FRANCIS I. PRAY
Francis I. Pray, well known in Corydon as a feeder of
high-grade cattle, has extensive business interests and has
been so successful in their management that he is accounted
one of the leading and influential men in this part of the
state. He is a
native of Wayne county, born October 1, 1865, a son of William
and Letitia (Bennett) Pray, natives of Terre Haute, Indiana,
who came to Iowa in 1860 and located in Wayne county. The father bought
land just east of New York, and also purchased a farm near
Bethlehem, upon which he resided until his retirement, when he
moved into Corydon, where his death occurred on the 2d of
December, 1897. He
was a republican in his political views and active and loyal
in his support of the party to which he adhered. Both he and his
wife were members of the Christian church. They were the
parents of eleven children, of whom eight are living.
Francis I. Pray began his active career by operating a
farm which he rented from his father and was so successful in
the management of his enterprise that at length he was able to
purchase land of his own.
He bought a farm in Wright township but in 1895 sold
this tract and purchased the old home place. Since that time he
has operated this property, although he makes his home in
Corydon. He has
been successful in all departments of agriculture but from the
beginning has given special attention to feeding cattle and is
now recognized as a man of note in this line of occupation, to
whom years of experience have brought a knowledge which makes
his opinion an authority.
Mr. Pray made his home upon his farm until March, 1909,
when he moved into Corydon, his extensive business interests
demanding his personal attention. He is a member of the firm of Teegarden
& Pray, buyers and shippers of cattle, hogs and other
stock, and is on the board of directors of the Farmers and
Merchants State Bank. He
is one of the leading and influential men in this locality,
having founded a substantial degree of prosperity upon
qualities of industry, perseverance, trustworthiness and high
integrity and force of character.
On the 1st of March, 1885, Mr. Pray married
Miss Hattie C. Ewers, of Wayne county, a daughter of Smith and
Elizabeth Ewers, natives of Ohio, who came to this part of
Iowa in 1882. The
father was a farmer and followed general agriculture upon a
tract of land near Confidence until his death. His widow still
survives. Mr.
and Mrs. Pray became the parents of four children: William Evan, who
passed away at the age of two and a half years; Francis
Marion; Lawrence Albert; and Eula May.
Fraternally Mr. Pray is affiliated with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. He gives his allegiance to the republican party and from 1901 to 1904 was a member of the board of supervisors, doing able, intelligent and efficient work in an official capacity. He has been a resident of Wayne county all during his life and has come to be regarded as a substantial and progressive business man, who displays in all of his activities the energy and discrimination upon which his prosperity is founded. He is eminently public-spirited and no measure for the public good seeks his aid in vain. His individual attainments are broad in their significance and his influence wide in its scope since his labors through the years have been a cooperant factor in many movements which have been of value to the community at large.