Gilbert B. Pray

PRAY, GILBERT BALDWIN, lawyer and politician, was born at Michigan City, Ind., April 27, 1847.  His father, William S. Pray, settled in Webster city, Hamilton county, Iowa, in the autumn of 1856.  His mother’s maiden name was Margaret Ellen Baldwin.

The emigrant ancestor of the Pray family settled in Braintree, Mass., about the year 1645.  The elder Mr. Pray was a shipbuilder and general mechanic.  He was a man of fine mental power, self-educated, an omnivorous reader, whose memory retained what he read.  As an evidence of his wide information and great reasoning powers, it may be stated that from only desultory reading in the general newspapers, he had come to a full comprehension of the theory and teachings of Charles Darwin, though he had never seen a copy of that author’s great epoch-making book.  Said he: “No thinking man can have anything to do with our common animals without seeing half-human traits in them every day of his life.”  He died several years ago.  His wife, the mother of our subject, is a woman of will and determination, but yet distinguished for her great kindness towards the weakest thing that lives and can suffer pain.  Old settlers well remember how she always protected to the extent of her ability, “our feathered friends,” the birds, and now it awoke her just indignation to see them wantonly molested or destroyed.

Gilbert B. Pray possesses many of the characteristics of both his parents. He is well read, a lover and buyer of good books, and the daily and hourly rule of his life is kindness to all. Little children love him and instinctively rush to his arms. The born cynic can never understand such a man — but the little ones are the best judges after all.

Educated in and not beyond the common schools, of Webster City, thirty to forty years ago, Gilbert Pray, at the age of 17, entered as a student the law office of the late Hon. Daniel D. Chase, where he remained three years. He was admitted to the bar in 1868 and practiced his profession in Webster City until 1880. During the next year he traveled awhile in Colorado on account of his health, but returning to Webster City, was engaged a short time in the newspaper business. In 1882 he was chosen clerk of the supreme court of the state. To this place he was three times elected, holding the office twelve years. It is only simple justice to say that he proved himself a most popular and thoroughly acceptable incumbent of this high and responsible position

This also proved for Mr. Pray an introduction to a deservedly high place in the councils of the republican party of the state. Since 1882 no man in Iowa has been more influential in shaping its policy or in marshalling its forces for hotly-contested battles. Mr. Pray has organized victory. He has twice been chairman of the republican state central committee, including the great deadlock contest in 1890, when he had charge of Mr. Allison's senatorial campaign, which ended triumphantly after a doubtful contest of seven weeks. This was on all hands regarded as one of the most notable achievements in the political history of Iowa. He has also served continuously as member or officer of the republican state-central committee since 1889.

Mr. Pray was appointed by President McKinley in August, 1897, to the surveyor-generalship of Alaska, but declined its acceptance. He was then tendered the position of special agent in the Indian bureau which place he accepted and entered upon the discharge of its duties.

Mr. Pray enlisted in Company F, Sixteenth Iowa infantry, in 1864, and participated in the battle of Nashville and the later campaigns of Sherman's army. The musket which he carried is deposited in the historical department at Des Moines. He was a charter member of Winfield Scott Post No. 66, G. A. R., Webster City, Iowa, and was its first adjutant.

In 1886, in association with ex-Gov. F. D. Jackson, Sidney Foster and other gentlemen, he organized and chartered the Royal Union Mutual Life Insurance company, at Des Moines, of which he has since been the treasurer.

Gilbert B. Pray and Marie B. Beauchime were married October 4, 1868. Their children's names are: Carlton B. Pray, born May 16, 1870; Harry B. Pray, born August 14, 1872; Dr. Gilbert Le Roy Pray, born December 8, 1875; and Miss Cora L. Pray, born November 14, 1877.

SOURCE, Benjamin F. Gue, Biographies And Portraits Of The Progressive Men Of Iowa, Volume 1, p. 357-8