A biography for Preston can be found in Counties of Morgan, Monroe and Brown, Indiana, edited by Charles Blanchard (Chicago: 1884), page 339 (under Ashland Township, Morgan Co.):

Preston D. Wakeland, an enterprising farmer and stock-raiser of his township, was born August 23, 1830, in Butler County, Ohio, and is the third of six children born to Turner R. and Nianetia (Arthur) Wakeland, Kentuckians, of Irish and Scotch-Irish extraction. Preston D.'s parents brought him to Marion County, Ind., in his fourth year, and here he attained manhood on the farm, and received the rudiments of an education. In 1856, he came to Morgan County, and has remained here ever since. He enlisted, in the fall of 1862, in Company H., Seventieth Indiana Infantry. He was in the following battles: Resaca, Kenesaw Mountain, and in the sieges of Atlanta, Bentonville and Averyboro, besides other battles and numerous skirmishes. He was discharged at Indianapolis in the spring of 1865. He also accompanied Sherman on his "March to the Sea!" Mr. Wakeland was married, on October 16, 1853, to Sarah P. Hawkins, a native of Indiana. They have had seven children -- one deceased (unnamed), Edwilda J. (deceased), Turner R. Clytus C., Eliza J. John J., and Charley A. Mrs. Wakeland is a member of the Christian Church, and he is a member of the G. A. R. He has a farm of ninety-eight acres, well improved, and is a liberal giver to all charitable institutions. He is a Republican. He has been acting as Deputy Sheriff, more or less, for the past eight years.

Preston was a member of Company H 70th Regiment, Indiana Volunteer Infantry, Colonel Benjamin Harrison in command, during the Civil War and attained the rank of Corporal.

Ruth (Wakeland) Kidwell's family has a book (with the name Sarah P. Wakeland written on the inside flyleaf) about Preston's regiment: The Seventieth Indiana Volunteer Infantry In the War of the Rebellion, by Samuel Merrill (Indianopolis: The Bowen-Merrill Co., 1900). This book is also available in the Sutro Library in San Francisco. Also in the possession of Kidwell family, is a "10th Annual Reunion" ribbon (white, with a blue star, printing in red) from September 18, 1884 for the Seventieth Indiana Volunteers, and a photograph of a badly torn company flag.

The town of Wakeland in Morgan county, Indiana was named after Preston. The town existed from about 1864 to 1904 and contained three sawmills, a store, and a postoffice. Only the remains of the Wakeland school marks the location of the town now. There is a useful website for Morgan county as well as a brief history for Wakeland which was in the Ashland township of the county. The website also includes a short biography for P. D. Wakeland (which is similar to the above mentioned quote).

Preston applied for a Civil War Veterans pension as an invalid on March 22, 1884 (records #508.982 and #452.329). The original papers for his file are in National Archives in Washington D. C. I have looked through these actual papers and photocopied most of them on October 22, 1991. An extract of these files is also available.

Preston and his family moved to Nebraska in the 1880s and homesteaded land near Cedar Rapids. My grandmother had a land patent document in a family scrapbook which she had made, for a "homestead in the Public Domain" which had been awarded to Preston on 3 June 1891 by the United States (signed by Benjamin Harrison) in Grand Island, Boone County, Nebraska (Homestead Certificate No. 9336, Application # 15731, recorded 6 Feb 1892 in Book 5 page 488 of the land transfer records of that county). It was for a 160 acres of "the North West quarter of Section 28 in Township 19 North of Range 8 West of the Sixth Principal meridian of Nebraska". The Wakeland family built a sod house for which several pictures exist. It was also the first house which my grandmother lived in.

In my grandmother's collection was a clipping from some unknown newspaper containing Preston's obituary:

ANOTHER SOLDIER GONE

DIED -- At Cedar Rapids, Nebraska, May 31, 1896, Preston D. Wakeland, aged sixty-five years, seven months and eight days.

Mr. Wakeland was born August 23, 1830, in Butler county, Ohio. Removed with his parents to Marion county, Indiana, in 1838, where he made his home. He was united in marriage to Miss Sarah P. Hawkins by Rev. M. Hwnve, October 16, 1853. Removed to Morgan county, Indiana in 1856. When Fort Sumpter was fired on he began to make preparations to enter the army. He was mustered in the United States service August 12th, 1862, in Company H 70th Regiment, Indiana volunteer Infantry, colonel, Benjamin Harrison.

He took part in the battles of Murfresburough, Peach Tree Creek and Siege of Atlanta; went with Sherman to the sea, and at the close of the war returned to his family and little home to again be a citizen of the republic he had so well served as a soldier. He was honored in various ways by his neighbors and no man in Morgan county, Indiana was held in higher esteem.

In March, 1885, he came to Boone county, Nebraska, and settled on a farm seven miles from Cedar Rapids, and in 1891 moved to his residence just west of town, where his resided until called to join the ranks above. To show the esteem in which he was held, all the business houses in town were closed during the burial services. His comrades of Post No.74, G.A.R. had charge of the funeral. The services were conducted by Comrade Bay and at its close all that was mortal of Preston D. Wakeland was laid to rest in Sunset cemetery, and we have one more grave to see that it is kept green. He was an honest man, a kind father, a good husband, an excellent citizen, a brave soldier. He honored God and loved his country, and no man can do more. He died as he lived--bravely and true.

Peace to him. DENNIS TRACY.

____________________

Resolutions of Respect.

After the funeral services last Monday the soldiers being together, appointed a committee to formulate resolutions in honor of Comrade Wakeland. The following furnished by the committee but feebly expresses the high esteem in which Comrade Wakeland was held by Caddell post or the sympathy felt for his bereaved friends.

Whereas, In the providence of God, Comrade Wakeland has been called by death from our ranks to the Grand Army above, therefore

Resolved, That we have lost one of our truest and most worth members, and that we hereby express our heartfelt sympathy for the bereaved relatives of our deceased comrade.

J. A. BAIRD,

J. G. PARISH,

J. A. SMITH.