Fifth Generation

98. Lena Marie Clark was born on 22 Mar 1870 in Antwerp, Jefferson, NY. The William Manning genealogy has Lena's birth as 22 March; her obit shows 29 February, which, of course, would be impossible, since 1870 was not a leap year. She appeared in the census in 1880 in Antwerp, Jefferson, NY. On page 356A, with grandparents Manning, as "Lena M. Manning", age 10. In a letter dated March 1, 2001, from Peter Manning to Joanne (Mrs. Keith) Manning, Peter said "The person who started them [the Manning family reunions, which ran at least 1934-42] was Lena Preston, Nettie's daughter - she lived part of the time with her grandparents [Timothy and Maria] when growing up so the youngest of the children were like brothers and sisters to her." She died on 28 Dec 1955 in Canton, St. Lawrence, NY. Her obituary appeared on 28 Dec 1955 in the Watertown Daily Times of Watertown, Jefferson, NY, as follows: "Ex-Ogdensburg Woman, 85, Dies. Ogdensburg, Dec. 28. -- Mrs. Lena Clark Cox Preston, 85, widow of Thomas M. Preston and a former resident of Ogdensburg, died this morning at 7 at the Barlow nursing home, Canton, where she had been a patient for years.
"The funeral will be Saturday afternoon at 2 at the Ramsdell-Ewart funeral home, Ogdensburg, with Rev. Bruce G. Tucker, pastor of the Ogdensburg First Presbyterian church, officiating. Burial will be made in the Ogdensburg cemetery.
"Surviving are a son by a former marriage, Harold Cox, Utica; two granddaughters, Mrs. Harry (Sylvia) Carrier, Adams Center, and Mrs. Fred Hennigan, Pierrepont, and two great grand-children.
"Mrs. Preston was born Feb. 29, 1870. she was married twice. Her first husband, William R. Cox, died in 1903. She was married to Thomas M. Preston in March, 1908, in this city with Rev. Mr. Wight, then pastor of the First Congregational church officiating.
"Mr. Preston, a native of Depeyster, was one of the first drivers of horse-drawn streetcars here and for 40 years was a driver for the late Dr. Henry Childs, Ogdensburg physician. He was later a janitor at Ogdensburg city hall. He died March 24, 1948.
"For years the couple lived at 127 Washington street here.
"Mrs. Preston was a member of the Ogdensburg First Presbyterian church. She also belonged to the Royal Neighbors of America and Eureka Rebekah lodge."

Lena Marie Clark and William R. Cox were married. William R. Cox died in 1903. Lena Marie Clark and William R. Cox had the following children:

+199

i.

Harold Emerald Cox.

Lena Marie Clark and Thomas M. Preston were married in Mar 1908 in Ogdensburg, St. Lawrence, NY. Thomas M. Preston (son of Samuel Preston and Ellen Cochran) was born on 29 Feb 1864 in DePeyster, St. Lawrence, NY. He died on 24 Mar 1948 in Ogdensburg, St. Lawrence, NY. His obituary appeared on 24 Mar 1948 in the Watertown Daily Times of Watertown, Jefferson, NY, as follows: "Thomas Preston Expires at 84. Formerly Driver for Late Dr. Henry Childs at Ogdensburg--Rites Friday. Ogdensburg, March 24.--Thomas M. Preston, 84, of 127 Isabella street, died this morning at 1:45 in Hepburn hospital, where he had been a patient for one month and two days. He had resided in Ogdensburg for 67 years.
"Funeral services will be held Friday at 3 p.m. in the Ramsdell-Ewart funeral home, with Rev. Melville D. Nesbit, jr., pastor of the First Presbyterian Church, officiating. The body will be placed in the Ogdensburg cemetery vault to await burial later this spring.
"Surviving are Mr. Preston's wife, Mrs. Lena Clark Cox; two granddaughters, Mrs. Fred Hennigan, Canton, and Mrs. H. R. Carrier, Utica; three nephews, Earl Preston, Michigan; Minard Preston, DeGrasse, and Andrew Preston, Saranac Lake, and three nieces, Mrs. Ethel Green, Ogdensburg; Mrs. Mabel Carter, Ogdensburg, and Mrs. Bessie Crawford, Boston, Mass. A brother, William Preston, died Dec. 27, 1947.
"Mr. Preston was born Feb. 29, 1864, in Depeyster, a son of the late William and Helen Cochren Preston. In March, 1908, he married the former Miss Lena Clark, widow of William R. Cox, who died in 1903, in a ceremony performed in Ogdensburg by Rev. Mr. Wight, then pastor of the First Congregational church.
"Mr. Preston was driver for the late Dr. Henry Childs, Ogdensburg physician for 40 years. He was also one of the first drivers of the horse-drawn street-cars in the city. He was janitor of city hall under Mayors John A. Wert and Ralph J. Morrisette. He was a member of the First Presbyterian church." He was buried in Ogdensburg Cemetery Ogdensburg NY. He was a horse-drawn street-car driver in Ogdensburg, St. Lawrence, NY. "Horse Car Days Recalled By Driver. Thomas Preston, Who Drove Horse Trolley Half Century Ago, Is One of Two Surviving Members of Crew. Ogdensburg, Sept. 27.--Horse cars were once as popular with Ogdensburg courting couples as the automobile is today. Thomas Preston, 122 Franklin avenue, who was a driver on the old horse lines more than 50 years ago, recalled today.
"Lovers found the five-cent ride from the railroad bridge to the end of New York avenue a fine excursion, particularly on a summer's evening, Mr. Preston, in a reminiscent mood, recalled.
"'On warm summer nights, we would usually carry several young couples who did their sparking on the horse car. They didn't have any automobiles, but I think they had as much fun.'
"Mr. Preston, who came to the city as a young man from Depeyster, where he was born and raised, found his first job here driving the horse cars. He went to work for the line, known as the Ogdensburg Railroad company in 1885 and remained with the company for five years.
"The horse cars went out of existence about 45 years ago, when the electric trolley was introduced. Mr. Preston and John Fox, retired, are the only two survivors of the crew that braved summer heat and winter storms to keep the cars moving.
"The line was a single track from the railroad bridge to New York avenue. The cars met in front of where the city hall now stands on Ford street, where a switch permitted them to pass. should one be late the other was forced to await its arrival.
"Travel was leisurely, Mr. Preston recalls.
"'If someone had an urgent errand to perform we would wait for him, that is, if the other passengers were willing,' he said.
"The horses were changed four times daily. Extra horses were kept in the old car barn located where the Chevrolet garage now is on Catherine street.
"The barn burned down about 50 years ago, Mr. Preston said, and three horses were lost in the fire. It was never rebuilt.
"The cars were heated in the winters until one of them tipped over on a particularly stormy night outside of the depot. A salesman in the car was quite badly burned in the accident and after that the company dispensed with heated cars, leaving the passengers to keep themselves as warm as they could. Runners were substituted for wheels in winter months.
"Major William Daniels, who operated a bakery shop here, was president of the company; H. B. Howard, grocery store owner, was superintendent, and John Donley, tailor, was treasurer. all have been dead for many years.
"After leaving the employ of the horse trolley line, Mr. Preston became coachman for the late Dr. Childs, a post he retained for 25 years. Following the death of Dr. Childs he assumed the same duties for the late Thomas Spratt, well known attorney in the city.
"He was appointed superintendent of the Oswegatchie town hall in 1916, a post he retained until six years ago. He was superintendent of the building when it was destroyed by fire. He escaped by crawling out of a basement window. All of his personal effects, including many pictures of the horse cars, were destroyed in the fire.
"At present he is superintendent of several buildings in town and is still spry and active despite his advanced age.
"'Ogdensburg was a fine city in the horse car days' he declared yesterday, 'and it's still a fine place today. I wouldn't want to live anywhere else.'" [Watertown Daily Times, 27 Sep 1940].