A. H. Prevo, farmer and stock-raiser; P. O. Charleston; was born in Randolph Co., N. C., Jan. 5, 1833; he is the only son of Alson H. and Pheriba (Phelps) Prevo, both natives of that State, the former of whom died when the subject of this sketch was a child, and the latter of whom now resides with her son, at the age of 70 years. At the age of 18 years he left the farm, and obtained employment in one of the lumber mills in the vicinity. In 1854, he came West as far as Fountain Co , Ind., and there engaged in teaching school. He was married Oct. 23, 1854, to Miss Mary E. Richmond, the only daughter of Henry and Sophia J. (Keller) Richmond, of that county; they have two children – Jennie and Alson H. Mrs. Richmond, now 66 years of age, is a member of her daughter’s family. Removing to Coles Co. in 1856, Mr. Prevo hired out to drive oxen at $20 a month, and board himself, and after following that for two years, he worked in the mill for two years more, when, having accumulated a sufficient sum, he purchased the mill in which he was employed, which he ran for a number of years. In 1867, he removed to Charleston, and fitted up the Charleston Stave-Factory, with a new engine, and continued that business one year; the next year, he built the Prevo & Spence Elevator, into which he removed the engine and machinery of the stave-factory; after continuing the grain business one year, he engaged in the stock business, shipping horses and mules to the Southern States, which he followed three winters. In 1869, he purchased a mill a few miles south of Charleston, which he ran for three years; then, after looking after the interests of his farm for a year, he, in 1873, purchased the mill which he still continues to own, and which he ran up to 1877; he then retired to his farm on Sec. 18, where he makes a specialty of fine stock, keeping from one hundred to two hundred Poland-China hogs, and from fifteen to twenty horses; he owns 325 acres in his home farm and 120 acres in Hutton Tp., all but 40 acres of which he improved himself, cutting off and sawing the timber in his mills. Mr. Prevo served three years as School Director of his district, previous to his removal to Charleston in 1867. and while a resident of that city, served four years on the Board of Aldermen, two of which he was a member of the Water Works Board; he served one year on the Board of Supervisors, and three years on the Board of Education; he was one of the organizers of the Second National Bank, and for two years a Director in that institution.
