WILLIAM M. PRAY

William M. Pray born Sep. 11, 1831 died Dec. 2, 1897 [north side of the stone]

Lutitia Wife of Wm. M. Pray died Dec. 22, 1895 aged 58y 8m 18d [south side of the stone]

Location: Row 20, plot #1
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William, born in Charleston, Clark, Indiana, was the 7th and last child born to Hezekiah Pray and Elizabeth McNeal. He had six older siblings: Jane, Samuel, Stephen, Catherine, John and Matthew.

William became a very successful farmer and stock raiser in Wayne County. A biography can be found in "Biographical & Historical Record of Wayne County," page 315. He died 2 December 1897 in Corydon.

Letitia was born 4 Apr 1837 in Scott County, Indiana to Samuel Bennett and Patience Bridgewater. Records suggest there may have been as many as 10 children in her family. Letitia's father died in 1843 and she is mentioned in the probate along with siblings James, Drusilla, Mary Jane, Isaac, Eveline, Thomas and Mary Ann. It is not known where she lived in the 10 years between his death and her marriage to William Pray. Letitia died 22 December 1895.

William and Letitia were married on 6 Oct 1853 in Scott County, Indiana by Joseph M Seifert. Between 1855 and 1883, they had 12 children, all born in Iowa: John, Mary, George, Wallace, Francis, William, Emerson, Lewis, Cora, Ida, Sarah and Rosey. William and Rosey died young.

William and Letitia first settled in Washington township, Wapello county, but by 1870 they were living in Wayne county where they lived the rest of their lives.