PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM 

pg 700, 702 

     PRESTON GLASS, one of the older settlers and successful farmers of Silver Creek Township, Greene County, occupies a farm on the Waynesville Pike two miles from Jamestown.  The place upon which he resides comprises sixty-five acres under careful and intelligent tillage and bearing substantial edifices which include all the buildings necessary for the comfort and convenience of the occupants.  This place belongs to Mrs. GLASS, a tract of one hundred and twenty acres in another part of the township being  owned by our subject who is also the fortunate possessor of a fifty-acre farm in Jefferson Township.  These pieces of property are also well improved and possess considerable value, as good land in this county always does. Since he became of age Mr. GLASS has been identified with the farmers of the county and his career has been a most successful one.

     In the biography of Vincent GLASS, which is included in this volume, a fuller history of the family will be found, it sufficing us to say in this connection that our subject belongs to old Virginia stock and is himself a native of Campbell County, in the Old Dominion, where his eyes opened to the light July 4, 1821.  He is the youngest but two in a family of twelve children, and was about seven years of age when the family came to Ohio, locating in the borders of this township.  He well remembers their journey overland and the camping by the wayside, together with the early life in this section, which was at the time of their arrival comparatively new.  The family being in limited circumstances, the children were obliged to assist in the upbuilding of the home, and our subject was reared without the advantages of an education.  He has been obliged to depend upon his natural judgment and the knowledge gained from observation, instead of upon information gained from books.

     The first marriage of Preston GLASS took place in this township, his chosen companion being Miss Susannah SHELEY, who was born here April 2, 1820.  Her parents, Benjamin and Mildred (STRONG) SHELEY, were pioneers in this section whence they had come from Virginia.  She had grown to maturity in this township which had been her home during all the years prior to her marriage, although her parents afterward spent some time beyond the limits of the county.  She proved herself an able assistant to her husband by her good counsel and able management of household affairs.  She died at her home in this township, September 3, 1886, deeply mourned by her family, in whose sorrow many friends sympathized, her goodness being known to a large circle of acquaintances.  She was a member of the Christian Church.  She had borne nine children, of whom we note the following:  John W. died when quite young; Nancy L., leaving one child; Mary E., when two years of age; Huldah, after having borne four children, her death being occasioned by her clothing having caught fire and burned her so badly that she survived but a fortnight.  Laban lives on a farm in Paulding County; Benjamin is a groceryman at Ogden, Ill., his wife being Miss Mary Etta HILL; Justus N. married Rachael BRYAN and occupies a farm in this township; Catherine C. is the wife of Frank WILLIAMS, a farmer of Paulding County; Eliza J. is the wife of John C. FICHTHORN and lives on the old GLASS homestead in this township.

     The present wife of Preston GLASS was in her girlhood Miss Mary Elizabeth TURNER.  She was born in this township in 1835, and married here November 22, 1887.  Her parents Levi and Polly (SANDERS) TURNER, were married in this township.  Mr. TURNER was a native of Ohio and his wife was a native of Kentucky.  They lived to be quite old, gaining a high degree of respect from their fellow-citizens in the community where they had passed a long and successful life.  They were members of the Baptist Church to which their daughter belongs.  She is still occupying the house in which she was born and where she grew to womanhood, learning useful habits and practicing them in her life.  Mr. GLASS attends the Christian Church; in politics he is a Republican.  In common with other members of the family he is held in good repute by all to whom he is known.