Preston - (Dr) Albert Gallatin - Putnam

Dr. Albert Gallatin Preston died at Greencastle of organic heart disease. He was born near Linchburg, Va April 17, 1813. In 1824 his parents moved to Union County, Ind. At age 17 he began the study of medicine and almost at once began its practice. He first located at Middletown in Henry County in 1833. He graduated from the Ohio Medical College at Cincinnati in 1840.  In 1843 he moved to Greencastle where he has ever since resided.  He was well read in his profession but his chief characteristic was his rare sagacity and sound judgment in applying his knowledge to the particular case in hand. Both as consulting and operating surgeon he had few equals in the state. During the war he was almost constantly in the service of the state. He was surgeon of the 55th Indiana and was captured at the battle of Richmond, Ky.  Both before and after his connection with the regiment he was frequently sent by Gov. Morton to care for Indiana’s wounded soldiers at times of hard fighting, being thus dispatched to Stone River, Pittsburg Landing, siege of Corinth, Vicksburg and other severe engagements. He was Surgeon of the Board of Enrollment for the 7th Congressional District with headquarters at Terre haute from the time of its organization until the close of the war.  He was of a quick and rather imperious temper whe one attempted in any way to put an affront upon him or his friends, but otherwise of a most generous and forgiving nature and not apt to take offense where none was intended.