Description
Folder contains many handwritten letters, Certificate of Justice of Peace from 1847, and newspaper clippings of Preston's
son, Henry.
Background
Preston Gesford was born in Casey County, Kentucky, April 17th, 1820. He moved to Illinois, where he met his wife Louisa Jane
William, and they were married June 30, 1840. They lived in Galena, Illinois, until 1849 when they crossed the country and
settled in Napa Valley. In 1850 he returned to Illinois to move his family to California. He served on the first trial jury
of Napa County, and was known to be involved in public affairs. He died November 13th, 1896, at 76 years old.