An Illustrated History of the State of Iowa
being a complete civil, political, and military history of the state from its first exploration down to 1875, by Charles R. Tuttle; assisted by Daniel S. Durrie.  Chicago: R. S. Peale, 1876.

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Unless otherwise noted, biographies submitted by Richard Barton.

ISAAC MOSHER PRESTON was born April 25, 1813 , at Bennington , Vermont . In 1814, his father and family removed to Onondaga county, New York , where he resided till his death in 1849. Sarah, his wife, died in November, 1832. The father of Isaac M., was a farmer, with a large family, engaged in the clearing up of a new farm, in the then wilderness of New York . He was in moderate circumstances, with no facilities for educating his children. He served for a short time before the treaty of peace as a volunteer in the revolutionary war. Isaac Mosher Preston, at the age of 16 years, was given his time to provide for himself. Thus thrown upon his own resources, without means or education, he learned the carpenter and joiner's trade, and worked at this business till 1840, when he resolved to study law. He was married in Seneca county, New York , April 3, 1836 , to Mary Jane Facer, daughter of Charles Facer; emigrated to Iowa with his wife and two sons, Joseph H. Preston and Edmund C. Preston. He first stopped at Iowa City ; from thence removed to Marion , in Linn county, in November, 1842, where he still resides, and has the proud satisfaction of enjoying the confidence of the community where he has lived for the last 31 years. He studied law with Asa Calkin, of Iowa City; was admitted to the bar and commenced the practice of law October 26, 1842, in Marion, Linn county, Iowa, where he has continued the practice from thence to the present time. On the 19th day of December, 1845, he was appointed by James Clark, governor of the territory of Iowa , district attorney for the 18th district of Iowa, and discharged the duties of this office for two years. On the 17th day of February, 1846, he was appointed and commissioned by James Clark, governor, colonel for the 3d regiment, 2d brigade, 2d division of the militia of Iowa ; assisted in organizing troops for the Mexican war; but his regiment was not called for, nor engaged in actual service. In 1843, he was elected probate judge for the county of Linn , and reelected in 1846, discharged the duties of this office for six years, and declined a reelection. On the 3d day of March, 1847, by the advice and consent of the United States senate, he was appointed and commissioned by James K. Polk, President of the United States , district attorney for the state and district of Iowa, and discharged the duties of this office till the close of President Polk's administration. In 1848 he was elected to the house of representatives of the general assembly of Iowa , and discharged the duties of a member of the house of representatives for two years. In 1850, he was elected senator for the senatorial district, composed of the counties of Linn, Benton and Tama; discharged the duties of senator in the general assembly for four years, and participated in the memorable contest which resulted in the first election of Hon. James Harlan to the United States senate. During his legislative term his associates in the senate and house of representatives consisted of such members as W. F. Coolbagh, Alvin Saunders, afterwards governor of Nebraska, James W. Grimes, late senator of the United States, Hon. J. M. Love, now U. S. district judge, Hon. James Grant, Maturin L. Fisher, W. E. Leffingwell, George W. Wright, now United States senator. During the session of 1851, the legislature composed of such men, adopted and enacted the code of 1851, which superseded the common law forms of practice, and changed the entire judicial system of the state.