Col. James Francis Preston was born in Virginia and was educated at West Point Military Academy. He volunteered in the Mexican War and both equipped and organized his company completely at his own expense. While serving the Union army during the Civil War, he died of exposure in 1862. His wife, Sarah Caperton Preston, was from Elmwood, Monroe County, West Virginia.

Hugh Caperton Preston was the son of James Francis and Sarah Caperton Preston. He was born on September 5, 1856 in Elmwood, West Virginia. In 1877, he graduated as a senior Captain from Virginia Military Institute. Afterwards, he managed his mother’s estate (White Thorn) in Montgomery County, Virginia until he sold it in 1892. Hugh then moved to East Radford and pursued real-estate and insurance business as well as serving two terms as Mayor. In the Spanish American War, Hugh served in Company M of Virginia’s 4th Volunteer Infantry, stationed in Cuba. He then served in the 31st US Volunteer Company in the Philippines, where he was promoted to the rank of 1st Lieutenant. On April 30, 1878, Hugh married Miss Cary Marx Baldwin; they had seven children together. In 1901, Hugh and his wife returned to East Radford, where he then worked in the real-estate business for the rest of his life.

"Hugh Caperton Preston." USGenWeb Archives - Census Wills Deeds Genealogy. Web. 15 Oct. 2010. http://files.usgwarchives.net/wv/monroe/bios/preston.tx.