It would be difficult to find elsewhere than in Macoupin county a
publisher or editor who at the age of thirty-seven years can claim to
have spent thirty years in a newspaper office. Such, however, has been
the experience of S. P. Preston, editor and proprietor of the Gillespie
News. He started as a mere lad to learn the printer’s trade and there
are few men in the state, who have had better opportunities of becoming
acquainted with all the details of the publication of a country
newspaper. He is now at the head of one of the best printing plants in
the state, outside of the large cities, and has no reason to regret
establishing himself permanently at Gillespie.
Born at
Madisonville, Kentucky, May 17, 1874, he is a son of John D. and Fannie
(Hendricks) Preston, both of whom were born in Kentucky. The father
engaged in contracting and plastering during the active period of his
life. He removed to Sullivan, Illinois, in 1876 and four years later to
Litchfield, where he remained until 1902 in the pursuit of his business,
then taking up his residence at Mattoon. Here his wife died in December,
1908, and since April, 1911, Mr. Preston has made his home with his son
in Gillespie. He is an earnest member of the Methodist Episcopal church,
as was his wife, and politically gives his support to the democratic
party.
Mr. Preston of this sketch was reared at home but
acquired his education principally in the printing office, to which he
seems naturally to have been attracted. He became connected with the old
Litchfield Monitor when he was seven years of age, and after serving an
apprenticeship of four years transferred his allegiance to the
Litchfield Daily News, which was the first daily issued in that place.
At the age of fourteen he had mastered the printing business and was
made foreman of the Taylorville Democrat, a position which he held for
two and one-half years. He then went to Hillsboro and assumed business
management of the Montgomery News, continuing in that position for about
seventeen years. In November, 1905, believing that a favorable opening
was presented at Gillespie, he came to this city and established the
Gillespie News, the first edition of which was published November 25,
1905, on the day the first interurban car ran from Gillespie to
Staunton. The paper was a success from its very start, and in 1907 Mr.
Preston erected a two-story brick building for the publication of the
paper; he also has a job office which is equipped with all modern
facilities of a first-class printing plant. Under his management the
paper has gained a large and growing circle of readers, and it has
become an important factor in the promotion of the best interests of
this section of the state.
On the 20th of May, 1891, Mr. Preston
was married to Miss Alletta Van Doren, of Hillsboro, Illinois.
Politically he is in sympathy with the democratic party, but he conducts
the News as an independent publication, believing that in so doing he is
best subserving the welfare of its supporters. Fraternally he is
identified with Gillespie Lodge, K. P., and commands the highest respect
of its members and also of the people of Macoupin county irrespective of
religious, political or other affiliations. He can truly claim many
friends who are interested in his continued prosperity.
Extracted 14 Nov 2018 by Norma Hass from History of Macoupin County, Illinois: Biographical and Pictorial, by Charles A. Walker, published in 1911, Volume 2, pages 290-291.
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