Alex was born Alex Maximich Popoff. He changed his surname to "Preston".

Alex is the son of Maxim Savelich Popoff and Evdotia Constantinovna Agapov. He is one of eleven known children: Alice, boy child (both died in Russia), Timofei, John, Mike, Nellie, Minnie, William, Eunice, Steve, and Alex. All of the children were born in Russia. Steve and his family immigrated from Russia in 1911. They lived in Sheridan, Placer County, CA and worked as farmers. The family house is still sitting on the hill in Sheridan.

He married Nelle Paul Sohrakoff on January 15, 1933 in Sheridan, Placer Cnty, CA. They have three children: Patricia, Shirley (1936-1990) and William.


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Headline: LONGTIME PLACER FARMER ALEX PRESTON, ACTIVE IN COMMUNITY GROUPS
Publication Date: January 04, 1996
Source: The Sacramento Bee
Page: B5
Subjects:
Region: Pacific Rim; Northern CA
Obituary: Alex Preston, a 76-year resident, longtime farmer and active community member of Sheridan, Placer County, died Saturday in Rideout Memorial Hospital in Marysville. He was 86.
Born Alex Popoff in Russia on May 5, 1909, he immigrated to the United States with his parents and siblings in 1910. He changed his name to Preston after becoming a U.S. citizen.
The family moved to Sheridan, a small farming community north of Lincoln, on July 4, 1919, and bought 80 acres that remain in the family.
Mr. Preston, who began working on the farm as a child, attended Sheridan schools and Lincoln High School. He was married to Nelle Sohrakoff on Jan. 15, 1933.
He and his brother, Steve Popoff, grew oats and wheat in the Sheridan and Maxwell areas for many years.
Mr. Preston retired in about 1970.
"He was a die-hard worker," his son, Bill Preston, recalled, "but whenever there was time off, he loved to go fishing. He believed strongly that what's right is right and what's wrong is wrong, and there was no in-between."
Mr. Preston was a member and longtime chairman of the Agricultural Stabilization Committee in Sheridan, and served on the Sheridan Elementary School board for more than 20 years.
He was co-founder of the Sheridan Fire Protection District and a member of the Sheridan Volunteer Fire Department.
He also was a member of Lincoln Golden Club and the 4-H Club, and was a past member of the County Selective Service Board in Auburn.
Mr. Preston's family was instrumental in founding the Sheridan Russian Colony Cemetery in 1922 on land owned by his father. Establishment of the cemetery was spurred by the death of a young Russian girl.
"Because she was Russian, she was not allowed to be buried in an American cemetery," explained Bill Preston. "So my grandfather, along with a group of Russian families, decided to build a cemetery. That little girl was the first to be buried there."
In the late 1920s, Mr. Preston helped established and build the Sheridan Russian Molokan Church.
Besides his son, Bill Preston of Lincoln, survivors include his wife, Nelle Preston of Sheridan; daughter, Patricia Taylor of North Highlands; brother, Steve Popoff of Sheridan; sister, Eunice Evanikoff of Vacaville; six grandchildren; and four great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by a daughter, Shirley Postell.
Services will be at 10 a.m. today in Lassila's Lincoln Funeral Home, 406 H St., Lincoln. Burial will be in the Sheridan Cemetery.
The family requests that any contributions be sent to the Lincoln Golden Club in care of Lassila's funeral home.

7/4/2000
A recollection of Alex Preston from my father, George John Poppin, was that he was built like a husky fighter and always knew the latest songs.