Preston was born on November 3rd, 1865. Preston's father was Daniel Clauss and his mother was Judith Miller. His paternal grandfather was Daniel Clauss and his paternal grandmother is Dorothea Breden. He had three brothers and a sister, named Phaon, Ulysses, John and Anna Maria. He was the third oldest of the five children. He died at the age of 5 on December 3rd, 1870.