Background
Jasper N. Preston was born in 1832 in Wayne County, New York, United States.
(a Richardsonian Romanesque structure on Sixth Street, whi...)
a Richardsonian Romanesque structure on Sixth Street, which has also been restored and is still in use as a hotel.
Jasper N. Preston was born in 1832 in Wayne County, New York, United States.
He was educated in Lansing, Mich., where the family settled during his boyhood.
In 1875 Mr. Preston moved to Austin, Texas, and for a decade carried on an independent practice. Among other works he planned and built a large number of business blocks, also designed the Hotel Driskill, one of the city's finest buildings at that time. Following the destruction by fire in 1881 of the old State House (Capitol) a competition was instituted for a new structure, and Mr. Preston was appointed to the Architectural Jury whose duty it was to select the winning design. The late E.E. Myers was the winner, and during erection of the building Preston served as superintendent on the work.
In 1886 he moved from Texas to the west coast, and with his family settled in Los Angeles. In association with a son, S. A. J. Preston, he opened an architectural office in the Wilson Block at First and Spring Street, and carried on practice in the city for at least ten years, perhaps longer.
In 1892 he was elected president of the Southern California Chapter, A.I.A. in recognition of his prominence in the profession.
