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Submitted by Cheryl VanWormer 






					   GEORGE PRAY, M. D.
				MRS. DEIDAMIA (POPE) PRAY (1st wife).
				MRS. ELLEN ADELE (COMSTOCK) PRAY (2nd wife).

	Ezek Pray, father of the doctor, was a farmer by occupation, and a native of Connecticut.
His wife, whose maiden-name was Sallie A. Hammond, was born in Rhode Island, where she married 
Mr. Pray.  A short time later they removed to Allegany Co., N. Y., and in 1825 came to Michigan, 
and were among the earliest settlers in the township of Superior, Washtenaw Co.  In that township
Mr. Pray purchased and improved a large farm, upon which he remained until his death, in 1856.  
His wife died in 1872.
	George Pray, who was born Aug. 27, 1825, was but five weeks old when his parents arrived 
in Michigan, and his life up to the age of fourteen years was similar to that of all boys in a 
new country.  When fourteen he entered the Ann Arbor Academy, and was prepared for the 
university, and in 1841, at the opening of that institution, entered its first class.  He was 
graduated from the classical department in 1845.  In 1846, after teaching a term of school, he 
commenced the study of medicine in the private medical school of Professors, Sager, Douglass, and
Gunn, and was graduated from the medical department of the Western Reserve College, at Cleveland,
Ohio, in 1849.  He located and began practice in Salem, Washtenaw Co., and in October, 1856, 
came to Ronald township, Ionia Co., purchased a tract of land, and has since engaged in
real-estate business in connection with his practice.  He was the first physician to locate 
permanently in this township, and his memory recalls many long and hard rides in pursuit of his 
duty in the field of medicine.  Thirty and forty miles per day were sometimes traversed, corn 
enough for his horse being taken along, while his own fare was such as could be obtained, often 
very meagre.  He is at present located on a very fine farm of two hundred and ninety acres, and 
is the possessor of an aggregate of five hundred acres in the township.  In 1863 he returned to 
Ann Arbor and engaged in practice, but after four years came back to his present residence.  His 
business at Ann Arbor was very lucrative, but he preferred his country home, which he had seen 
changed from an unimproved tract to a most excellent and productive farm.  July 4, 1849, at Ann 
Arbor, he married Miss Deidamia H. Pope, daughter of Willard and Barbara Pope, who was born in 
Pennsylvania, in November, 1828, and died at her home in Ronald, March 14, 1875.  Her loss was 
mourned by all who knew her, and friends at Ann Arbor and elsewhere united in expression of 
sympathy and regret with those nearer to her home.  In 1846 she was graduated from the Misses 
Clark's school at Ann Arbor.
	April 9, 1876, Dr. Pray married Miss Ellen Adele Comstock, daughter of Jared V. and Mary 
Comstock.  She was born in Montcalm Co., Mich., in February, 1858.  One son, George Pray, has 
been born since this union, June 16, 1877.  Dr. Pray has been a Republican in politics since the 
organization of the latter party, but was formerly a Democrat.  He represented his district in 
the Legislature in 1879-80, was supervisor of his township for fourteen years, chairman of the 
board of supervisors of Ionia County for several years.  In religion his views are liberal.  
His wife is a member of the Disciples' Church, as was also Mrs. Pray deceased.  The doctor has 
also taken great interest in the grange movement, and, with the exception of the year spent in 
the Legislature, has been either Master or secretary of the Woodard Lake Grange since its 
organization.  For four years he was Master of the Ionia County Grange.



This biography is taken from "HISTORY OF IONIA AND MONTCALM COUNTIES, MICHIGAN" 
by John S. Schenck. Philadelphia:  D. W. Ensign & Co., 1881. Page 348.  Ronald.