John Preston Obituary
Town Historian
18 Oct 1916 - 3 Sep 1989
New Ipswich John Preston, Leading citizen and historian John Preston, 72, of Main Street, New Ipswich, was buried Monday in Central Cemetery, following a service in the New Ipswich Congregational Church.
The Rev. Harland R. Getts presided, citing Mr. Preston's love of history as one of his greatest strengths. "John loved history," he said, noting that Mr. Preston's knowledge of the town was unmatched. He had recently completed a transcription of a sermon by the church's first minister, the Rev. Stephen Farrar, which the Rev. Farrar delivered on George Washington's birthday, a year after the president's death.
After sharing many mornings of coffee and muffins with Mr. Preston at Kidder's Restaurant, the Rev. Getts said that he had come to know how deeply Mr. Preston felt about his family, including one daughter who had died in her youth.
"John was not the type of person show his affections openly," said the Rev. Getts, adding that the nearly 200 people who filled the church to capacity were a tribute to what Mr. Preston meant to the community.
"Crossing the Bar," a work by one of Mr. Preston's favorite poets, Alfred Lord Tennyson, was included in the service's program.
Monday evening, selectmen's Chairman George Lawrence, who had known Mr. Preston for more than 17 years, called for a moment of silence before opening the weekly meeting. Referring to Mr. Preston as "a dear friend to us all," Mr. Lawrence said that whatever he needed to know about the town, he would ask Mr. Preston.
"He taught me a lot," said Mr. Lawrence.
Citing Mr. Preston's knowledge of parliamentary procedure, and his ability to remain neutral in spite of his own opinions, Mr. Lawrence said Mr. Preston was the best town and school district moderator he had ever seen.
"There was no better than him."
Formulas
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James Roger diary entry
November 28th 1908 (Saturday)
Fair and bright with cool north west wind veering to west. David and C. Whittemore spreading manure & picking rocks of the Jim Davis field, cleared out under barn and cleared away the poultry droppings out garden lot. I rested most of day not feeling just right the past three weeks dull pressure on head and attacks of vertigo. Mrs. Spofford put her cross on her lot today. John Barnet and wife assisting. I walked down town in afternoon and got mail. Letters from Alice and Hamish.
I remember from childhood John Preston as the father of my friends Beth and Katie, Sarah and George. A wonderful man who had a benevolent spirit about him. He and his wife Dot tolerated other people’s kids traipsing about their property, indoors and out, with kindness, intelligence, and amiable humor. A citizen of noble temperament he was as was his father in his own way.
He was the town moderator went I was young. I admired him greatly. I was proud that New Ipswich had a man of such caliber to lead the town. His untimely death was a great loss for the town.