PRESTON BRECKENRIDGE, a miller at Rochester, was born December 2, 1858, a son of Joseph and Sarah (Mathews) Breckenridge, and grandson of Hon. Preston Breckenridge. His father enlisted in the One Hundred and Fourteenth Illinois Infantry for a term of three years, and was taken sick at Camp Butler, and died at home November 29, 1862. His mother afterwards married Thomas Pike, and they reside in Christian county, Illinois, two miles west of Edinburg. The subject of this sketch received a common school education. He also attended the high school at Taylorville for two years. He then went to Iowa where he engaged as a clerk in a store for about one year. He then came back to Breckenridge, Sangamon county, Illinois, December, 1880. In July, 1881, he, with Wm. B. Hicks, leased the Rochester mill for a term of one year. At the expiration of said one year, they bought the Rochester mill, and also leased the Athens mill for a term of three years. They are now prepared to do a milling business which demands the patronage of the county, and are supplying the neighboring towns with flour not to be excelled by any other mills. He is also a member of the Good Templars at Rochester, and in politics a Republican.