John was married on February 22, 1866, in Johnson County, Kentucky, to Sarah Ann Brown.

Between them they had: Frank Henry, Celina V., William Moses, Nancy R., John Edward, Ethel, Thomas C., and Paul Jones Preston.

John was a dry goods merchant, grocer, owner of the Preston Hotel in Paintsville.

John served in the Union Army during the Civil War. He enlisted on November 10, 1864, into Company G, 39th Kentucky
Infantry Regiment. He was discharged as a First Sergeant on September 15, 1865.
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A Compendium of the War of the Rebellion, by Frederick H. Dyer, 1908

39th Regiment, Kentucky Infantry

Organized at Peach Orchard, Kentucky, November 18, 1862, and mustered in February 16, 1863. The volunteers for this regiment were drawn from the counties bordering the Big Sandy Valley, but some came from as far away as Tennessee, Virginia, and North Carolina. Attached to District of Eastern Kentucky, Dept. of Ohio, to June, 1863. 1st Brigade, 4th Division, 23rd Army Corps, Dept. of Ohio, to August, 1863. District of Eastern Kentucky, 1st Division, 23rd Army Corps, to April, 1864. 1st Brigade, 1st Division, District of Kentucky, 5th Division, 23rd Army Corps, to July, 1864. 3rd Brigade, 1st Division, District of Kentucky, to December, 1864. Louisa (Ky.) District and Dept. of Kentucky, to September, 1865.

SERVICE.-While the 39th did not participate in any of the Civil War's major battles, it saw much service in combating the numerous guerrilla bands, as well as regular Confederate forces, deep in the Appalachian Mountains.

Action near Piketon, Ky., November 5, 1862. Wireman's Shoals, Big Sandy River, December 4. Skirmishes in Floyd County December 4 and near Prestonburg December 4-5. Near Prestonburg December 31. Near Louisa, Ky., March 25-26, 1863. Piketon April 13 and 15. Beaver Creek, Floyd County, June 27. Mouth of Coal Run, Pike County, July 2. Expedition from Beaver Creek into Southwest Virginia July 3-11. Pond Creek July 6. Clark's Neck and Carter County August 27. Marrowbone Creek September 22. Terman's Ferry January 9, 1864. Laurel Creek, W. Va., February 12. Operations in Eastern Kentucky March 28-April 16. Forks of Beaver March 31. Brushy Creek April 7. Paintsville April 13. Half Mountain, Magoffin County, April 14. Saylersville April 16. Expedition from Louisa to Rockhouse Creek May 9-13 (Co. "B"). Pond Creek, Pike County, May 16. Pike County May 18. Operations against Morgan May 31-June 20. Mt. Sterling June 9. Cynthiana June 12. Burbridge's Expedition into Southwest Virginia September 20-October 17. Saltsville October 2. Stoneman's Expedition into Southwest Virginia December 10-29. Bristol, Tenn., December 13. Abington, Va., December 15. Near Marion, Va., December 17-18. Saltsville, Va., December 20-21. Capture and destruction of salt works. Duty in the Sandy Valley and in Eastern Kentucky guarding and protecting the country till September, 1865. Mustered out September 15, 1865.

Regiment lost during service 3 Officers and 24 Enlisted men killed and mortally wounded and 3 Officers and 194 Enlisted men by disease. Total 234.

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Published May 21,1925, Paintsville.

Uncle John D. Preston Dies In Huntington

Civil War Veteran Answers Last Call After Eighty-One Years; Was At Home Of Daughter.

Captain John D. Preston, 81 years old, Civil War Veteran, and one of the oldest inhabitants of this section, dies Wednesday night in Huntington, W.Va., at the home of his daughter, Mrs. Ethel Howes. His death came from the infirmities of age and a fall last April which held him in bed until his death.

He is survived by four sons and two daughters, and one half sister.

The body was brought here from Huntington Thursday and taken to the home of his son, W. M. (Bug) Preston.

The funeral services were held in the Mayo Memorial Church Friday afternoon and burial in The Preston Cemetery in East Paintsville. The Rev. H. G. Sowards conducted the funeral.

Captain Preston, affectionately known as Uncle John Dunk, was one of the best known and loved citizens of Paintsville. He came from a prominent family and lived his entire life here. With the exception of the past two years which were spent with his children in Huntington, W. Va.

He was a member of the 39th Ky. Mounted Infantry all during the Civil War and near the close was promoted to a Captaincy. He was a member of the G.A.R. and the Masons. All during the war he was a buddy of Newt Daniels who still lives on Greasy Creek.

He was an active and devout member of the Mayo Memorial Church and while he lived in Paintsville was its most regular attendant. He lived a life filled with good acts and useful deeds. He was loved and respected by everyone who knew him. His home which was destroyed by fore a few years ago stood on the corner of Main and Court streets and there he had lived from the close of the Civil War until its destruction. He was a home-loving man and at any time during the day he could be seen around his home and usually with several friends.

He is survived by two daughters, Mrs. Lee A. D. Tate and Mrs. Ethel Howes; four sons, Frank H. Preston, J. E. Preston, and T. C. Preston all of Huntington, and W. M. Preston of Paintsville; also one half-sister, Mrs. Arthur Preston of Graves Shoals.

Taps has been sounded for this grand old soldier, and with its last fading notes came the far off, gentler notes of assembly calling him to his final company.

Paintsville has lost not only one of her oldest citizens but one that was loved and reverenced by everyone. His life was one of which he and the town could be proud and his last call came after he had lived a true soldier of his maker.