Elizabeth Hobbs Preston

 The announcement of the death last evening of Mrs. Elizabeth Preston will stir the memories of all old settlers of Davenport, who for 20 years or so knew the deceased as “the apple woman” and went out of their way to seek her out when they wanted something especially luscious in the line that she kept at her stand under the stairway on the north side of the old Third and Perry street post office block.  All through the years when the late Edward Russell was postmaster of Davenport, Mrs. Preston kept her stand there, and there wasn’t a man in the post office, or most anywhere else about town, that she couldn’t have counted upon to protect her property of uphold her rights had she been in need of help.  She was one of the most honest and straightforward of women in her business dealings.  In fact, her life was a part of the unwritten history of  Davenport, and her character stands out as prominently in it as that of  Sammy Ottesen, Prince Albert, J.H. Warwick, and others who filled unique roles and held until their death the esteem of all who had known them during their years of activity. 

Mrs. Preston’s old stand has not known her for a good many years but she is well remembered by all her former patrons and friends. Of late years she has lived at 326 West High Street.  She owned some property about town and was fairly well to do, as the result of her years of industry.

Mrs. Preston was 84 years of age. She was a native of England.  Until very recently she had retained the rugged health that was characteristic of her in the days when no storm or stress of weather kept her form her place of business.  For the past few weeks she has been ailing and last Saturday the rapid decline began that ended in her death.

Four daughters and two sons are bereaved by her death.  They are Mrs. Agnes Holden, Mrs Annie Glover and Mrs Mary Micklewright of this city. Mrs C.A. Morris of Chicago, Charles of this county, and William, formerly a well know mail carrier here, now a residen of Kansas.  He is expected here to attend the funeral.