Sedgwick County KSGenWeb

Portrait And Biographical Album of Sedgwick County, Kan.

Chapman Brothers 1888

Pages 275 - 276  

JOHN W. PRAY is proprietor of one of the most noticeable homesteads in Park Township. It is on section 18, where he settled on the 1st of May, 1879. His residence is a handsome and substantial frame building, flanked by a good barn and the various other out-buildings required by the progressive agriculturist. As a tiller of the soil he is thorough and skillful, and has been uniformly fortunate in his investments. 

     Mr. Pray spent his boyhood years among the hills of Clermont County, Ohio, where his birth took place at the modest homestead of his parents, Feb. 16, 1847. His father, John W. Pray, Sr., was a native of the Buckeye State, and married Miss Susan McDonald, one of the playmates of his earlier years. Mrs. Susan Pray passed her entire life in her native State, and died about 1876. The father, who was a farmer by occupation, is still living, and a resident of Clermont County, Ohio. 

     Our subject continued a member of his father's household until reaching manhood, and acquired his education in the common schools. In connection with farming he operated a sawmill in his native county, where he resided until coming to this State. His first purchase comprised 160 acres, a part of which he subsequently disposed of. He erected his present residence in the summer of 1887. He was first married in Clermont County, Ohio, to Miss Lavina Gaskill, who became the mother of a son and daughter, Charles and Mattie, and died about 1872. One of these children is in Ohio and one in Kansas. 

     The present wife of our subject, to whom he was married in September, 1874, was formerly Miss Nancy Jane McConnell, who was born in Scott County, Ill., Sept. 1, 1849. Mrs. Nancy J. Pray is the daughter of Thomas and Sarah (Truesdel) McConnell, and of her marriage with our subject there have been born six children, of whom but four are living, namely: Lewis, Elsie, Harry and Laura. Mr. Pray supports the Republican party, and is numbered among the rising men of his township.

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