Preston was platted in 1878 when the Atchison & Nebraska Railroad was extended to that point. In February 1880 Philip R. Shelly, the town's founder, built a store and applied for a post office. However, the postal authorities rejected the proposed name of "Blufton", since there was another one in Sherman County. James Eatough, who worked for Shelly, had come from Preston, England, so he suggested that name. On June 23, 1881, "Preston" was accepted by both post office and railroad. The town was then platted on a total of approximately 40 acres in 1881 by Shelly from a point running along the railroad tracks, where a siding was available, to the south. An elevator and a depot were built along the tracks for commerce and travelers.NSHS, Richardson County History , and a paper written by Dean Stevens, 1969. A. D. McAlpine, a telegraph operator from Canada, was the first railroad station agent.Nat.StateHist.Soc., Richardson County History , and a paper written by Dean Stevens, 1969.
preston was platted in 1878 when the atchison & nebraska railroad was extended to that point in february 1880 philip r shelly the town's founder built a store and applied for a post office however the postal authorities rejected the proposed name of "blufton" since there was another one in sherman county james eatough who worked for shelly had come from preston england so he suggested that name on june 23 1881 "preston" was accepted by both post office and railroad the town was then platted on a total of approximately 40 acres in 1881 by shelly from a point running along the railroad tracks where a siding was available to the south an elevator and a depot were built along the tracks for commerce and travelersnshs richardson county history  and a paper written by dean stevens 1969 a d mcalpine a telegraph operator from canada was the first railroad station agentnatstatehistsoc richardson county history  and a paper written by dean stevens 1969