Andrew Preston was a proprietor of “Bonnie Brae” stock farm and a dealer in shorthorn cattle. He was born near Dundee in Forfarshire, Scotland, May 8, 1850. His parents were John and Matilda Preston of Scotland. When Andrew was nine years old, he came to America and located in Chicago, Illinois. Then he went to Dundee, Kane County, Illinois and attended school one winter.
In 1872, he came to Ida County, Iowa and moved on wild land there. In his eight-acre grove, he planted one acre of walnuts, one acre of maples, one acre of evergreens, hedges, windbreaks, etc. He planted fruit trees. He had a cottage home, two barns, and other farm buildings.
When Andrew was 24 years of age, he married Elvira M. Smith in Ida County. She was born in New York, daughter of Samuel Smith. Elvira died in 1879 leaving one son, Ellson G. Preston. In November 1882, he married Anna J. Ferguson. She was born in Chicago and was a daughter of D. C. Ferguson. Andrew had four children with his second marriage, namely: Archibald C., Howard H., Matilda E., and Winifred H.
For four years, Andrew served as secretary of the Ida County Agricultural Society. He had been a United States Crop Reporter for the county. He served as Township Trustee, as Assessor and secretary of the school board for Maple Township.