There passed away Saturday evening, 14 Jul 1917, in Brantford, after a
long illness, Emeline A. Phelps, widow of Rev. James Preston, in the
87th year of her age.
She was born in Mt. Pleasant, Brant County, 3 Nov 1830, her father
being Hiram Phelps, one of the pioneer makers of that historic place.
Mrs. Preston spent several years in Simcoe when her husband was
pastor of the Methodist Church here in the early 1860s.
Receiving her early education in the public school and in the
private school kept by Miss Maclean, aunt of William Maclean of the
Toronto World, she later attended for a time that early predecessor of
ladies boarding schools, the Burlington Academy of Hamilton, of which
Mr. Van Norman was principal.
Emeline Phelps, Ellen Nelles (sister of both Rev. Dr. Samuel
Nelles, president of Victoria College and Mr. T. R. Nelles of Simcoe,
and wife of Dr. Urziel Ogden of Toronto), and Mary Biggar (Mrs.
McCallum), were the first students from Mt. Pleasant to attend theat
school.
In 1852 she married the Rev. James Preston, who was then stationed
on the Brantford circuit, of which Mt. Pleasant was a part.
For two years of their early married life they lived in Indiana.
Returning to Canada, she followed the itinerary of her husband to
London, Simcoe, Toronto, Belleville, Woodstock and other places.
Always she was the faithful, efficient helpmate.
Mr. and Mrs. Preston, after retiring from life's active work,
settled finally in Brantford, where Mr. Preston died. The last years
of the eventide of life were also passed by Mrs. Preston in Brantford,
living with her daughter, Miss Preston, at 26 Chatham Street.
She is survived by four children: Mr. T. H. Preston of Brantford,
Mr. Wm. Preston of Stratford, Miss Preston, formerly of Japan, now at
home, and Mrs. E. H. Johnson of Brandon, Manitoba.
She is also survived by one brother, Mr. T. H. Phelps of Oklahoma,
and one sister, Mrs. Wm. Buckingham of Stratford, Ontario.
