B., Salt Lake City, to his Wife, Harriet
1900 June 18
1
10
(1 piece)
Moyle, Oscar, Salt Lake City, to his Wife, May Preston Moyle (Daughter of William B. Preston Sr.)
1902 January 21
1
10
(2 pieces)
Smith, Joseph F., Salt Lake City, to William and Harriet Preston
1908 January 12
1
10
Consoles the Prestons on the death of their son, Willie (William Preston, Jr.) and daughter, Allie (Alena) (1 piece and 1 envelope)
Preston, Mary, Augers, France, to mother, Harriet
1918 January 15
1
10
Mary worked as a nurse during World War I (1 piece and 1 envelope)
Preston, Harriet, to daughter, Mary
1918 December
1
10
Christmas card (1 piece)
Preston, Mary, Augers, France, to mother, Harriet
1919 February 2
1
10
(1 piece and 1 envelope)
Preston, Mary, Augers, France, to mother, Harriet
1919 March 1
1
10
(1 piece and 1 envelope)
Preston, Harriett, Salt Lake City, to Nathan D. Thatcher
1920 February 10
1
10
(1 piece and 1 envelope)
Misc. letter fragments
undated
1
11
[3 letter fragments with no dates]
Certificate of Secretary of Utah Territory that William B. Preston has been duly elected to House of Representatives of Utah Territory for Cache and Rich Counties
1871 December 20
1
12
Miscellaneous Papers
1865-1874
Preston, William B. Mission Diaries (2 volumes)
A
1865-1868
2
Book 1 Vol. 1
1865 April 6 - 1867 August 24
Book 2 Vol. 2
1867 August 24 - 1868 July 28
Miscellaneous Papers from Bullion, Beck, and Champion Mining Co.
B
undated
2
Burch, Alonzo, correspondence
undated
2
1
Dayton, R. P. corresp.
undated
2
2
Globe, and Philadelphia Smelting and Refining Companies, correp.
undated
2
3
Peters, J. correp.
undated
2
4
Smith, C.B., corresp.
undated
2
5
Thatcher, Moses, corresp.
undated
2
6
Miscellaneous correspondence
undated
2
7
Preston's "Old Folks Committee" badge
1875-1880
2
8
Charles Ora Card lumber receipt, Logan
1881 September 6
2
9
Additional Items
1874
2
Proclamation Naming William B. Preston Mayor of Logan
Item 1
1874 March 2
Item 1
(Enclosed in green slip case.)
Resolution in Memory of William B. Preston from Brigham Young College. Signed by Joseph F. Smith and Hershell Bullen, Jr.
Item 2
undated
Item 2
(Enclosed in oversized folder)