The Pry Family, p. 1321

THE PRY FAMILY. Among the well-known and prosperous early settlers of Washington county, the Pry family takes a prominent position. Conrad Pry was a native of Germany, and coming to America began farming on a place about eight miles from Romney, W. Va. His son, Jacob C., was born in the latter part of the eighteenth century, in West Virginia, where his early life was passed on the home farm. He was married when a young man to Miss Catherine Barnes, of Hampshire county, W. Va, who bore him the following children: Eliza, Elizabeth, Mary, John, Abraham and William. Of these children, Betsey (as she is familiarly called), married to Samuel Paskel, of Cross Creek township, and Abraham (mentioned below) are the only ones living.

Abraham Pry was born November 10, 1813, in Hampshire county, W. Va., and his father died when he was but four years of age. He learned the cooper's trade in early life, but did not continue to follow it. When about twenty-two years of age, he came to Washington county, locating on 150 acres in Cross Creek township. In 1840 he was united in marriage with Miss Rachel McClurg, of Cross Creek township, daughter of David McClurg, who came from Ireland, and settled on the farm adjoining that of Mr. Pry. Since purchasing his farm Mr. Pry has added to the original tract, and now has 241 acres. Abraham and Rachel Pry are the parents of the following children: David M., John W., William H. and Joseph M. (twins, the latter now deceased), R. A., Abraham, Ambrose, Catherine J., Cynthia Ann, Anna M. and Francis H. The father was originally a Democrat, then a Whig, finally becoming a Republican, being now an active supporter of the latter party. He is a regular attendant of and liberal contributor to the Cross Creek Presbyterian Church.

ABRAHAM PRY (son of Abraham and Rachel (McClurg) Pry) was born November 17, 1852, in the old home, where he was trained to farm duties from early boyhood. On February 22, 1877, he was married to Elizabeth A. Dimit; of Independence township, this county, who has borne him two sons, Brainard K. and Wiley C. He is a Republican, to which party the family have always been stanch adherents, being actively interested in promoting the growth of Republican principles. They are principally engaged in farming and sheep raising, usually wintering three or four hundred sheep. Mr. Pry is an influential and prosperous citizen, a worthy representative of an honored name.

Text taken from page 1321 of:
Beers, J. H. and Co., Commemorative Biographical Record of Washington County, Pennsylvania (Chicago: J. H. Beers & Co., 1893).

Transcribed February 1997 by Neil and Marilyn Morton of Oswego, IL as part of the Beers Project.
Published February 1997 on the Washington County, PA USGenWeb pages at http://www.chartiers.com/.

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