Josiah Johnston Preston (June 7, 1855 – July 10, 1937) was an

Ontario Ontario is the southernmost Provinces and territories of Canada, province of Canada. Located in Central Canada, Ontario is the Population of Canada by province and territory, country's most populous province. As of the 2021 Canadian census, it ...

merchant and political figure. He represented

Durham East Durham East could refer to: * Durham East (federal electoral district) *Durham East (provincial electoral district) Durham East was a provincial electoral district in the Durham Region in Ontario, Canada that elected members to the Legislative Ass ...

in the

Legislative Assembly of Ontario The Legislative Assembly of Ontario (OLA; ) is the legislative chamber of the Canadian province of Ontario. Its elected members are known as Members of Provincial Parliament (MPPs). Bills passed by the Legislative Assembly are given royal as ...

from 1902 to 1919 as a

Conservative Conservatism is a cultural, social, and political philosophy and ideology that seeks to promote and preserve traditional institutions, customs, and values. The central tenets of conservatism may vary in relation to the culture and civiliza ...

member. He was born in Manvers Township, Durham County,

Canada West The Province of Canada (or the United Province of Canada or the United Canadas) was a British colony in British North America from 1841 to 1867. Its formation reflected recommendations made by John Lambton, 1st Earl of Durham, in the Report ...

, the son of James Preston. Preston was a grain dealer. He served as reeve for Manvers and was also warden for the United Counties of Northumberland and Durham in 1897. He became clerk for the township in 1898. He was defeated in the 1919 election. Preston was a member of the

Orange Order The Loyal Orange Institution, commonly known as the Orange Order, is an international Protestant fraternal order based in Northern Ireland and primarily associated with Ulster Protestants. It also has lodges in England, Grand Orange Lodge of ...

and a

freemason Freemasonry (sometimes spelled Free-Masonry) consists of fraternal groups that trace their origins to the medieval guilds of stonemasons. Freemasonry is the oldest secular fraternity in the world and among the oldest still-existing organizati ...

References

* ''Canadian Parliamentary Guide, 1901'', AJ Magurn

External links

Member's parliamentary history for the Legislative Assembly of Ontario

1855 births 1937 deaths Progressive Conservative Party of Ontario MPPs 19th-century mayors of places in Ontario 20th-century members of the Legislative Assembly of Ontario {{ProgressiveConservative-Ontario-MPP-stub